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Dayton Shooting

At least 9 dead, 27 injured. Victims identified. What we know about the Dayton, Ohio shooting

  • The shooter wore body armor, had extra magazines
  • Authorities responded to the deadly scene in less than a minute

Police have released the names of those killed when a gunman opened fire in a popular entertainment district in Dayton, Ohio, killing at least nine people and injuring 27 others early Sunday. The assailant was killed by officers responding to the call. The FBI has joined the investigation. Early Sunday, witnesses took to social media to report shots fired and police and ambulances in the area known as the Oregon District.

Police in Bellbrook, Ohio, identified the shooter as Connor Betts, 24, of Bellbrook, 15 miles southeast of Dayton.

It was the second mass shooting in less than 24 hours. Late Saturday morning, a gunman opened fire at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, killing 20 and wounding 26.

Here's what we know about the Dayton shooting:

Dayton, Ohio shooting:Nine dead, 27 injured; suspected gunman killed, police say

Where did the shooting take place?

The shootings occurred at 1 a.m. EDT in the 400 block of East 5th Street, police said. Though the trendy area has many bars and restaurants, the incident occurred outside. "Downtown Dayton is a very safe area," said Assistant Chief of Police Matt Carper. “This is unheard of and very sad. It’s a very tragic evening.”

Dayton police said at a press conference on Sunday that the suspect attempted to enter Ned Peppers, a bar in the area, before being shot by the 6 officers who responded at the scene. Video shown at the conference shows the suspect falling to the ground within seconds. 

Who are the victims?

Nine people were killed and at least 27 people were injured, according to police. Miami Valley Hospital said it received 16 patients, but their conditions were not immediately available, spokeswoman Terrea Little said. 

Dayton police chief Richard Biehl said at Sunday's press conference that one of the victims is in critical condition. 

The gunman was white; six of those killed were black.The names of those killed were released and included Betts' 22-year-old sister.

  • Megan K. Betts, 22
  • Lois L. Oglesby, 27
  • Saeed Saleh, 38
  • Logan M. Turner, 30
  • Nicholas P. Cumer, 25
  • Thomas J. McNichols, 25
  • Beatrice N. Warren-Curtis, 36
  • Monica E. Brickhouse, 39
  • Derrick R. Fudge, 57

Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley said the city would conduct a vigil Sunday night.

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What is the latest on the shooter?

Police in Bellbrook, Ohio, identified the shooter as Connor Betts, 24, of Bellbrook, 15 miles southeast of Dayton. The gunman was shot to death by officers. Whaley said the shooter wore body armor and was armed with a "high capacity" rifle and extra magazines. "In less than a minute, Dayton first responders neutralized the shooter," she said. "This is a terribly sad day for the city, but I am amazed by the response."

Deb Decker, Montgomery County (Ohio) Emergency Services public information officer, told CNN a gunman dressed in body armor and carrying an "assault weapon" began shooting near a pub called Blind Bob's. She said he was making his way toward a nearby tavern, Ned Peppers, when someone grabbed the barrel of the gun.

Biehl said at Sunday's press conference that the gunman was wearing a ballistic vest and some kind of mask during the shooting. The two weapons he had with him, one of which was left in his vehicle during the shooting, were purchased legally from two different firearms dealers. 

He also said that the victims included the gunman's 22-year-old sister, Megan, and one of his friends. The three of them arrived at the scene together, but separated at some point before the shooting occurred, he said. The car the gunman used was registered to his father. 

More: Dayton, Ohio shooting: Gunman's sister among nine killed by Connor Betts

Bellbrook Police Chief Doug Doherty declined to discuss a motive for the shooting, but he said Betts' parents were "floored" by the news.

"We don't know the why. We don't know the whats, any of those questions," Doherty said. "But we do know that there is a mom and dad down there that are really hurting."

The latest on El Paso:At least 20 dead. Suspected gunman arrested. What we know about the El Paso shooting

How did lawmakers react?

Seven hours after tweeting out condolences to families of victims in El Paso, President Donald Trump tweeted that the FBI was aiding the investigations in El Paso and Dayton. He lauded the efforts of first responders in both cities. "God bless the people of El Paso Texas," he tweeted. "God bless the people of Dayton, Ohio." Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said in he was "heartbroken" over the attack. "We join those across Ohio and this country in offering our prayers to victims and their families," he said.

Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, who graduated from the University of Dayton and represented the city as a lawmaker, said in a tweet that what we know about the situation is "shocking and dreadful."

"Over the years I have been to the Oregon District in many times. To see this happen there is devastating."

Dayton, El Paso and Gilroy are just the start:Mass shootings are more numerous, deadly

Contributing: Sharon Coolidge, Sam Greene and Randy Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer; John Bacon and Vandana Ravikumar USA TODAY.

Follow N'dea Yancey-Bragg on Twitter: @NdeaYanceyBragg

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