Accused Charleston Killer Dylann Roof Gets Punched in Jail Bathroom

The man accused of carrying out a racially-charged attack at the historic Charleston Emanuel AME Church last year was punched by another inmate at a South Carolina jail on Thursday.

Dylann Roof, 22, was attacked after being let out of his cell to take a shower on Thursday morning, according to Charleston County Sheriff Al Cannon.

It was then that fellow inmate Dwayne Stafford, who is African American, ran down a set of stairs to go after Roof and punched him “a number of times and assaulted him quickly,” Cannon said at a press conference. Cannon did not confirm whether or not the attack was motivated by race, according to AP.

Also Read: Charleston Church Shooting Suspect Dylann Roof Will Face Death Penalty, Feds Say

Roof sustained minor bruising to his face and back but will not be pursuing charges against Stafford, who is in jail awaiting trial on strong-armed robbery and first-degree assault charges, the wire service also reported.

Officials are currently investigating how Stafford was able to get out of his cell to reach Roof, given that only one prisoner is allowed out at a time.

Cannon said that during the time of the attack, one detention officer assigned to the unit had been on a break while another had been called to deliver toilet paper to a different cell, AP reported.

Also Read: Obama Sings 'Amazing Grace' During Poignant Eulogy for Slain Charleston Pastor (Video)

Just like a similar incident involving Colorado movie theater mass shooter, James Holmes, the attack on Roof brought praise on Twitter with calls for donations to Stafford’s jail commissary account.

Dwayne Stafford about to be a thousandaire when he wakes up tomorrow. All the top ramen and honey buns he could ever want

— Rebecca (@i_say_hella) August 4, 2016

The man that beat up Dylan Roof is named Dwayne Stafford..go on and load the mans commissary account for his good deed.

— Rebecca (@i_say_hella) August 4, 2016

Can we set up a GoFundMe for the homie that beat Dylann Roof into a bloody mess. He deserves extra commissary and phone time.

— Anonymous (@AnonyMobLive) August 4, 2016

The freedom fighter who clocked Dylann Roof…and how to put money on his books

…y'know. No reason. Just FYI… ???? pic.twitter.com/l1lL70wncg

— Angry Black Hoe-Mo (@angryblackhoemo) August 4, 2016

Roof — who has been charged with 33 federal offenses — will face the death penalty for killing nine black parishioners in Charleston in June 2015.

But on Monday, his lawyers filed a legal challenge to the penalty on the basis that it was “arbitrary and cruel,” and that Roof would drop the challenge if federal prosecutors allowed him to plead guilty and receive a life sentence without parole. His trial is scheduled to begin on Nov. 7.