Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY

A6 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 22 March 2017

Dylann Roof’s friend gets over 2 years for hindering FBI

“I’m really, really sorry. A lot Roof easily could have
of beautiful lives were tak- massacred more people
en,” he said, reading from somewhere else.
a statement. If Meek “had just gone in
He cried as he told the his bedroom and cried and
judge he fears retribution regretted not reporting, he
behind bars: “I don’t know would have committed
if I’ll make it out of prison no federal crime,” Gergel
alive. I’m scared.” said. Meek and Roof, also
U.S. District Judge Richard 22, met in middle school,
Gergel’s 27-month prison drifted apart during their
term was the minimum high school years and then
punishment under federal reconnected months be-
sentencing guidelines. The fore the shooting. Meek is
government wanted a the only person with whom
stiffer sentence to make an Roof is known to have
example out of Meek and shared his murderous plans.
because he could have Meek told the FBI that he
stopped the massacre. didn’t report the conver-
None of the victims’ fam- sation or call police even
ily members spoke in court, after hearing about the
and they had no comment shootings in Charleston be-
Joey Meek’s attorney, Deborah Barbier of Columbia, S.C. talks to the media Tuesday, March 21, for reporters. cause he was on proba-
2017, after her client was sentenced to 27 months for telling others not to report Dylann Roof in In a deal with prosecutors, tion for burglary and was
Emanuel AME Church shooting. Meek pleaded guilty to worried he would get in
(Brad Nettles/The Post And Courier via AP) concealment of a crime more trouble. He also said
and lying to the FBI. he was so scared after
JEFFREY COLLINS broke of a deadly shoot- The punishment was hand- Meek was not charged for hearing about the mas-
Associated Press ing rampage at Emanuel ed down by the federal failing to tell police about sacre that he wondered if
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — AME church. But instead judge who presided at the impending attack, he needed to get a gun to
During a night of vodka, of calling authorities, Meek Roof’s trial, which ended in since that is not a crime un- protect himself from Roof.
cocaine, marijuana and talked another friend out of January with the avowed der federal law. Instead, he “Joey sincerely hopes that
video games, Joey Meek going to police and giving white supremacist sen- was prosecuted for stop- anyone who has a friend
listened as a childhood them Dylann Roof’s name. tenced to death for mas- ping a friend immediately who is talking about hurting
buddy confided that he And then he lied to the FBI sacring nine black people after the slaughter from someone will take it seri-
hated blacks so much he about his conversation with as they bowed their heads calling the police to report ously, learn from his mistake
was going to kill them at a Roof. in prayer during a Wednes- Roof as a suspect. and notify the proper au-
Charleston church. For those crimes, Meek, 22, day night Bible study ses- The judge said Meek’s ac- thorities immediately,” his
Meek said he thought his was sentenced Tuesday sion on June 17, 2015. tions delayed Roof’s cap- attorney Deborah Barbier
friend was all talk until a to more than two years in Unlike Roof, Meek showed
week later, when news prison. remorse for his crimes. ture for hours, during which said outside court.q
Slain boy’s father says officers shot them without warning

M. KUNZELMAN ment officers fired 18 bullets regained consciousness officer who chased him. his car in reverse just before
Associated Press at his car at the tail end of at a hospital. That was the Few said he kept driving in the shooting.
MARKSVILLE, La. (AP) — a 2-mile chase. day of Jeremy’s funeral, six hopes of catching up with A prosecutor told jurors
Christopher Few remem- “The only thing I heard was days after the shooting in a girlfriend in a van ahead Monday that Stafford and
bers hearing the gunshots gunshots. Then I heard ver- Marksville. of him, so that she could another deputy city mar-
that tore into his flesh and bal commands after they A prosecutor, Matthew take care of his son if he shal weren’t in any danger
killed his 6-year-old autistic were through firing,” Few Derbes, asked Few if he re- got arrested. “The whole when they fired their semi-
son. The barrage of bullets said during the second grets not stopping his car reason there was even a automatic pistols at Few’s
didn’t stop when he stuck day of trial for Derrick Staf- when he saw the blue lights chase was for his well-be- car.Stafford’s attorneys,
his hands out the window ford, one of two officers from an officer’s vehicle. ing,” he said. however, are trying to pin
of his car in a sign of surren- charged with murder over “Most definitely,” Few said. He said his son remained the blame for the deadly
der. the November 2015 shoot- “Every day.” calm throughout the pur- confrontation on Few. They
But the 26-year-old father ing. Few, whose testimony But he insisted that he was suit. “He always liked going say Jeremy’s father led offi-
of Jeremy Mardis testified marked his first public state- driving safely and wasn’t on rides,” Few said. cers on a dangerous, high-
Tuesday that he never ments about the deadly trying to escape from the Few also said he didn’t speed chase and rammed
heard any warnings before encounter, said he learned three deputy city marshals recall telling investigators into a deputy’s vehicle be-
two Louisiana law enforce- of his son’s death when he and the Marksville police that he thought he had put fore the shooting.q