13 people are dead after a mass shooting at a Thousand Oaks nightclub Wednesday night, including a Ventura County sheriff’s sergeant and the gunman.
The shooting happened about 11:20 pm at Borderline Bar & Grill. Hundreds of people were inside the bar at the time of shooting.
Absolutely heartbreaking interview from witness with @ABC7Jory at scene of reported mass shooting at #Borderline in #ThousandOaks. “They’re so young, this shouldn’t have happened to them.” pic.twitter.com/gwHU4XCfaO
— Greg Lee (@GregLeeKTVU) November 8, 2018
Police have identified Sergeant Ron Helus, a 29-year veteran as one of the victims.
“Ron was a hardworking, dedicated sheriff’s sergeant. He was totally committed. He gave his all and tonight, as I told his wife, he died a hero because he went in to save lives, to save other people,” Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean said during a press conference.
This is Ventura County Sheriff’s Sgt. Ron Helus, killed as he responded to stop the mass shooting at Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, CA. He was a 29-year vet nearing retirement, a husband, and a father.
“He died a hero. He went in to save other people.” RIP. pic.twitter.com/XOXNBH2ag3
— Willie Geist (@WillieGeist) November 8, 2018
25 other people were injured in the shooting. 23 of them took themselves to hospitals, 2 were taken by ambulance No word on the extent of their injuries.
According to the LA Times, some inside the bar were also present during the Las Vegas mass shooting.
He rushed to the bar and called a friend who works there, who was also at the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas last year when a gunman opened fire, killing 58 people and wounding hundreds. His friend told him that some type of tear gas was thrown into the bar. She saw smoke and heard gunshots and ran out the back toward nearby apartments.
He hasn’t been able to contact her again but knows she’s safe. He said Wednesday nights are college country nights at the bar, and open to people 18 and over for line dancing lessons.
More photos from the scene outside Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks. https://t.co/1DFIBMmd75 pic.twitter.com/TvivEr4SDj
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) November 8, 2018
The suspected shooter has been identified as as 28-year-old Ian David Long, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Police said they believe Long committed suicide before police arrived to the scene. His gun was purchases legally, according to ABC News.
Mitchell Hunter, 19, of Simi Valley, has bloodied hands after breaking a window with a chair to get out of Borderline after he heard shots on the dancefloor. #Borderline #Borderlineshooting pic.twitter.com/x3MX1rkNDf
— Jeremy Childs (@Jeremy_Childs) November 8, 2018
The rampage is the deadliest shooting in Southern California since 14 people were killed in a terrorist attack in San Bernardino in 2015.