SLAUGHTERED IN THE STREET
Dayton Ohio shooting – Faces of victims murdered by Connor Betts, 24, who shot dead 9 including his own SISTER
THE victims slaughtered by Connor Betts - including his own sister - have been revealed after his gun rampage at an Ohio bar.
The 24-year-old, from Bellbrook, opened fire with a high-powered rifle outside a drinking spot in the town of Dayton - just 12 hours after another gunman shot dead 20 in a Texas Walmart.
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Cops neutralised the killer by fatally shooting him approximately 30 seconds after he gunned down revellers enjoying a Saturday night out.
Police formally identified the shooter as Connor Betts and named all nine victims - including his own 22-year-old sister Megan Betts.
Six of the nine victims were African American but police said they don't think it was targeted discrimination because of the short timeline of the massacre.
Donald Trump said on Sunday that "hate has no place in our country" as the tragedy in Dayton comes after a mass shooting in a Texas Walmart left 20 dead just a few miles from the Mexican border.
MIDWEST MASSACRE
The Ohio shooter is believed to have opened fire near Ned Peppers Bar in the city's Oregon district just after 1am.
Police were already patrolling the area as bars were starting to close down when they heard gunfire and engaged with Betts - who was wearing a mask and bullet proof vest.
In the fourth press conference of the day, police shared an image of the .223 calibre rifle and the 100-round drum magazines used by the gunman.
They said they found a shotgun in his 2007 grey Toyota Corolla that found in a nearby car park, but it was never used - Betts had legally obtained both weapons.
Mayor Nan Whaley confirmed 27 people were injured, including 16 who were taken to hospital.
It was later confirmed 15 of those had been released and one remains in critical condition.
They said some people suffered multiple gunshot wounds, and others were injured as they fled.
CCTV shows cops take down Connor Betts after he opened fire outside a bar in Dayton, Ohio
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Dayton, Ohio victims
Six of the nine victims were African American
Megan Betts, 22
Louis Oglesby, 27
Saeed Saleh, 38
Derrick Fudge, 57
Logan Turner, 30
Nicholas Cummer, 25
Thomas McNichols, 25
Beatrice Warren-Curtis, 36
Monica Brickhouse, 39
President Trump blames mass shootings on mental illness after dozens killed in El Paso and Dayton
TRAGIC END
Lois Oglesby, 27, was pictured as one of the first victims of the massacre.
The day care worker was described as a "wonderful mother" to her newborn baby and older daughter.
Derasha Merrett, her cousin, told "We all grew up in this little town. We’re all family. We’re all hurting behind this. She loves her kids unconditionally."
Megan, the shooter's sister, was a student studying environmental science at Wright State University, according to WSU spokesman Seth Bauguess.
She was described as a "very positive person" who never brought up her brother, her former manager Daniel Cottrell said.
also known as Teejay, was a father of four who went out after work at a local factory with his cousin.
Donna Johnson, his aunt, described as a "gentle giant" as "Everybody loved him. He was like a big kid".
Monica Storey Brickhouse and Beatrice Warren-Curtis .
was out with family when he was shot.
His sister Twyla Southall said: "He was a good man and loved his family.”
was in town for an internship after graduating from university in Pennsylvania.
has been described as the "world’s best son" as Danita Turner said her son as both “sweet and smart.”
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NO MOTIVE
reported several police vehicles were seen at a Bellbrook address – belonging to Stephen R. Betts – since 6am local time on Sunday.
Bellbrook police chief Doug Doherty said Connor Betts had lived on the street, and that the house and several vehicles on the property are being searched.
Police confirmed on Sunday Betts did not have a violent criminal background and officers have not determined a motive for the slaughter.
Records from the Kettering Municipal Court revealed he had received two speeding tickets, in 2013 and 2014.
Betts' former high school principal Chris Baker told how the Ohio shooter was suspended from school for writing a "hit-list" on a bathroom wall, sparking a lockdown.
Brad Howard, a neighbour who knew Betts for at least 20 years, told NBC News the shooter as a “nice guy and the news came as a “total surprise”.
