Charleston shooting victim posted Snapchat from Bible study moments before attack

 By 
Brian Ries
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

The youngest victim to die in the tragic shooting at the historic Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C. shared a Snapchat video from the doomed bible study group in the moments before Dylann Storm Roof allegedly killed him and eight others.

In Tywanza Sanders's Snapchat video, which was obtained by Mashable and confirmed by four friends, a man is seen talking to the group seated around a large table covered with papers. Most of the participants at the bible study -- and all of the victims -- are black. But one man, seated at the far end of the table, is white.

Friends of Sanders say that man is Roof.

Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

The bible study participants had welcomed the 21-year-old to sit with the group only to have him allegedly turn his gun on them after being there for an hour.

"I didn't notice until now that Dylann was just a few people away from Wanza," one friend told Mashable after showing us the clip. "You can slightly see him in the right corner of the screenshot."

Others tweeted their shock about the snap on Twitter.

You can actually see the white dude in Wanza last snap too smh— Elroy Brown (@JheriKurlEarl) June 18, 2015

I just watched his snapchat!— Michèle (@i_loveMimi) June 18, 2015

Smh wanza's snapchat from last night , if you look to the right you can see Dylann Roof ....Smfh #AMEShooting pic.twitter.com/zqG5cSW5bQ— RIP JON SNOW (@JiamasJ) June 18, 2015

About Tywanza Sanders

Tywanza Sanders graduated in 2014 from Allen University.

Tywanza was a "quiet, well-known student who was committed to his education," Allen University Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Dr. Flavia Eldemire told Mashable. Eldemire added that Sanders, 26, had a "warm and helpful spirit."

That smile was EVERYTHING Wanza, never forget freshman year meeting you, pure clown. RIP Wanza #PrayForCharleston pic.twitter.com/wrDcCDcpIX— Love (@Zuri_Aleksi) June 18, 2015

“Our hearts and prayers are with the families of these two victims of this senseless act of violence," said Dr. Lady June Cole, interim president of Allen University.

But to friends remarking to his death on Twitter, "Wanza" is remembered as a "chill dude" who was overwhelmingly positive and who will leave a lasting impact. "He was literally a walking angel, always positive and uplifting," one said.

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