The Ohio family who lost a daughter and a son in the Aug. 4 shooting massacre in the city's Oregon business district will not apply for charitable gifts that 4,400 people gave to the city after the shootings.
Dayton police identified the Betts son, Connor, as the gunman responsible for the massacre — an unusual facet of the event that has perplexed and troubled observers across the nation.
The Oregon District shooting victims were: Derrick Fudge, 57; Lois Oglesby, 27; Saeed Saleh, 38; Logan Turner, 30; Nicholas Cumer, 25; Thomas McNichols, 25; Beatrice Warren-Curtis, 36; Monica Brickhouse, 39; and Megan Betts, 22. Dayton police killed the shooter, Betts’ brother, in the event.
Gary LeRoy and Raymond Fitz — co-chairs of the Dayton Foundation task force charged with deciding how to divide $3.1 million in charitable gifts given to Dayton after the shootings — said Tuesday an attorney for the Betts family notified the foundation that the family would not apply for a share of the money.
Foundation President Mike Parks had said earlier the Betts family would receive consideration for the loss of their daughter, Megan — but not for the loss of their son.
“Their lawyer has communicated to us, that the family will not make an application for Megan,” Fitz said.
Parks declined to identify the family attorney.
LeRoy said Tuesday he and fellow task force members knew that no matter what they decided in terms of dividing money and determining eligibility, some would be displeased.
“Knowing full well from talking with other community leaders who had similar situations, that we would be criticized no matter what we did,” LeRoy said in a press conference at Dayton Foundation offices.
“We realized we would still be criticized, and that’s what one of our consultants said.”“It has taken an emotional toll to provide the leadership for this, because you touch the emotions of the community,” Fitz said.
LeRoy said the task force was "trying to respect the intent of the gifts, recognizing that this is not a compensation fund, but a gift."
Representatives of families of the deceased and survivors have until 6 p.m. Oct. 31 to apply for a share of the money. Applications can be found at DaytonFoundation.org. Donations will also accepted at that web site until the same deadline.
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