9 dead in Dayton in second mass shooting of weekend

Nine people were killed and at least 27 others were injured early Sunday in a mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio, hours after another incident in El Paso, Texas, claimed the lives of 20 victims.

Dayton police said the shooting occurred at 1 a.m. in the city’s historic Oregon District. WHIO in Dayton reported that it happened near a bar on East Fifth Street.

{mosads}Officials said the shooter, identified as Connor Betts, 24, was killed by officers. Betts’s sister, 22-year-old Meghan Betts, was among the victims, they added. 

Mayor Nan Whaley (D) told reporters that the shooter used a .223-caliber rifle and had extra magazines. She added that the shooter was wearing body armor and concealed their face.

Whaley said the shooter was “neutralized” in “less than one minute.”

“If the Dayton police had not gotten to the shooter in under a minute, hundreds of people in the Oregon District would be dead today,” she said.

The police department tweeted that officers were “in the immediate vicinity” and were able to “put an end” to the incident “quickly.”

#OregonDistrict #update We had officers in the immediate vicinity when this shooting began and were able to respond and put an end to it quickly.

— Dayton Police Dept. (@DaytonPolice) August 4, 2019

The department described the investigation and crime scene as “large” and said the FBI is assisting with the investigation.

“This is extremely unusual, obviously, for any community, let alone Dayton,” Lt. Col. Matt Carper told reporters, according to the AP. “In our Oregon District, this is unheard of.”

“This is the 250th mass shooting in America [in 2019],” Whaley said. “It’s sad that it’s in the city of Dayton.”

She added in a tweet Sunday morning that she was “heartbroken.”

“Thank you to our first responders for all that you’ve done. We will share updates as we have more information,” she tweeted.

I’m heartbroken. Thank you to our first responders for all that you’ve done. We will share updates as we have more information.

— Nan Whaley (@nanwhaley) August 4, 2019

On Saturday, at least 20 people were killed and 26 more injured in another mass shooting at a Walmart near a mall in El Paso.

One person — said to be a 21-year-old man — was taken into custody.

A manifesto obtained by The Hill that was reportedly posted online by the shooter was filled with racist and hate-filled speech about the rate of immigration in America and Texas and linked such issues to elites in both the Democratic and Republican parties.

President Trump in a tweet early Sunday said the El Paso shooting was an act of “cowardice.”

….Melania and I send our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the great people of Texas.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 4, 2019

“The FBI, local and state law enforcement are working together in El Paso and in Dayton, Ohio,” he tweeted later Sunday morning. “Information is rapidly being accumulated in Dayton. Much has already be learned in El Paso. Law enforcement was very rapid in both instances. Updates will be given throughout the day!”

The FBI, local and state law enforcement are working together in El Paso and in Dayton, Ohio. Information is rapidly being accumulated in Dayton. Much has already be learned in El Paso. Law enforcement was very rapid in both instances. Updates will be given throughout the day!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 4, 2019

“God bless the people of El Paso Texas. God bless the people of Dayton, Ohio,” he tweeted in a subsequent post.

God bless the people of El Paso Texas. God bless the people of Dayton, Ohio.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 4, 2019

Trump on Sunday ordered U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff at federal facilities until Thursday as a “mark of solemn respect” for the victims of the two shootings. 

Three people were killed in a shooting one week ago at a popular garlic festival in Gilroy, Calif.

Zack Budryk contributed to this report, which was updated at 1:34 p.m.