‘Their lives should be celebrated;’ Bouncer reflects on Oregon District Shooting 5 years later

DAYTON — This Sunday marks five years since one of the worst mass shootings in Ohio history when nine people died in the Oregon District shooting on Aug. 4, 2019.

Jeremy Ganger was working as a bouncer at Ned Peppers in the Oregon District the night of the mass shooting.

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“Some days are great and some days are, you know, not so great,” Ganger said.

Ganger said staying in physical shape has helped his recovery from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from that night, but so does caring for his three-year-old daughter and staying mentally helping while helping others do the same.

“Mentally, I draw all my strength from my work,” he said. “I work for a company called 115. We help people with mental health disorders, drug addictions, and alcohol.”

As reported on News Center 7 at 5:00, the many people who credited Ganger with saving lives has also helped with his healing.

“When I hear somebody come up and tell me thank you, it means the world to me,” he told News Center 7. “It helps me out a lot more than they know.”

Ganger can be seen in the security video from the night of the shooting working as a bouncer. He stood his ground and guided people to safety as the gunman rushed the door. Dayton Police shot and killed the gunman right at the bar’s entrance.

“If it wasn’t for those six cops we wouldn’t - not of us would be here,” he said. “Those six police officers did amazing work. They are true heroes.”

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Ganger said visiting the Oregon District once in a while is therapeutic. So is the purpose he’s found in his pain, making sure the nine lives taken that night are never forgotten.

“They should be remembered every day, not just one day a year. Their lives should be celebrated every day,” he said.

Ganger worked as a bouncer in the Oregon District last weekend for the first time in more than a year. He’ll be back there this weekend, just like five years ago, as Saturday, Aug. 3 turns to Sunday, Aug. 4.

He always made sure to leave before midnight on Aug. 4, but he’s staying through 1:04 a.m. on Sunday, the time the shooting started, to show he can be there then and it can be OK. He told News Center 7′s John Bedell that it will mark a big step in his recovery.

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