Friend helped equip Ohio gunman, documents say

A man told federal agents he bought body armor, a gun accessory and a 100-round magazine for the Dayton gunman earlier this year, according to a court document unsealed on Monday.

DAYTON, Ohio – A man told federal agents he bought body armor, a gun accessory and a 100-round magazine for the Dayton gunman earlier this year, according to a court document unsealed Monday.

Federal investigators emphasized that there was no indication that Ethan Kollie knew that his friend, Connor Betts, was planning a mass shooting or how he would use the equipment. The charging document says Kollie kept the equipment at his apartment, so Betts’ parents would not find it.

The accusations came as prosecutors unsealed charges against Kollie that they said were unrelated to the Aug. 4 shooting in Dayton, Ohio. Betts opened fire in a popular entertainment district, killing his sister and eight others.

Prosecutors are accusing Kollie of lying about not using marijuana on federal firearms forms in the purchase of a pistol that was not used in the shooting. Possessing a firearm as an unlawful user of a controlled substance is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Making a false statement regarding firearms carries a potential maximum sentence of up to five years’ imprisonment.

U.S. Attorney Benjamin Glassman stressed that Kollie is not accused of intentionally taking part in the planning of the shooting. John Seewer and Michael Balsamo