[NEWS] Friend of Ohio mass shooter faces federal charges for allegedly lying on gun form – Loganspace AI

(Reuters) – A chum of the Ohio man who killed 9 of us in Dayton was once charged on Monday with lying about his drug use on a discover when he bought a gun and suggested authorities that he bought physique armor and firearm equipment for the shooter, a federal prosecutor mentioned.

The Aug. 4 assault, which ended when police shot and killed the gunman, 24-twelve months-worn Connor Betts, was once one in all three-high profile mass shootings over three weeks that shrinking the USA and stoked its long-running debate on gun rights.

The U.S. criminal skilled for the Southern District of Ohio, Benjamin Glassman, charged Betts’ buddy, Ethan Kollie, 24, with making a improper assertion referring to firearms. He was once also charged with possession of a firearm by an unlawful particular person of a controlled substance, per court documents.

Glassman mentioned within the course of a news conference in Dayton announcing the costs that Kollie suggested federal agents that he had bought physique armor, an adjunct for an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and a 100-spherical double drum journal that Betts feeble within the course of the shooting.

Kollie’s criminal skilled Nicholas Gounaris can also now eventually be reached for observation.

Kollie, of Kettering, positioned about a miles south of Dayton, kept the items at his residence to help Betts hide them from Betts’ parents, per an affidavit.

“There would possibly be now not always a proof and no allegation … that Kollie intentionally participated within the planning” of the Aug. 4 shooting, Glassman mentioned. “That’s now now not what this case is about.”

Authorities acquired the discover that Kollie feeble to rob a pistol final Would possibly perhaps well perchance also and stumbled on that the actual person answered “No” to a ask asking if he was once an unlawful drug particular person or hooked on marijuana, a depressant or stimulant or any different controlled substance.

“He admitted that he did remember filing out the discover … and indicating falsely that he was once now now not a particular person of unlawful medication,” Glassman mentioned. “He knew that if he answered in fact, he do now now not need obtained the firearm that he was once procuring for.”

Betts opened fireplace out of doorways a bar within the Oregon District of Dayton at 1 a.m. on Aug. 4. The shooting ended all correct now when police who were nearby moved in and shot Betts useless. These killed included Betts’ 22-twelve months-worn sister, Megan. No lower than 14 of us were wounded by bullets, whereas others were injured as they fled.

Glassman mentioned the investigation into the shooting continues.

The gun Betts feeble was once bought legally on-line from a vendor in Texas and shipped to a local firearms vendor, native police mentioned.

All over an interview at Kollie’s home on the day of the shooting, agents smelled marijuana and noticed a marijuana bong and a Micro Draco pistol in his possession, Glassman mentioned.

Later that week, authorities interviewed Kollie again, this time at work, the build he suggested them he was once a gun owner and that he had performed onerous medication with Betts besides to marijuana and acid four or 5 events per week from 2014 to 2015, Glassman mentioned.

Kollie suggested authorities he smokes marijuana on day by day basis and had been doing so for 10 years. He also suggested agents that he “micro-doses” mushrooms on a constant basis, asserting it affords him with power and is “fun,” per the affidavit.

Kollie, who was once arrested Friday, faces up to fifteen years in prison if convicted.

The FBI mentioned final week that Betts had a history of violent obsessions and had mused about committing mass raze sooner than his rampage in Dayton’s ancient downtown.