At least 12 people were killed and 16 injured at California bar shooting on late Wednesday when a gunman opened fire in a packed Southern California bar during its “college night,” leaving the community of Thousand Oaks in shock and in mourning.
Officials identified the gunman as former US marine Ian Long, 28. Long was found dead inside the bar, the Ventura county sheriff, Geoff Dean, said. Authorities believe he shot and killed himself.
Hundreds of people were at the Borderline Bar and Grill, in Thousand Oaks, near Los Angeles, on Wednesday night when the shooter entered and opened fire. Witnesses reported using barstools to break windows in a desperate attempt to escape. Sheriff Dean described a traumatic scene.
“It’s a horrific scene in there,” Dean said. “There’s blood everywhere.” A sheriff’s deputy, Sgt Ron Helus, was among the victims, the Ventura county sheriff’s department said.
Helus, 54, survived by his wife and son, was looking to retire soon, the sheriff’s office said. Instead, he made “the ultimate sacrifice,” Dean said.
Among those inside were six off-duty police officers, who reportedly “stood in front of my daughter” to protect her after the gunfire rang out, one parent told the sheriff.
Teylor Whittler was celebrating a friend’s birthday at the bar’s college night when she heard gunshots.
Terrified parents also descended on the area. One mother was so frantic that she jumped out of the passenger side of a still-moving car to race toward the crime scene.
Donald Trump tweeted that he had been “fully briefed” on the shooting, and praised the “great bravery shown by police”. The Thousand Oaks shooting comes 11 days after after 11 people were shot and killed at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.
Pepperdine University, a private college about 20 miles south-west of Borderline, said “multiple” students were at the bar.
“The university is working to identify and provide support to those students,” Pepperdine said on Twitter. “The University offers its deepest condolences and is praying for everyone involved in tonight’s tragic events.”
>Juthy Saha
12 killed in California Bar Shooting
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