Friend who bought gun paraphernalia, body armor for Dayton mass killer hit with federal charge

A friend of the Dayton, Ohio, mass killer, who purchased gun paraphernalia and helped the gunman assemble the weapon that was used in the massacre, was arrested Friday and charged with lying about drug use on a federal form in order to purchase a gun, according to WHIO-TV.

Ethan Kollie, 24, admitted to FBI agents that he was a regular user of marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms and that he lied on the form because "he knew that if he told the truth about his drug use, he would not be allowed to purchase a firearm, so he lied and answered 'no'" on the question asking about drug use.

A person cannot legally buy a gun if they are "an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance." Kollie lied in order to purchase a handgun.

Unrelated to the federal charge, Kollie played a significant role in helping the Dayton gunman purchase, assemble, and conceal items used in the mass murder.

Kollie admitted to purchasing body armor, the upper receiver of an AR-15, and a 100-round double drum magazine, all of which were used during the Aug. 4 massacre.

According to the criminal complaint, Kollie stored the items in his apartment "to assist [the gunman] in hiding them from [the gunman's] parents." Kollie also helped the killer assemble the AR-15 that was used in the murders. The gunman reportedly took possession of the assembled weapon between six and eight weeks before committing the mass murder.

The complaint does not address whether Kollie was aware of the gunman's intentions for the gun and related items. Nine people were killed during the Aug. 4 massacre in the Oregon District of Dayton, Ohio.

Kollie has been charged with possession of a firearm in interstate or foreign commerce by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance, and making false statements or representations with respect to information required by chapter 44 of Title 18 of the United States Code.