The family of the suspect from Sunday's mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio issued a statement on Tuesday, thanking police and first responders while also asking for privacy.
It was the first statement released by the family of Connor Betts, who allegedly killed nine people — including his sister — outside an entertainment district.
A police officer from the Bellbrook Police Department delivered the statement on Tuesday evening.
Read the family's partial statement below:
"They offer their most heartfelt condolences to the victims, their families and friends. They thank the first responders from the Dayton police and fire departments for their quick response to minimize casualties and to all who have provided aid and comfort to the victims. They also thank Chief Doherty and the members of the Bellbrook police department for providing a peaceful environment surrounding their home. The Betts family is cooperating with law enforcement and their investigation into this tragedy. They respect the investigative process being conducted by the Dayton police department and the FBI, and will not comment further on this investigation. The Betts family would like to express their enormous gratitude and love to everyone who has reached out and given their support during this awful time. They ask that everyone respect the family's privacy in order to mourn the loss of their son and daughter and to process the horror of Sunday's events."
Officials said Tuesday that the 24-year-old Betts was "obsessed" with mass shootings and violent ideologies. The FBI said it had opened an investigation into the shooting to determine which ideologies may have inspired Betts and whether he had an accomplice in planning the shooting.
