A shooter opened fire about 1 a.m. Aug. 4 in Dayton’s Oregon District, killing nine people and injuring 27, Dayton police say.
In a news conference later that day, Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley told reporters that the shooter was wearing body armor and carrying an assault rifle with 100-round magazines. Law enforcement officials have said the shooter was 24-year-old Connor Betts of Bellbrook, a Dayton suburb.
Dayton officials released the names of the people killed, including Megan Betts, 22, the sister of the shooter. Others killed include Monica Brickhouse, 39; Nicholas Cummer, 25; Beatrice Warren-Curtis, 36; Derrick Fudge, 57; Thomas McNichols, 25; Lois Oglesby, 27; Saeed Saleh, 38; and Logan Turner, 30.
The shooting took place near a bar called Ned Peppers. Whaley said the killings happened outside and that the shooting wasn’t an issue with the club.
Nearby officers responded within a minute of the shooting and fired on and killed the suspect. Police officials believe the shooter acted alone.
Dayton police officials say they are still early in their investigation and have not yet determined a motive for the killings. High school classmates of Betts say he had a predilection toward violence and kept a “rape list” and “kill list” of his fellow students, though police cautioned against drawing any conclusions from Betts’ high school behavior before an investigation is completed.
“Dayton has been through a lot already this year,” Whaley said, referencing tornadoes that ripped through the city in May. “I continue to be amazed by the grit and resiliency of our community.”
The Dayton killings were the second mass shooting in the U.S. in less than a day. Twenty people were killed and many others injured during a mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas Aug 2. Authorities there apprehended the suspect, a white male identified as Patrick Crusius. Federal authorities have indicated they are investigating that shooting as a possible hate crime.
“Today is the 250th mass shooting in America. It’s sad that it happened in the city of Dayton,” Whaley said.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine spoke at a news conference today about the shooting to praise first responders.
“The assailant was obviously very, very close to being able to kill dozens and dozens more people,” DeWine said.
Hundreds crowded into the Oregon District Aug. 4 to remember the victims of the shooting. Many chanted “do something” as DeWine addressed the crowd, drowning out the governor’s speech.
City officials say the Dayton Foundation is collecting donations for the families of those killed and injured.
This story will be updated
This article appears in Jul 31 – Aug 7, 2019.
