Dayton Shooter Was Armed Counter-Protester at KKK Rally Earlier This Year

The 24-year-old was among the 500 to 600 counter-protesters who attended the May 25 event in opposition of the KKK, according to the Dayton Daily News.

He spoke briefly with a reporter — wielding a semi-automatic, AR-style gun similar to the one he used in this past weekend’s shooting, the newspaper says.

Betts was wearing sunglasses and a bandanna at the time, which reportedly covered his face. There were only nine KKK members in attendance for the rally.

Betts, a registered Democrat who was said to have been pro-gun control, slaughtered nine people this past weekend and wounded dozens more outside a string of bars in Dayton. {snip}

Authorities have said that Betts “was exploring violent ideologies” before the shooting. {snip} He allegedly made “hit lists” of students he wanted to rape and murder in high school and was also in a “pornogrind” band — which released songs about rape, murder, necrophilia and other gruesome acts against women.

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