Dayton officer shot: Butler County man charged with illegally buying firearm used in detective’s death

DAYTON — A Butler County man is facing a federal charge for illegally purchasing the firearm used in the death of Dayton Police Det. Jorge Del Rio.

Delano Wells, 50, of Trenton, was charged with making false statements on a federal firearms form, according to the U.S. Attorney Southern District of Ohio’s Office.

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Det. Del Rio was part of a DEA task force that was serving a warrant on Ruskin Road in Dayton Monday, Nov. 4, when he was shot and critically injured.

He died Thursday, Nov. 7.

Three firearms were found at the scene on Ruskin Road last Monday, including two pistols with extended magazines and an AR-style weapons, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Wells allegedly purchased all three firearms.

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The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives traced the purchase of one pistol to Aug. 29 and the other to Sept. 9.

Records indicate Wells bought at least six other firearms in August and September, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

He reportedly told ATF agents he bought the guns in Middletown for a friend. He allegedly was paid in cash for the cost of each firearm with a profit of $25 to $30 per weapon.

Wells is accused of lying on an ATF form for the purchase of each firearm by indicating that he was buying the guns for himself, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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“The message we want to make loud and clear is that if you provide firearms to drug dealers and convicted felons you will be held responsible for their actions,” said U.S. Attorney David M. DeVillers. “There are significant sentencing enhancements for firearms provided by straw purchasers used to commit crimes and we will seek those enhancements to the fullest.”

He made his first court appearance Nov. 6. Additional court dates have not been scheduled at this time.