Twelve people are dead and at least eleven more were injured after a mass shooting inside a popular California bar on Wednesday night.
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Authorities state the shooter, identified as 28-year-old military veteran Ian David Long, approached the premises around 11:20pm.
Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean said Long shot a security guard standing outside before entering the bar and firing on other staff.
He then shot patrons who were attending the venue’s country music night for college students, Dean said.
Authorities have confirmed that Long was found dead at the scene with a gunshot wound. It is believed he took his own life.
Ventura County Sheriff’s Sergeant Ron Helus, who was on the scene within three minutes after the shooting was reported, was killed in the incident.
Colleagues have hailed 54-year-old Helus as a hero for his actions.
Speaking to reporters, Jason Coffman confirmed his son Cody, 22, was also killed in the attack.
“Only him and I know how much I love, how much I miss him,” Coffman said.
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Authorities are working to identify the victims and inform their families.
Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, local man Chandler Gunn, 23, said that many of the people who attended the bar’s event had also survived last year’s mass shooting at a country music festival in Las Vegas, which killed 58 people.
“A lot of people in the Route 91 situation go here,” Gunn said.
“There’s people that live a whole lifetime without seeing this, and then there’s people that have seen it twice.”
UPDATE: 11 people, 1 sheriff’s sergeant, gunman dead after mass shooting inside #BorderlineBar. Hundreds of people were inside for “College Country Night”, including Nicholas Champion. This is not the first mass shooting he’s experienced @wpri12 pic.twitter.com/D7ck4AG6SS
— Julianne Lima (@JulianneLimaTV) November 8, 2018
Dean said authorities have not yet identified a motive for the attack.
Investigations are ongoing.
If you are in distress please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline on 1800 338 881 for anonymous, 24/7 counselling and advice.
