Charleston Church Shooting
Mourners attend the funeral service of Ethel Lance, 70, at Royal Missionary Baptist Church in North Charleston, South Carolina, June 25, 2015. Lance was one of nine victims of a mass shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church last week. The accused gunman's family released a statement Thursday offering their condolences. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Dylann Roof's family released a new statement Thursday as the first funerals were held for Ethel Lance and other victims of the June 18 shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Roof, 21, faces nine counts of murder and one weapon charge after he allegedly shot and killed nine people during a Bible study at the historic black church.

Speaking through attorney Boyd Young, Roof's family once again expressed condolences to the victims' families and said they would postpone further comment out of respect to mourners. The statement can be read in its entirely below, courtesy of WAGA-TV in Atlanta.

There have been many questions asked regarding the story behind the tragic shooting that took place at Emanuel AME in Charleston, South Carolina. We know that there will continue to be questions. Rest assured, in the coming days, as more information becomes available, we will do our best to answer them.

That being said, we would like to take this time to reflect on the victims and give their families time to grieve. We feel it would be inappropriate to say anything at this time other than that we are truly sorry for their loss.

After an appropriate time, there will be an opportunity to have questions answered, but we ask that right now, care and attention and support be given to the grieving family members of the victims.

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