Live report: 5 key facts about the bar mass shooting you need to know
As more information keeps coming in about the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, California, the numbers for those who were killed have been revealed.
Reports state that 12 people were killed by the unidentified gunman. A few more people were injured during the mass shooting.
Twelve to 15 people were wounded during the mass shooting at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, California. The shooting occurred while the country-themed bar was hosting a “College Country Night.”
The bar is not far from the California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California State University Channel Islands in Camarillo, Pepperdine University in Malibu, and Moorpark College in Moorpark.
For more on this story go to our Twitter account @amomama_usa. The place was packed with college students when the gunman entered.
The police described the scene as “horrific” and they said there was “blood everywhere.” The gunman was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside the bar.
Ventura County Sheriff’s Captain Garo Kuredjian said that one of the victims was Sergeant Ron Helus, a Ventura County deputy. He died while responding to the mass shooting.
Helus was described as a 29-year veteran who was nearing retirement. His colleagues said the sergeant “died a hero” while trying to save other lives.
The other victims and the shooter haven’t been identified. The shooting was reported just before 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday night.
There are five key things to note about the incident:
1. A witness saw the suspect shoot a security guard and threw in smoke grenades:
John Hedge said:
“I was at the front door and I was talking to my stepdad. I just started hearing these big pops. Pop, pop, pop. There was probably three or four, I hit the ground. I look up – the security guard is dead. Well, I don’t want to say he was dead, but he was shot. He was down. The gunman was throwing smoke grenades all over the place. I saw him point to the back of the cash register…and he just kept firing. I ran out the front door.”
2. A mass casualty response was sent to the scene:
Police officers responded to the bar by the dozens. They were assisted by the California Highway Patrol, a Ventura County SWAT team, the FBI, ATF agents, and a precautionary bomb squad.
3. On Wednesdays, the Borderline Bar & Grill hosts a “College Night” from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.:
The country music-themed bar had hundreds of people inside the bar at the time of the shooting. The restaurant and bar hosts students who are 18 and over on college nights.
4. At least 30 shots were fired during the incident:
It isn’t currently clear what kind of gun the shooter was using. An unnamed witness revealed:
“He shot a lot, at least 30 times. I could still hear gunshots after everyone left.”
5. The motive for the mass shooting is not known:
No known motive has been confirmed. However, witnesses described the suspect as being dressed in black, possibly in a trench coat. He was said to be a Middle Eastern man in his early 20s while other witnesses said the shooter was either white or Hispanic.
When the gunman opened fire at the bar, patrons who were dancing dropped to the floor while others hid behind chairs and counters. Some others jumped over chairs and broke windows to get out to safety.
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