Story highlights Prosecutor says she has talked to survivors of the shooting and relatives of the slain victims

A prosecutor says she plans to seek the death penalty for Dylann Roof

Roof is accused of killing 9 people at an African-American church in Charleston, S.C.

(CNN) A prosecutor in South Carolina said Thursday she'll seek the death penalty against Dylann Roof, accused of killing nine people during a prayer meeting at a historic African-American church.

"This was the ultimate crime and justice from our state calls for the ultimate punishment," Charleston County Solicitor Scarlett Wilson said at a press conference.

Roof, 21, is accused of shooting participants at a June 17 Bible study class at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston, known as Mother Emmanuel. Nine people died, including the Rev. Clementa Pinckney, who also was a state senator in South Carolina.

Wilson said she'd talked to survivors of the shooting and relatives of the slain victims. Some don't believe in the death penalty, but others think it's "entirely appropriate," she said.

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"All understand my responsibility and have shown great respect, even deference for my decision to seek the death penalty for the killings at Mother Emmanuel church," Wilson said.

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