Sister of accused Charleston church shooter seeking donations for wedding has account taken down

A few days after the sister of the suspect accused of killing nine parishioners at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston sought donations for wedding expenses online, her account was taken down.

Amber Roof created a GoFundMe page June 27 asking people for $5,000 to cover lost wedding costs and for a honeymoon. After several media outlets reported the page, it was taken down around 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

It is unclear whether Roof deleted the page or the website’s administrators took it down.

“The Charleston Massacre took place and our lives were forever changed,” Roof said in a statement posted on the website. “We canceled our wedding to protect our family and mourn the lives of those lost.”

Roof and her fiance, soldier Michael Tyo, were to be married June 21.

But that was canceled after Roof’s 21-year-old brother, Dylann Roof, was charged with entering the church and opening fire on parishioners during a Bible study. Among the nine killed was State Sen. Clementa Pinckney, the church’s pastor.

“We know money cannot replace the wedding we lost and our perfect day, however it will help us to create new memories and a new start with our new family,” Amber Roof said.

The account received $1,500 in donations. Roof said 10 percent of the money raised will be donated to Emanuel AME Church.

Some made a donation with supportive comments for Roof and her fiance while others criticized them.

As written, comments in support included:

“I too am getting married this August and can only imagine how this could (be) devastating to you. I hope my small contribution can help you out,” one commenter listed as Jason Barnes said.

As written, critical comments appearing before they were blocked included:

“You dont deserve any sympathy for your poor missed wedding. your racist family killed innocent people ... if i saw you or your parents id spit in your faces,” one commenter listed as Scott Howe said.

It was not known Thursday whether Roof’s wedding has been rescheduled, or whether it already has occurred.

This story was originally published July 2, 2015 at 12:06 PM with the headline "Sister of accused Charleston church shooter seeking donations for wedding has account taken down."