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Dayton leaders offer support to Boulder in wake of mass shooting

DAYTON — As another American city grieves with the aftermath of a mass shooting, Dayton leaders said they have offered support to their counterparts in Boulder, Colorado, nearly 20 months after the Oregon District shooting.

>>RELATED: Boulder supermarket shooting: Suspect charged with 10 counts of 1st-degree murder; victims identified

Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley issued a statement Tuesday saying in part she was heartbroken by the news of Monday’s mass shooting at a King Soopers grocery store.

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“I’m heartbroken by the news of another senseless mass shooting in Boulder. My heart goes out to those who were impacted, and all of those in Dayton and communities like it across the country who are still feeling the impacts of their own tragedies,” Whaley said in the statement.

>>Oregon District Shooting: Stories of survival, hope and change, one year later

“We cannot allow violence like this to be normalized in our country. We must do something.”

Whaley told News Center 7′s Mike Campbell she has already reached out and has offered support to leaders of Boulder in the wake of their mass shooting.

Whaley will also spend some time with President Joe Biden Tuesday during his visit to Ohio. She said she plans to address gun violence with Biden if time allows for it.

>>Boulder supermarket is latest high-profile mass shooting in Colorado

A Dayton police spokesperson said the department and Chief Richard Biehl are expected to offer support as well to Boulder leaders.

Monday’s violence has brought back painful memories for close friends of Oregon District shooting victims.

Breanna Adams, of Dayton, was good friends with Lois Ogelsby, one of the nine victims killed in the shooting on Aug. 9, 2019.

“It was very tragic because (Lois) left behind two beautiful kids. I can understand the tragic feelings of the families and people they have lost. I just send out my prayers and my condolences to the families in Colorado,” Adams said.

She added it was difficult to cope with Ogelsby’s death because of how sudden it was. Adams remains close with the father of Ogelsby’s children who still deals with her loss daily.

“It hurts him daily. I don’t know how he does it, but he’s very strong. If I was in that position I don’t even know I would do it on a daily basis.”

Colorado investigators released the names of the 10 victims killed inside the grocery store Tuesday, as Biden ordered flags across the country to be lowed to half-staff in honor of the victims.

Police identified the shooter as Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 21, who was shot by police that responded to the grocery store. Alissa was shot in the leg and remains hospitalized, police said.

Alissa has been charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder for the shooting.


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