Dozens of grieving community members gathered once again Monday night to remember the victims of Sunday’s mass shooting. The attack in the Oregon District left nine people dead, including the shooter’s own sibling, and injured more than two dozen others.
Monday’s vigil was held in Bellbrook where the 24-year-old shooter and his 22-year-old sibling Megan Betts had lived.
Bellbrook resident Kevin Martin says he knew the Betts family through their kids’ activities at the high school.
"They were always good to us, good to our family. You know, I hate this for everybody involved. Clearly, there were a lot of things going on that we had no idea. But tonight is about as a community that we're not going to let this define us, that we are better and bigger than hate."
Elizabeth Davis was at the vigil with her family. She says it’s important for the community to come together and support one another after the shooting.
"This felt like being at a funeral service where you see people you're so glad to see but, it's for an awful reason. It's in the times of distress or when relationships can really grow.”
Bellbrook city and police officials, and religious leaders expressed their support for the Betts family and for all of the shooting’s victims. They urged struggling residents to seek counseling and other assistance.
Mayor Mike Schweller says he was shocked to learn of the connection between the Oregon District shooting rampage and the city of Bellbrook.
"Mass shootings like this continue to happen way too often. Unfortunately, our community has now made that horrific list. Let us come together not be remembered for this tragic event but rather. let us be remembered for how we all come together as a community to love and support each other in this time of our great need."
The investigation is ongoing and Dayton police have not yet released details of a motive in the attack.
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