Dayton Shooting: Suspect and 9 dead, 26 wounded in Oregon District

Published: Sunday, August 04, 2019 @ 1:19 AM

Updated: Sunday, August 04, 2019 @ 7:38 AM

A shooting with multiple fatalities and several people wounded has occurred near Ned Peppers Bar on East Fifth Street in the city of Dayton’s Oregon District. Here’s the latest:

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UPDATE @ 7:39 a.m.: There have been 26 people wounded or injured in the shooting carried out wearing body armor, Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley said.

The shooter, who has not been identified, used a .223-caliber high-capacity magazine rifle and was wearing a mask or covering over his face.

“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,” Whaley said.

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

She called the shooting “a terrible day for Dayton.”

Ten people are confirmed dead (including the shooter) and at least 16 have been wounded or injured in the shooting near Ned Peppers Bar on East Fifth Street that occurred at 1 a.m., Dayton police Lt. Col. Matt Carper said.

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Police are trying to identify the suspect, who was shot to death by Dayton police officers, he said. As far as police know, there was only the one suspect, he said.

Police also are trying to determine what motivated the shooter, who Carper said used a long gun with multiple rounds.

There were officers on regular patrol in the Oregon District, which he called a very popular and usually safe section of the city.

MORE: PHOTOS: Scenes from the Oregon District shooting

There was “a very short timeline of violence” because the officers were on their regular patrols of the district. “We’re very fortunate for that,” he said. “We had officers in the immediate vicinity when this shooting began and were able to respond and put an end to it quickly,” Carper said.

Several area police departments responded to a “Signal 99” broadcast asking for all available police to respond to the district. Agents with the FBI and ATF are on scene as well.

Carper said the police department has opened the Convention Center, which is near the Oregon District, for family members and friends who were disconnected from their family members and friends during the shooting.

For people who have information that could help police, Carper said they should call 937-225-6217.

MORE: Hotlines, meeting site set for families of victims

A man identifying himself as Jeff, who said he is a bouncer at an establishment next door to Ned Peppers, said he was 20 feet from the gunman and saw the muzzle flashes.

“He damaged our city,” said Jeff, who asked that his last name not be used.

MORE: 21 mass shooting in the U.S in 2019

Liz Long, Kettering Health Network spokeswoman, said the hospital has received victims from the shooting, but they have no information on numbers or patient conditions yet, as their focus is on treating the patients.

Sources are telling us there are at least 10 people dead and an unknown number of wounded. We’re working to confirm some eyewitness accounts that a person who was denied entry into the bar opened fire.

In a public Facebook post from a person named James Williams: “Sad people are not right. I’m safe. Happened right in front of the patio where I was sitting in front of Neds. The guy in front of Ned Peppers’ door is the active shooter.

If you witnessed the incident in the #OregonDistrict or have any information on the incident that would aid in the investigation, please call 937-225-6217. — Dayton Police Dept. (@DaytonPolice) August 4, 2019

“He tried to go into the bar but did not make it through the door. Someone took the gun from him and he got shot and is dead.

“There are at least eight people dead right by the picnic table where I was on the street. A bunch of people taken to the hospital. I don’t know how any... this place is a disaster.”

Unconfirmed reports via police and fire scanners are indicating there may be as many as seven dead and an unknown number of victims wounded in a shooting at or near Ned Peppers Bar, in the 400 block of East Fifth Street.

Those scanner reports, also unconfirmed, are indicating that police are searching for a possible second shooter who may have left the area.

We’re hearing that a triage area has been established in the Oregon District and police are checking the bars in the area for any additional victims. Medics are reporting critical patients in the area.

Some of those same reports are also indicating that medics are directing people being described as “walking wounded” to Grandview and Kettering hospitals.

Police are responding to a report of an active shooter in the area of East Fifth Street in the Oregon District.

Initial reports indicate multiple people shot, and medics are responding to the area. Reports also indicate that a shooter is down.

We are working to learn more and will update this story as we hear more.

If you have a news tip, call our 24-hour line at 937-259-2237 or send it to [email protected]