Dayton shooter's sister travelled with him in same car to downtown area before he killed her and eight others
DAYTON, OHIO: Megan Betts, the sister of the Ohio gunman, was shot dead by her brother after they drove together in the same car to the downtown Dayton area, according to police.
The gunman, Connor Betts, began his killing spree after he and his sister separated at some point in the night, authorities told NBC News.
The police shared that the first victim was shot dead in an alley close to where the car was parked.
The shooter then emerged onto East Fifth Street, ran towards Ned Peppers Bar and killed another eight people including his sister.
Police Chief Richard S. Biehl said of Megan, "She was not the first victim. But she was one of the initial victims."
"Right as he came out of the alleyway, she and another male who was a companion of the suspect was shot and wounded," Biehl added.
Megan Betts' companion was amongst the 27 people who were wounded in the shooting. He's now been interviewed by law enforcement.
Connor Betts was seen wearing body armor when he began to shoot people in the Oregon District of Dayton, Ohio at around 1 am on Sunday.
Lt Col Matt Carper said in a press conference that the police arrived on the scene almost immediately and were able to diffuse the situation quickly.
Connor, who hails from Bellbrook, was shot dead in less than a minute by officers who were responding to the scene.
Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley spoke in a press conference and said that had the police not responded as fast as they did, "hundreds of people in the Oregon District could be dead today."
Connor Betts had armed himself with a .223-caliber rifle and had additional high-capacity magazines with him.
Biehl added, "Had this individual made it through the doorway of Ned Peppers with that level of weaponry, there would have been a catastrophic level of injury and loss of life."