BEAVERCREEK, Ohio — Police have identified the shooter who opened fire in a Walmart in southwest Ohio on Monday night as a 20-year-old man from Dayton.
Officials with the Beavercreek Police Department released the name of the suspect in the shooting that left four injured as Benjamin Charles Jones. Authorities said Jones died after apparently shooting himself.
His motive for the attack has not yet been released, but the Federal Bureau of Investigation is looking into it, according to police captain Chad Lindsey.
Lindsey said during a press conference on Tuesday that Jones had family in the area.
“It’s always one of those things where you don’t think it can happen in your community. So anytime it does, it’s shocking, it’s tragic,” he said. “It’s just another example of the need for people to just be aware of what’s going on. The response to this was so fast. We had people calling in and everybody just came together to handle this situation as quickly as possible.”
The attack was reported at around 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Walmart in Beavercreek, a town of about 50,000 in the Dayton metropolitan area.
Three women and a man were taken to area hospitals, where three of the victims are described by police as “stable.” The fourth victim is still in critical condition.
Captain Scott Molnar said that all of the victims were described as shoppers at the store, not employees. Police described the shots as largely random throughout the store.
The investigation is still ongoing.
“Tragedy struck our beloved community Monday evening,” said Beavercreek Mayor Bob Stone. “In the face of adversity, the strength of our community shines through. I extend my deepest gratitude to our first responders, especially the Beavercreek Police Department and Beavercreek Township Fire Department, as well as all the collaborating jurisdictions whose swift and coordinated efforts undoubtedly saved lives and minimized the impact of this devastating event. Together, we unite in support and resilience during these challenging moments.”