Betts was known at a local bar and was seen as an ever-friendly, happy guy who sometimes came in for a beer
Fellow customer Mike Kern says he sometimes played trivia with Betts at Romer's Bar & Grill in Bellbrook.
Kern says Betts often knew answers about current events and pop culture and never discussed violence.
Kern describes Betts as "the nicest kid you could imagine."
Bartender Andy Baker says Betts was at Romer's last Monday and seemed fine.
Baker says when he saw Betts identified as the shooter he thought: "There's no way that's the guy."
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CCTV shows people flee as gunman opens fire outside of a bar in Dayton, Ohio
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'DISASTER'
CCTV shown during a press conference revealed the moment people started fleeing into the bar to for protection - and a distressing 911 call was also played.
Terrified witnesses shared footage of bar-goers fleeing the scene as dozens of gunshots echoed through the streets.
Graham Hunter, 24, said he and four friends arrived just as the incident was over and immediately came upon the body of the shooter outside.
"Everyone was panicking and running around," .
"After the shooter was dead, everyone was just crying and stuff."
He said he saw "bodies all over the place".
Another witness wrote on Facebook: “Happened right in front of the patio where I was sitting in front of Neds.
“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.”
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'WE RAN FOR OUR LIVES'
Another witness told : ";We heard gunshots while on the patio .. Ran indoors only to be shoved back out because the shots were coming from inside the bar.
"We ran for our lives".
, Jae Williams said he was at a nearby rap performance when they were told to evacuate.
"I was very shocked," he said. "We all evacuated quickly and safely. We were told to avoid the Oregon district."
"I got to my car, I could see cops, multiple ambulances. When I drove past I saw a lot of cops and ambulances."
Nikita Papillon, 23, was across the street at Newcom's Tavern when the shooting started.
She said she saw a girl she had talked to earlier lying outside Ned Peppers Bar.
Papillon said: "She 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.
"People my age, we don't think something like this is going to happen. And when it happens, words can't describe it."
She herself had been to Ned Peppers the night before, describing it as the kind of place "where you don't have to worry about someone shooting up the place."
Tianycia Leonard, 28, was in the back, smoking, at Newcom's.
She heard "loud thumps" that she initially thought was someone pounding on a dumpster.
She said: "It was so noisy, but then you could tell it was gunshots and there was a lot of rounds."
The Ned Peppers is described on its website as a “traditional western-ish themed bar". Cops said the Oregon district was a popular and usually very safe section of the city.
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'DON'T NORMALISE THIS'
President Donald Trump paid tribute to the victims of two shootings, tweeting: "God bless the people of El Paso Texas.
"God bless the people of Dayton, Ohio."
Singer Lizzo has said it was a "close call" for her family, who lives in the Western Ohio city.
She tweeted: "Just got off the phone w/ fam in Dayton... it was a close call for them but that's not the case for 9 other families between this & the terrorist attack in El Paso & recent other shootings.
"I feel completely helpless.. make noise & bring awareness.. vote.. don't normalize this."
On Saturday, the attack near the Cielo Vista Mall left 20 dead and dozens more injured.
The second mass shooting in 24 hours is likely to further spark debate around America's controversial gun laws.
The vast majority of US citizens are allowed to buy and keep firearms without restriction.
MOST READ NEWS
Thirty-one states - including Ohio - allow "open carry", the open carrying of a handgun without any licence or permit, although in some cases the gun must be unloaded.
Ohio moderately strengthened its gun laws in 2018 by expanding domestic violence protection orders to include dating partners.
But according to campaign group , the state still lacks a number of basic gun safety laws.
Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown's statement on the Dayton shooting
"As Ohio wakes up this morning to the news of this horrific attack, [my wife] Connie and I are filled with sadness for the victims and their families and gratitude for the police officers who responded to the scene and the medical professionals caring for the injured.
"We are also angry - angry that shooting after shooting, politicians in Washington and Columbus refuse to pass sensible gun-safety laws to protect our communities.
"We are still learning about the attack in Dayton and we don't know exactly what, if anything, could have prevented this specific tragedy.
"But we know thoughts and prayers are not enough, we have a responsility to act."
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