After the United States collectively tried to cope with the El Paso shooting tragedy for much of Saturday, we all collectively woke up to another horrific event on Sunday morning: overnight in Dayton, Ohio, a gunman killed nine people and wounded at least 16 more at a nightclub in the city.
A lone gunman described as a “heavy set white male” opened fire at the crowded Ned Peppers bar in the city’s nightlife district at about 1:00 a.m. local time. In the incident, police are now reporting that he killed at least nine people, and injured dozens more.
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Police officers responded quickly to the scene — some reports claim the entire shooting lasted less than one minute — and they were quickly able to shoot and kill the alleged suspect at the bar. Even so, however, the gunman was able to shoot dozens, and kill nine, despite the lightning-quick reaction to his rampage.
One user reportedly near the scene in Dayton captured video of the street adjacent to the bar where the shooting took place. In the clip, you can hear what appears to be the sound of gunfire, while seeing people running across the parking lot, presumably away from the terror (graphic video warning, below):
https://twitter.com/datson1992/status/1157926545375277056
Ugh… so awful that people should have to deal with things like this (on a routine basis, no less) in the 21st century in this country.
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Other people on scene showed more of the active police presence that descended quickly upon the neighborhood immediately after the shooting (below):
https://twitter.com/jmattbarber/status/1157904951076687873
People are understandably very scared, and very on edge…
Freelance local reporter Derek Myers provided quite a few updates at the scene all night and into the morning, including (below):
Police are reporting at least one suspect is heavy set white male wearing mask with several magazine clips and a rifle, and is at large. They are still searching for this suspect in Dayton shooting. We are five minutes out from scene.
— Dr. Derek Myers (@DerekMyers) August 4, 2019
DAYTON OHIO SHOOTING# https://t.co/PSmfZ77aYT
— Dr. Derek Myers (@DerekMyers) August 4, 2019
I just spoke with club workers from a nearby club who showed me photos of a man laying lifeless on the sidewalk, handcuffed. They tell me he was a suspect, and that he was dead. They also have multiple photos of victims laying lifeless on the sidewalk in the Dayton shooting.
— Dr. Derek Myers (@DerekMyers) August 4, 2019
Police chief says “multiple officers took down the shooter” in Dayton shooting.
— Dr. Derek Myers (@DerekMyers) August 4, 2019
Police say threat is over. No more people in danger. 9 dead. 16 hospitalized. More expected to walk into hospitals in Dayton shooting.
— Dr. Derek Myers (@DerekMyers) August 4, 2019
Hospitals in the area are reporting at least 16, confirming the police chief’s number, but they say more are expected to walk in from Dayton shooting.
— Dr. Derek Myers (@DerekMyers) August 4, 2019
Right now, police are at the scene of the center of Dayton shooting, club “Ned Peppers.” 9 people lay dead on and near sidewalk, plus the gunman. The scene will stay like this without any big updates until police hold their next briefing expected later today. pic.twitter.com/BGoEyp8tvJ
— Dr. Derek Myers (@DerekMyers) August 4, 2019
The Montgomery County coroner has arrived with multiple vans at the Dayton shooting. pic.twitter.com/DhEuFsZJOm
— Dr. Derek Myers (@DerekMyers) August 4, 2019
Here is a picture of the rear of “Ned Peppers” and the crime scene tape. You can see clothes and shoes of club patrons on the pavement inside the police tape. pic.twitter.com/KNEWEp0AQm
— Dr. Derek Myers (@DerekMyers) August 4, 2019
Clearly, a very scary and sad scene all night and on into the morning, as police no doubt will continue to investigate there for hours. If anything else newsworthy breaks in regards to this story, we’ll of course bring you updates throughout the day on Sunday.
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As to be expected, Americans across social media are up in arms after two consecutive major tragedies of this magnitude within about twelve hours of each other. The calls for gun control and political arguments against Republican gun policies and the NRA are understandably — and correctly — growing louder. To use a phrase first made popular by our current President… this truly is American carnage, and we can’t stand to watch innocent people die any longer.
Still, sometimes it feels like no matter how many people are for gun control, virtually nothing will ever get done. What do YOU think, Perezcious readers? Will this country EVER get control of semi-automatic weapons and the so-called “assault” rifles that continue to haunt us with each and every mass casualty situation? Or are we just fooling ourselves here, instead destined to forever deal with the pain of more and more mass shootings that are completely uncontrollable or unstoppable by our politicians?
Sensible. Gun. Control. Now!!!!
And with that, of course, are our most sincere condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of the victims here, as in El Paso earlier on Saturday. We can’t even imagine what people are going through in Dayton right now as they try to deal with the aftermath of this horrific, senseless tragedy.
R.I.P…
[Image via Derek Myers/Twitter]
