Daniel Williams, the former drummer for rock band The Devil Wears Prada, was among those who survived the mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio on Sunday.
Williams, who was with a friend Hannah Ray, took to Twitter to reveal he was at the bar Ned Peppers at the time of the shooting. The bar is located in the city’s Oregon District, which police have declared as the official site of the incident, which left nine people dead and at least 26 injured.
There was an active shooter in the bar i was in tonight. I am told that he had an AR15. @HannahRayNinja and I are ok. I am so incredibly heartbroken for those affected by this. I have never been so scared in my life.
— Daniel Williams (@xcadaverx) August 4, 2019
I was in Ned Peppers. I’m still not sure exactly what happened. People were piling on top of each other to get out. It’s all a blur. Fucking awful.
— Daniel Williams (@xcadaverx) August 4, 2019
Update: it was apparently in front of the bar we were in, not inside. Either way, the scene was chaos. Folks pushed down a semi-permanent gate to climb out of the back of the bar. I’m just glad we made it home safe. Thanks for all the kind words. https://t.co/I88NXYaCZK
— Daniel Williams (@xcadaverx) August 4, 2019
Williams was hanging out at the bar’s back patio when the shooting began. He says that he and his friends assumed the shooting was outdoors, so they went back inside to find cover.
However, everyone inside the bar was rushing out of the back. The pair believed the shooting was inside the bar, but they later learned it was happening in front of the establishment.
We heard gunshots while on the patio.. ran indoors only to be shoved back out because the shots were coming from inside the bar. We ran for our lives and hopped a fence trampling multiple people in the process/hid anywhere we could https://t.co/pm7Q00DfbR
— Hannah (@HannahRayNinja) August 4, 2019
There are no fucking words for this feeling. It is absolutely disgusting. My heart is in pieces for anyone inside the bar who was worsely affected by this
— Hannah (@HannahRayNinja) August 4, 2019
Ray also shared appreciation those who have asked about her well-being, writing, “Thank you to everyone who has checked in. Love you.”
Williams also took the opportunity to voice his support for gun control legislation, saying “Thoughts and prayers don’t do s–t. Gun control is needed. 251 mass shootings in 2019 is f–king despicable.”
I hope this isn’t directed at me, because thoughts and prayers don’t do shit. Gun control is needed. 251 mass shootings in 2019 is fucking despicable. https://t.co/85V7GjHWGv
— Daniel Williams (@xcadaverx) August 4, 2019
Reese Witherspoon, John Legend and more took to social media to react to the news and call for change to current gun laws.
“Woke up to the news of #DaytonOH shooting. This senseless loss of life is unbearable. When will our US representatives give the people of this country the common sense gun laws we are all demanding? I’m calling my congressman. Again. @Everytown,” Witherspoon wrote.
Woke up to the news of #DaytonOH shooting. This senseless loss of life is unbearable. When will our US representatives give the people of this country the common sense gun laws we are all demanding? I’m calling my congressman. Again. @Everytown
— Reese Witherspoon (@ReeseW) August 4, 2019
Legend, meanwhile, tweeted: “My heart aches for El Paso and Dayton. Our nation is experiencing these traumas far too often and we need our leaders to take urgent action: take these weapons of war off the street and fight the evil ideology of white nationalism that motivates many of these terrorists.”
“When we condemn the racist venom coming from the President’s mouth and point out the bigotry of his policies, it’s not an academic question, it’s not a political game, it’s about life and death. The President regularly inspires killers. He is a part of the problem,” the singer added.
My heart aches for El Paso and Dayton. Our nation is experiencing these traumas far too often and we need our leaders to take urgent action: take these weapons of war off the street and fight the evil ideology of white nationalism that motivates many of these terrorists.
— John Legend (@johnlegend) August 4, 2019
