California shooting: First victims named from Thousand Oaks bar massacre police identify gunman as Ian David Long
Twelve victims gunned down include Justin Meek, 23, Alaina Housley, 18, Cody Coffman, 22 and Sheriff's Sergeant Ron Helus
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Your support makes all the difference.Details are emerging of the identities of victims after at least 12 people were killed and around a dozen more injured in a mass shooting at a bar in Thousand Oaks, California.
The shooting began late Wednesday night in the Borderline Bar & Grill, sending people diving under pool tables and other furniture for cover. Witnesses and victims said that stools were thrown through windows to enable bar patrons to get away from the hail of bullets.
A college country music night was underway when the gunman - dressed in black - shot a security guard who was standing outside the bar before entering. Witnesses suggested a smoke grenade may have been thrown.
Officials identified Ian David Long, of nearby Newbury Park, California, as the suspected shooter. Long was killed at the bar, and police said he carried out the massacre with a legal .45-calibre handgun that he had fitted with an extended magazine illegal in California. He had apparently shot himself.
Police first began identifying victims of the Thousand Oaks attack less than 12 hours after the gunman’s last shot rang out, including Sergeant Ron Helus, a 29-year veteran of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. In a press conference on Thursday, Mr Dean praised the work of his office — including the sacrifice from Mr Helus — for working fast in response to the shooting at the packed college night bar. At least five off-duty law enforcement officers helped to protect people.
Cody Coffman, 22, was also killed, according to his father Jason. Mr Coffman broke down as he told reporters how his last words to his son as he went out that night were not to drink and drive and that he loved him. He added: “Oh Cody, I love you son.”
The family of 23-year-old Justin Meek said he was also killed, according to California Lutheran University President Chris Kimball, who said in a statement that Mr Meek ”heroically saved lives”.
Another victim, Alaina Housley was just 18, and was a promising student at Pepperdine University with plans to study law, her family said.
Other victims include Noel Sparks who was a youth camp leader and Moorpark College student. The death was announced by United Methodist Church Westlake Village. "It is with heavy hearts that we notify you that Noel Sparks was among the victims of last night's shooting. We grieve with Tony Sparks and Wendy Anderson," the church said in a statement.
Daniel Manrique, 33, was a Marine veteran and focused on helping other veterans adjust to civilian life, according to friends. “I have no doubt that he died a hero, shielding others from gunshots. He will forever be our hero, son, brother, and the best uncle anybody could ever ask for,” Gladys Manrique Kosack, a family member said.
Telemachus Orfanos was identified by his mother who said the he had survived the mass shooting in Las Vegas last year. Jake Dunham and Blake Dingman, both 21, were identified by local Los Angeles outlet ABC7.
Sean Adler, a bouncer at the bar and former wrestling coach at Simi Valley High School, perished in the California shooting and was remembered by the local wrestling community.
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Several survivors of the Las Vegas massacre were reportedly inside the Borderline Bar & Grill during the latest American mass shooting.
The Los Angeles Times reports:
Witnesses said the bar is a hub for country music fans. Many of the attendees Wednesday night normally attended the Stage Coach country music festival in California and, tragically, some were survivors of the massacre at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas that left 58 dead last year.
Shannon Watts, who founded Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting massacre, has released the following statement:
“I’m heartbroken that once again, what should have been a happy and fun night was devastated by gun violence. My heart is with all of those whose sense of safety was shattered last night. We should be able to go out to a bar without fearing for our safety, but because of our country's lax gun laws, there is no safe place. We must act to protect our families from gun violence.”
Jason Coffman, a father who learned his son reportedly did not make it out of the Borderland Bar & Grill during a mass shooting last night, showed reporters photos of his child on a cellphone outside of the Thousands Oaks Teen Centre, where a gathering point has been established for victims' families.
The mass shooting suspect in California has been identified as 29-year-old Ian Long, NBC News reported.
Eye witnesses have told reporters the bar was packed during the mass shooting in California last night, with upwards of 130 people inside the college bar.
NBC News has reported the following on Ian Long, the suspect behind a mass shooting at Borderline Bar & Grill:
Law enforcement officials had earlier described him as a heavily tattooed white male. He was armed with a single handgun, was apparently not carrying a driver's license or any other form of ID.
Some more from Captain Garo Kuredjian of the Ventura County Sheriff's Office on the investigation:
“It’s absolutely horrific," he said. "If you can imagine young people out on a Wednesday night, having a good time, at a bar they’ve probably been to many times. Thousand Oaks, one of the safest cities in the United States, and something like this happens. We’re trying to make sense out of the senseless, it’s absolutely tragic.”
Multiple Pepperdine University students were at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks during the shooting, the university said in a statement.
Sheriff Geoff Dean says that there were between 150 and 200 people in the bar when the shooting occurred.
He is currently taking questions from reporters.
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