Coroner finds suspected Dayton shooter had drugs in his system during attack
A memorial to mass shooting victims outside Ned Peppers Bar on Aug. 5, near the scene of the massacre in Dayton, Ohio. Photo: Megan Jelinger/AFP/Getty Images
Police in Dayton, Ohio, said that 24-year-old Connor Betts shot 26 people in 32 seconds before officers killed him in the Aug. 4 attack that left 10 dead, including the gunman, WHIO TV reports.
The latest: The gunman had cocaine, antidepressants and alcohol in his system during the shooting, AP reports, citing the Montgomery County coroner. A U.S. magistrate judge ordered that 24-year-old Ethan Kollie be held without bond on Thursday. Kollie, a friend of Betts, purchased body armor and a high-capacity magazine used in the shooting. Kollie has been charged with "lying on a federal firearms form while buying a pistol not used in the attack," per AP.
What else we know: The FBI is assisting the Dayton police department to investigate the shooting. Special agent in charge of the FBI's Cincinnati field office, Todd Wickerham, told reporters that their investigation had “uncovered evidence that the shooter was exploring violent ideologies," per the NYT.
- Wickerham said no evidence had been found to suggest "a racial motivation for the shooting."
- Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl said that the suspect's 22-year-old sister, Megan Betts, was among the first people shot in the attack, but it remains unclear if she was intentionally killed, per AP.
- Kollie was charged in the Southern District of Ohio with possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance and making a false statement to buy his gun. He could face up to 15 years in prison.
- Biehl clarified at an Aug. 13 news conference that 17 people were injured in the shooting. Authorities said previously that 14 were treated for gunshot wounds.
- The police chief told a news conference on Aug. 6 the suspect's "orientation toward violent ideologies" meant the FBI would take a central role in investigations. Local police would focus on the murder investigation, he said.
We have found very specific violent ideologies that the shooter we know followed and was interested in."— Special agent Todd Wickerham, head of the FBI's Cincinnati field office
- Lt. Col. Matt Carper, the Dayton deputy chief of police, said the suspect was shot to death by responding officers who were on the scene at 1am.
- The suspect was wearing body armor, a mask and ear protection. He used a .223 high-capacity gun and was carrying at least 100 rounds, according to authorities.
- Police told CNN they found writings from Betts stating he wanted to kill people. A Twitter account was found that appears to have retweets of extreme left-wing, anti-police and anti-fascist posts. Classmates of Betts' told CNN he kept a "hit list" of peers he wanted to kill or rape. Police were unable to determined a motive based on the writings.
- Megan Betts and a friend traveled to Dayton's historic Oregon District with the shooter before separating. The companion was injured in the shooting, per the Washington Post.
- Biehl said that the suspect bought the rifle used in the shooting online from a dealer in Texas and there is no indication that it was purchased illegally.
The victims: Authorities confirmed the following people were victims in the Aug. 4 shooting: Lois Oglesby, 27; Megan Betts, 22; Saeed Saleh, 38; Derrick Fudge, 57; Logan Turner, 30; Nicholas Cumer, 25; Thomas McNichols, 25; Beatrice Warren-Curtis, 36; Monica Brickhouse, 39.
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Correction: This post has been updated to reflect the fact that Lois Oglesby was one of the people killed (not Louis Oglesby).
Editor's note: This article has been updated with more details throughout.