Samson was indicted on 43 charges , including first-degree murder , aggravated assault , and civil rights intimidation . His trial began on May 20 , 2019 . Prosecutors argued that Samson arrived at the church with the intention of killing 10 white churchgoers as retaliation for the 2015 Charleston Church shooting , in which 9 African-American churchgoers were killed by a white supremacist . Samson 's defense argued that Samson 's actions were not premeditated , and were instead spontaneous and intended to effectuate his suicide
2015 Charleston Church shooting
Charleston church shooting
Burnette Chapel shooting