Friend of church shooter arrested

Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C.

A friend of the alleged Charleston church shooter was arrested Thursday, more than a month after authorities told him he was under federal investigation for lying to them and failing to report a crime, an official close to the probe said.

Joey Meek, 21, was arrested Thursday, the official told The Associated Press, speaking only on the condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to publicly talk about the case. The official didn’t immediately say what charges Meek faces.

Meek has said that Dylann Roof, who is accused of killing nine black church members during Bible study on June 17, stayed with him before the shootings. Meek told The Associated Press that Roof had drunkenly complained that “blacks were taking over the world” and “someone needed to do something about it for the white race.”