Federal Authorities: Friend Of Ohio Shooter Bought Body Armor And A Firearm Accessory

DAYTON, Ohio (AP)--Federal authorities say the friend of the Ohio shooter bought him body armor and a firearm accessory earlier this year.

Federal prosecutors say Ethan Kollie bought the armor, a gun accessory and a 100-round magazine for his friend Connor Betts earlier this year.

However, they say there is no indication that Kollie knew his friend was planning a mass shooting.

They say that Betts used that equipment on Aug. 4, when he opened fire in a popular entertainment district in Dayton, Ohio, killing his sister and eight others.

Todd Wickerham of the FBI tells reporters Monday that it does not appear Kollie knew how Betts would use that equipment.

Prosecutors are accusing Kollie of lying on federal firearms forms. Those charges are not related to the shooting.

Attorney Nick Gounaris also says his client, Kollie, fully cooperated with authorities before his arrest.

Police have said that there was nothing in Betts' background that would have prevented him from buying the AR-15 style gun used in the shooting.

Investigators have not released a motive.

A Pittsburgh area man was among the victims of the mass shooting in Dayton. Nicholas Cumer, 25, graduated from Washington High School and was a grad student at St. Francis University.

Cumer was in Dayton completing an internship program when he was shot and killed.

(TM and © Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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