Friend of alleged Dayton shooter to face federal charges

A friend of the man who police say opened fire in a Dayton, Ohio, entertainment district, killing nine people, will face federal charges, multiple news outlets reported Monday.

Ethan Kollie “indicated he purchased body armor and a firearm accessory for Betts earlier this year,”  the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio said in a statement, referring to 24-year-old Connor Betts, the alleged shooter.

{mosads}Police say Betts killed nine people, including his sister, earlier this month before he was shot and killed by police at the scene.

The mass shooting in Dayton occurred less than a day after another shooting in El Paso, Texas, and reignited the national debate over gun control.

Kollie was arrested on Friday and is now being charged with lying on federal firearms forms and illegally possessing weapons.

During a second interview with Kollie on Aug. 8 he revealed that he had done “hard drugs,” marijuana and acid four to five times a week with Betts during 2014 and 2015 and continued to use such substances.

He allegedly told agents that he lied on ATF Form 4473 while purchasing guns by answering no on a question asking: “Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?”

Possessing a firearm as an unlawful user of a controlled substance is punishable by up to 10 years of prison time. Making a false statement on a firearm form carries an additional maximum of five years.

Kollie’s will appear in federal court in Dayton on Wednesday.

–Updated at 3:45pm