Dylann Roof Charged with 9 Counts of Murder as Report Claims He Almost Didn't Go Through with Shooting 'Because Everyone Was So Nice to Him

'Everyone Was So Nice to Him'

Church shooting suspect Dylann Storm Roof is taken in handcuffs from the Shelby Police Department in North CarolinaCHUCK BURTON/AP

BY TARA FOWLER

Dylann Roof, the 21-year-old accused ofkilling nine people at outside Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, reportedly told investigators that he almost scrapped his deadly
plans. 

Roof was arrested in North Carolina earlier on Thursday and was flown back to South Carolina after he waived extradition. He is charged with nine counts of murder. 

Sources told NBC News that Roof confessed to the brutal slayings that left nine dead, adding that he claimed he "almost didn't go through with [the shooting] because everyone was so nice to him." 

However, he eventually decided to "go through with his mission" after sitting with the parishioners for about an hour, sources said. 

Roof also allegedly told investigators that he wanted to start a race war, according to CNN.

Before Roof opened fire, a young parishioner at the church confronted him and tried to calm him down, Sylvia Stevenson Johnson, cousin of slain Rev. Clementa Pinckney, told PEOPLE. 

Roof allegedly responded: "No. You've raped our women and you've stolen and you've taken over the country, so no, this must be done," Johnson said. 

Roof is due in court at 2 p.m. ET.