Dayton shooting: Connor Betts took these steps to commit Ohio’s largest mass shooting

Gunman Connor Betts killed nine people early Sunday morning when he opened fire on Fifth Street in the Oregon District before bars closed, police said.

Twenty-seven other people were injured during the 30 seconds of gunfire from Betts’ AR 15 weapon. The devastation would have been far worse had Betts made it into the Ned Pepper’s bar door he was trying to enter when police shot him.

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Here’s what the Dayton Daily News knows about how the night unfolded:

Before the shooting

Betts, who was out with his younger sister Megan and a third companion, parked a 2007 gray Toyota Corolla in the parking lot near Thai 9 and Jay’s Seafood.

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Video footage obtained by CNN shows that Betts, his sister and the companion arrived at Blind Bob’s bar shortly after 11 p.m. Saturday. At the time, Betts was wearing shorts and a T-shirt.

About an hour after entering the bar, the footage shows Betts stopping at the entrance to talk to the security guard before leaving the building around 12:15 a.m.

His sister and their companion remained in the bar another 45 minutes before they exited around 1 a.m.

During the tragedy

It’s unclear at this time what Betts did between leaving the bar at 12:15 a.m. and firing his first shot at 1:05 a.m. Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl said there’s no evidence that Megan or the siblings’ companion knew there were firearms in the car.

Police do know that around 1 a.m. Betts made his way down an alley beside Blind Bob’s patio, where he shot his first victim as he entered Fifth Street.

He went on to kill eight other people as he crossed the street toward the entrance to Ned Peppers, including his sister. He shot 14 other people who did not die, including the man who arrived at Blind Bob’s with him and his sister. Several others were injured as people were trying to escape or find safety.

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Officer response

At 1:05 a.m. officers patrolling the Oregon District during bar closing time heard gunfire and observed a large crowd running, Biehl said.

Officers immediately moved toward the gunfire and engaged Betts — who was then wearing a mask, bullet proof vest and hearing protection — within 20 seconds. Betts was actively firing his rifle and tried to enter Ned Peppers.

Betts was killed by police within 30 seconds of firing his first shots.

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>> THE HEROES: ‘The smoke hasn’t cleared, and they are rushing outside to help people,’ Ned Peppers general manager said

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