Charleston church shooting survivors speak out

'It is the Charleston 12. There's 12 of us.'

Survivors of the Charleston Church shooting open up about that fateful day.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (Catholic Online) - In an exclusive interview with NBC News' Lester Holt, Felecia Sanders and Polly Sheppard spoke about the day Dylann Roof came into their church and opened fire.

"We were just about to say the prayer to be released," Sanders said. "He caught us with our eyes closed. I never told nobody this."

Both Sheppard and Sanders told Holt they wanted their fallen friends to be remembered as heroes, not victims.

When she recalled the shooting that took place June 17 at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Sanders said she was there with her son, 26-year-old Tywanza and her 11-year-old granddaughter and another relative named Susie. By the end of the night, only Sheppard, her granddaughter and herself remained alive.

Sanders recalled closing her eyes for the prayer when she heard the gunshots. 

"It sounded like a transformer blew," she said. She told her granddaughter to pretend she was dead and saw her son, who was wounded, crawling across the room in an attempt to protect Susie.

"What I think of Tywanza, those last moments -my hero. My hero," Sanders said. "He took a lot of bullets."

Sanders had tried to keep the people near her calm. "I was telling my son, 'Just lay here, just lay here' and my granddaughter was hollering, saying she was so afraid."

After losing her son and Susie among fellow churchgoers, Sanders admits she has forgiven Roof for his actions and would only want to ask him a question if the opportunity ever arose. 

"I would like to ask him why. I really want to ask him why he did it. If we were so nice to you, why did you do it? I want Dylann to see my face," she continued. "I want Dylann to hear Tywanza's voice all the days of his life. He didn't have to do it. He didn't have to do it. He didn't have to do it."
Sheppard said she did not attend Roof's bond hearing but admitted, "I hold no malice. I'm trying to get better from this. I have to forgive him."

"I don't believe in the death penalty," Sheppard said. "I believe he should have to think about this the rest of his life. He's got a long time, if he's healthy. I believe in repentance."

Sanders believes the price Roof must pay is something he can't blame on others. Whatever he gets, "Dylann Roof did to himself," she said.

"When he walked into Emanuel Church, he already decided the rest of his life," Sanders continued. "Nobody gave him the death penalty, neither life in prison. He did it to himself. So whatever it is, I'll accept."

Sheppard spoke up about "The Charleston Nine," referring to the victims of the shooting. "It is the Charleston 12. There's 12 of us. We have to die to be recognized? Thank God you have three alive. You should be honored to say 12."

Roof was given the death penalty for the murders of the nine shooting victims. His racially-charged issues were investigated and was found to be completely lacking in remorse for his actions.

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