Money flows to man who 'beat up Dylann Roof' in Charleston jail shower 'for job well done'

Dwayne Stafford, 25, was released from a South Carolina jail on Friday after reports he attacked accused Charleston shooter Dylan Roof made their rounds on social media. Dwayne Stafford, 25, was released from a South Carolina jail on Friday after reports he attacked accused Charleston shooter Dylan Roof made their rounds on social media. Photo: Charleston County Sheriff's Office Photo: Charleston County Sheriff's Office Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Money flows to man who 'beat up Dylann Roof' in Charleston jail shower 'for job well done' 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

An inmate in South Carolina who allegedly punched Dylann Roof — accused of killing 9 at a Charleston church in 2015 — in a jail shower last week was released from custody after donations supporting the beatdown poured into his online commissary fund.

Dwayne Stafford, a 25-year-old who was booked into the Charleston County jail in January 2015 on first-degree assault and robbery charges, allegedly ran down the stairs from his cell after Roof went to the shower around 7:45 a.m. Aug. 4 and hit him, bruising Roof's face and back, according to a police report.

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Taking a Stand Against Discrimination, an online site advocating equality, posted to Twitter after the attack on Roof with a link to "donate to the man who beat up Dylann Roof," identifying Roof's attacker as Stafford.

According to online jail records, Stafford was released last Friday after posting $100,000 bail, however, the New York Daily News noted that it was unclear who paid for Stafford's release, or if the release came as a result of commissary account donations.

The link to donate had been shared several times on Twitter by individuals who had either donated to Stafford's release, or encouraged others to donate "for a job well done."

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McDaniel Supply, the company that manages donations to inmate accounts made via internet, told Paper Mag that the company was unable to disclose inmate finances and commissary account amounts.

Additionally, the website allowing individuals to add funds to an inmates's account allows one donation every 24 hours.

One Twitter user found a way to bypass the 24-hour caveat and informed others of the option to load Stafford's commissary card via phone.

Calls to the jail were not immediately returned Tuesday morning. The total amount donated to Stafford's account is unclear.

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Although authorities initially said Stafford would be charged with assault, Charleston County Sheriff Al Cannon told reporters last Thursday that Roof and his attorneys don't want to press charges.

Roof has been housed at the jail since being brought back from North Carolina a day after the June 17, 2015, slayings of nine parishioners during a Bible study at Emanuel AME Church. He faces the death penalty in upcoming trials in federal and state courts.

The federal government has charged Roof with hate crimes and other offenses in the shootings. Prosecutors allege Roof talked of starting a race war and posed with the Confederate battle flag before the killings. His federal trial is set for November.

He also faces the death penalty in state court where he is charged with nine counts of murder in a trial set to begin next year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

MMedina@express-news.net

Twitter: @MMedinaNews