DAYTON, Ohio — This Sunday, the city of Dayton will honor the memory of the people who lost their lives in the Oregon District.

Five years ago, a gunman opened fire, killing nine people and wounding more than a dozen others.

What You Need To Know

  • This Sunday is the fifth anniversary of the Oregon District mass shooting

  • The city of Dayton will once again gather to honor the memory of the nine people who lost their lives

  • Jeremy Ganger was working the door during the shooting and stopped the gunman

  • The community gathering will be held from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the "Seed of Life" Memorial next to the Trolly Stop

“It feels different. It feels like all this just happened yesterday, something that will live with me, not only me but others as well,” said survivor Jeremy Ganger.

Ganger described what he sees when he looks at the new “Seed of Life” Memorial in the Oregon District.

“I see hope. I see a way for the community to come together,” he said.

August 4th, 2019 changed everything.

“I was the doorman at Ned Peppers. My job was just to close the doors and get everybody in as safely as possible,” Ganger said.

He was shot in the leg, but pushed on with a bigger purpose.

“I’m the one that took the gun off of him. I didn’t know if he was dead or alive, but I wanted to make sure the threat was done and over with and the cops did an amazing job,” Ganger said.

He spent three days in the hospital, but for years he struggled with PTSD, anxiety and depression.

“I was drinking a lot more than I normally would. I was drinking very, very heavily,” he said.

Ganger reached out, got help, and is feeling better, but still struggles with survivor’s guilt.

“I still hold myself responsible for what happened that night, even though I know it’s not my fault. I just feel like it is because I’m living all my life and there’s nine people that aren’t,” he said.

As a way toward his own healing, he’s giving back.

Ganger is a peer supervisor at a local rehab center.

“We help people with mental health disorders, also drug additions and alcoholism. So I’m able to share my story and connect with some of my clients that are there. We all connect and I get to help them get back into the community, help them find jobs, housing, help them get back on their feet,” said Ganger.

Giving back helps him heal, along with his four-year-old daughter.

She was born on Aug. 14, 2020, just ten days after the one-year anniversary.

“I’m lucky to have her. God gave me a gift and I’m running with it…if I didn’t have my daughter, I wouldn’t be here. My daughter is my world,” he said.

Along with his daughter, Ganger said the Oregon District in general will always be a part of him and the people working in the area are family.

“Every time I see them I hug them, tell them I love them, and the best thing for me is coming down here and seeing the friends I used to work with at the Oregon and that’s what’s helped me to keep going,” he said.

The fifth anniversary commemoration will be held on Sunday at the newly built “Seed of Life” memorial next to the Trolly Stop in the Oregon District.

The community gathering will be held from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.