Ohio shooter’s friend who helped to remain in jail
DAYTON, Ohio — A longtime friend of the Dayton shooter who authorities say bought him body armor and helped assemble the weapon used in the massacre will remain in jail on a charge unrelated to the shooting.
Authorities said there’s no indication Ethan Kollie knew his friend was planning a mass shooting, but they did accuse him of lying on a federal firearms form while buying a pistol not used in the shooting.
A U.S. magistrate judge on Wednesday continued a detention hearing for Kollie until Thursday after all sides could not agree on conditions for his release.
The decision came after a federal prosecutor had agreed to a recommendation for house arrest with electronic monitoring and a number of other conditions, but the magistrate balked.
“The allegations in the criminal complaint are very, very serious,” said Magistrate Judge Michael J. Newman, who also voiced concerns about drug use and a possible mental health issue he wouldn’t elaborate on.
Defense attorney Nick Gounaris said the charges Kollie was arrested on “involved a firearm not used in any violent offenses.”
Prosecutors said Kollie, of Kettering, first spoke with investigators just hours after Connor Betts opened fire in a popular entertainment district, killing his sister and eight others
Aug. 4.
It’s not known whether Betts targeted his sister, Megan, in the shooting that left 17 wounded by gunfire.
Their parents will be hold private memorial services, according to obituaries posted by a funeral home in their hometown of Bellbrook.