Friend of Dayton Shooter Charged For Providing Him With Armor and Weapons Ahead of Mass Shooting

 – Written by @saywooord

Ethan Kollie, a friend of Connor Betts – the man responsible for the mass shooting in Dayton, OH, is now under arrest for providing Betts with body armor and 100-round double drum magazine, says CNN.

According to the publication, agents in the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives showed up to Kollie’s house with an affidavit just hours after the mass shooting on Sunday, August 4, 2019. While there, Kollie explained that he bought specific supplies for the shooter. The 24-year-old then allowed the agents into his home, where they also found cannabis paraphernalia and a Draco pistol. 

Thursday of that same week, officials showed up to his job where he informed the agents he had also done hard drugs with Betts in 2014-2015. He also stated he had been a consistent marijuana smoker for the last decade and grew psychedelic mushrooms of which he continuously ingested for energy and the thrill. 

The issue with his drug use, to say the least, was that he checked the “no” box when registering his Draco pistol in May, according to the affidavit. His reasoning behind saying no – was that if he told the truth, he would not have been able to purchase the weapons. 

Kollie also bought an upper receiver for an AR-15, along with the previously mentioned items and stored them in his home for Betts. 

US Attorney Benjamin Glassman says although Kollie did not intentionally help the gunman plan the horrific shooting, all items he purchased were used in the attack.

According to the affidavit, Kollie was arrested Friday august, 9 2019, and made his initial court appearance later that day. 

In an email to CNN, Kollie’s attorney, Nick Gounaris, stated, “He does not deny his friendship with Connor Betts, and he was as shocked and surprised as everyone else that Mr. Betts committed the violent and senseless massacre in the Oregon District.”

He also stated, “We appreciate the United States Attorney stating that there was no indication that Mr. Kollie knew that he was assisting Betts in the shooting.”

Kollie is being held at the Montgomery County Jail and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. The charges include possession of a firearm by a someone who illegally uses or is addicted to controlled substances, and making false claims concerning information required by federal arms code. The detention hearing will be Wednesday, August 14, 2019.