The gunman who killed nine people Aug. 4 in a mass shooting outside a bar in downtown Dayton, Ohio, had cocaine and other drugs in his system at the time of the attack, Montgomery County Coroner Dr. Kent Harshbarger said Thursday at a news conference.
Harshbarger said the shooter had cocaine, alcohol and Adderall in his system. He also said the gunman had a pipe and baggie with cocaine on him.
Preliminary autopsy results determined that Dayton police gunfire did not cause any of the victims' fatal injuries in the Aug. 4 Oregon District shooting, Harshbarger said. One of the nine victims killed was shot by police, but had already suffered lethal injuries from the gunman.
Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl said he was relieved that gunfire by police did cause not cause any fatal injuries to any of the victims.
He also acknowledged that in chaotic situations, it can be difficult to determine when to respond with deadly force.
“There is a danger in shooting and a danger in not shooting,” Biehl said.
Another victim who survived the shooting did have a superficial wound from police.
Biehl said that officers provided first aid to victims as soon as the gunman was neutralized.
The coroner added that he does not believe that earlier medical treatment for any of the nine victims would have saved lives.
The gunman was shot by 24 to 26 bullets and received multiple injuries to the side and area above his body armor, Harshberger said.
The Cox Media Group National Content Desk contributed to this report.
