Friend of alleged Charleston church shooter expected to appear in court after arrest

COLUMBIA, S.C. – A friend of the alleged Charleston church shooter has been arrested and is expected to make his first court appearance.

Twenty-one-year-old Joey Meek is expected to appear in court Friday. He was arrested Thursday, more than a month after authorities told him he was under federal investigation for lying to them and failing to report a crime.

Meek's girlfriend says he's innocent. It's not clear whether he has an attorney yet.

Meek has said Dylann Roof, who's accused of killing nine black church members during Bible study on June 17, stayed with him before the shootings. Meek told The Associated Press that Roof had drunkenly complained that "blacks were taking over the world" and "someone needed to do something about it for the white race."