A shooter killed nine and injured 27 more in a mass shooting early Sunday morning in Dayton, Ohio, the city's mayor, Nan Whaley, said in a press conference. The incident took place on the street outside of and around Ned Peppers Bar, and police say the shooting began around 1 a.m. local time, the Associated Press reports. “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 Lt. Col. Matt Carper told the Dayton Daily News.
The shooting happened 20 hours after another mass shooting killed 20 and injured 26 in El Paso, Texas.
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The shooter, who officials named as 24-year-old Connor Betts of Bellbrook, Ohio, was killed on the site by police within one minute of engaging with the officers. No suspect or motive has yet been identified, but Carper said in a press conference that due to the short amount of time in which the shooting occurred "it was hard to imagine there was much discrimination" in them. He was wearing body armour and carrying a .223-caliber rifle with extra high-capacity magazines, Whaley said in a press conference.
Fifteen of the 27 people injured have been discharged, Whaley said in the press conference. Most suffered from gunshot wounds, CNN reports, but others were treated for injuries such as cuts sustained while trying to flee the shooting.
Whaley tweeted that she is "heartbroken," and thanked the city's first responders.
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
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine tweeted similar sentiments, adding that he had offered Whaley and Dayton the assistance of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, as well as ordering state flags to be flown at half-mast and saying he spoke with President Donald Trump.
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.
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) August 4, 2019
Trump sent condolences to victims of the Dayton and El Paso shootings on Sunday morning, saying that the FBI is working with local law enforcement in both cities following the two mass shootings this weekend.
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
The Oregon District will be open this afternoon, Whaley said, but that businesses on the street may decide whether to open for the day.
This is a breaking news story. It will be updated with new information as it becomes available.
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