DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — Ten people are dead, including a suspect, in a mass shooting in the Oregon District in downtown Dayton early Sunday morning.
App users click here to watch a live stream from the scene
The shooting happened just after 1 am in the 400 block of East Fifth St. 27 people were injured and taken to area hospitals in unknown conditions.
Police believe there was only one shooter, and have not yet identified the suspect or a motive. The suspect was wearing body armor and used a .223 caliber rifle, firing multiple rounds.
“Fortunately, we had multiple officers in the immediate vicinity when the incident started. There was a very short timeline of violence. For that, we are very fortunate,” Carper said.
Police have identified the suspect as 24-year-old Connor Betts of Brookville. One of the victims, according to police, was 22-year-old Megan Betts, his sister.
Social media soon filled with video and photos of the aftermath. The video below was captured by Cory Donald. The video has been edited for content and may be disturbing to some viewers.
President Trump tweeted Sunday morning about the shootings in both Dayton and El Paso, Texas.
Gov. Mike DeWine issued the following statement about the mass shooting just before 7 a.m. on Sunday.
“Fran and I are absolutely heartbroken over the horrible attack that occurred this morning in Dayton. We join those across Ohio and this country in offering our prayers to victims and their families. I have spoken with Mayor Nan Whaley and offered any assistance on behalf of the state. I have been briefed by the Ohio Department of Public Safety, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol has offered assistance to local law enforcement as they investigate this heinous act. I commend Dayton Police and other first responders for their bravery and quick response to save lives and bring an end to this tragedy.”
GOV. MIKE DEWINE
“I have ordered that flags in Ohio remain at half-mast in honor and memory of the victims who lost their lives this morning.”
Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley will hold a news conference Sunday morning.
According to a Kettering Medical Center spokesperson, 13 victims are being treated at Kettering Hospitals, nine of those are at Grandview Medical Center. Most of the victims suffered gunshot wounds to the lower body. Three people have been treated and released. Of the six people still admitted, three are in serious condition and three are in fair condition.
At Kettering Medical Center, one patient was taken there. That patient is in serious condition.
At Miami Valley Hospital, 16 patients were taken to the medical center. Twelve of the 16 were treated and released. Four patients are still admitted and one is in critical condition, according to Dr. Greg Semon of Miami Valley Hospital. Patients were treated for a number of issues, including multiple gunshot wounds and injuries sustained by fleeing the scene.
Police say 10 people are dead including the suspect. 27 people were injured in the incident and taken to hospitals. Of the 27, 15 have been released. Mayor Nan Whaley said that Dayton Police were at the scene and neutralized the suspect within a minute of when the shooting began.
A reunification center has been opened at the Dayton Convention Center, located at 22 E. Fifth St., where families can get information and reconnect with loved ones.
A dedicated phone line has been established for anyone with information about the incident or to get information. That number is 937-225-6217.
Vigils are being scheduled around the Dayton area, including a community vigil that will take place at 8 pm Sunday. More information about the vigil will be released later Sunday.
The FBI is also on the scene assisting with the investigation.
2 NEWS has several crews at the scene and will provide updates when more information is available.
“This is extremely unusual, obviously, for any community, let alone Dayton,” Carper said. “In our Oregon District, this is unheard of.”
The mass shooting in Dayton came hours after a young man opened fire in a crowded El Paso, Texas, shopping area, leaving 20 dead and more than two dozen injured. Just days before, on July 28, a 19-year-old shot and killed three people, including two children, at Northern California’s Gilroy Garlic Festival.
The El Paso shooting was the 21st mass killing in the United States in 2019, according to the AP/USATODAY/Northeastern University mass murder database that tracks all U.S. homicides since 2006 involving four or more people killed — not including the offender — over a short period of time regardless of weapon, location, victim-offender relationship or motive. That makes Sunday’s shooting in Dayton the 22nd mass killed in the U.S. this year.
The first 20 mass killings in the U.S. in 2019 claimed 96 lives.
