Justice Department Will Seek Death Penalty for Charleston Church Shooter Dylann Roof

This photo provided by Charleston County Sheriff's Office shows Dylann Roof, Thursday, June 18, 2015. Roof, 21, was arrested Thursday in the slayings of several people Wednesday, including the pastor, at a prayer meeting inside The Emanuel African... (Copyright by WSLS - All rights reserved)

Erik Ortiz, NBC News – CHARLESTON, S.C. (NBC NEWS) - The Department of Justice will seek the death penalty against Charleston, South Carolina, church shooter Dylann Roof, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced Tuesday.

Lynch said in a statement that her department came to that decision after a "rigorous review process."

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"The nature of the alleged crime and the resulting harm compelled this decision," she said.

Roof, 22, will stand trial for slaughtering nine people last June at the historically black Emanuel AME Church. He was charged with nine counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.