A gunman wearing body armour and carrying extra magazines opened fire in a popular nightlife area of Dayton, Ohio, killing nine and injuring dozens, authorities say, in the second U.S. mass shooting in less than 24 hours.
Dayton police patrolling the area responded in less than a minute to the shooting, which unfolded around 1 a.m. Sunday on the streets of the Oregon District, Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley said at a press conference.
Whaley said if the police had not responded so quickly, 鈥渉undreds of people in the Oregon District could be dead today.鈥�
The Oregon District is a historic neighbourhood that Lt. Col. Matt Carper described as 鈥渁 safe part of downtown,鈥� home to entertainment options, including bars, restaurants and theatres.
The gunman, who has not been identified by authorities, was shot to death by responding officers. Whaley said he was carrying a .223-calibre rifle and had additional high-capacity magazines with him. Police believe there was only one shooter, and have not yet identified the suspect or a motive.
I鈥檓 heartbroken. Thank you to our first responders for all that you鈥檝e done. We will share updates as we have more information.
鈥� Nan Whaley (@nanwhaley)
At least 26 others are being treated at area hospitals, though no details about their conditions have been released.
Miami Valley Hospital spokeswoman Terrea Little said the hospital had received 16 victims, but she couldn鈥檛 confirm their conditions. Kettering Health Network spokeswoman Elizabeth Long said multiple victims from a shooting had been brought to system hospitals, but she didn鈥檛 have details on how many.
Nikita Papillon, 23, was across the street at Newcom鈥檚 Tavern when the shooting started. She said she saw a girl she had talked to earlier lying outside Ned Peppers Bar.
鈥淪he had told me she liked my outfit and thought I was cute, and I told her I liked her outfit and I thought she was cute,鈥� Papillon said. She herself had been to Ned Peppers the night before, describing it as the kind of place 鈥渨here you don鈥檛 have to worry about someone shooting up the place.鈥�
鈥淧eople my age, we don鈥檛 think something like this is going to happen,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd when it happens, words can鈥檛 describe it.鈥�
馃挃heartbroken. The Oregon District is a beautiful, fun, inviting, open to all place to be. So sad today.
鈥� Julie Wright Payton (@juliekwpayton54)
Tianycia Leonard, 28, was in the back, smoking, at Newcom鈥檚. She heard 鈥渓oud thumps鈥� that she initially thought was people pounding on a dumpster.
鈥淚t was so noisy, but then you could tell it was gunshots and there was a lot of rounds,鈥� Leonard said.
President Donald Trump has been briefed on the shooting and praised law enforcement鈥檚 speedy response in a tweet Sunday morning.
Gov. Mike DeWine issued his own statement before 7 a.m., announcing that he鈥檚 ordered flags in Ohio remain at half-staff and offered assistance to Whaley.
鈥淔ran and I are absolutely heartbroken over the horrible attack that occurred this morning in Dayton, the statement said. 鈥淲e join those across Ohio and this country in offering our prayers to victims and their families.鈥�
I commend Dayton Police and other first responders for their bravery and quick response to save lives and bring an end to this tragedy.
鈥� Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine)
I have ordered that flags in Ohio remain at half mast in honor and memory of the victims who lost their lives this morning.
The FBI is assisting with the investigation. A family assistance centre was set up at the Dayton Convention Center.
The Ohio shooting 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鈥檚 Gilroy Garlic Festival.
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Sunday鈥檚 shooting in Dayton is the 22nd mass killing of 2019 in the U.S., according to the AP/USA Today/Northeastern University mass murder database that tracks homicides where four or more people were killed 鈥� not including the offender. The 20 mass killings in the U.S. in 2019 that preceded this weekend claimed 96 lives.
The shooting in Dayton comes after the area was heavily damaged when tornadoes swept through western Ohio in late May, destroying or damaging hundreds of homes and businesses.
鈥淒ayton has been through a lot already this year, and I continue to be amazed by the grit and resiliency of our community,鈥� Whaley said.
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Dan Sewell And John Minchillo, The Associated Press
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