California: Shooting In Thousand Oaks Bar Leaves 12 Dead

Another mass shooting has occurred, this time in a bar in Thousand Oaks, California, that left 12 dead.

The incident began at approximately 11:20pm at the Borderline Bar and Grill,  which was holding its regular "College Country Night."

The shooter has been identified as a former U.S. Marine who may have been coping with post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the L.A. Times.

Ian David Long, 28, lived in Newbury Park, not far from the club where he threw smoke bombs and rained bullets on a crowd of more than a hundred people Wednesday night.

Sheriff Geoff Dean said his department had had several interactions with Long, including a call to his home in April for a complaint of disturbing the peace. Deputies at the time said Long was irate and acting irrationally, Dean said. They called in mental health professionals to evaluate him, and they concluded he did not need to be taken into custody.

In the neighborhood where Long lived, residents said they were well aware of his problems.

Richard Berge, 77, said the former Marine had PTSD and was known to kick in the walls of the home. Long lived with his mother, Berge said.

“She’s a very sweet woman, but she had a lot of problems with the son,” Berge said. “I just know he tore the house up.”

Long was dressed in black when he burst into the Borderline Bar & Grill, a country-music-themed venue popular with college students, around 11:20 p.m. He drove his mother’s car to the bar and did not say anything before opening fire, a law enforcement official said.

The shooter was armed with a Glock 21 .45-caliber handgun with an extended magazine that he purchased legally in Simi Valley, Dean said. A source said he also had a “smoke device.”

Sgt. Ron Helus, a 29-year Sheriff’s Department veteran who was planning to retire next year, was the first to enter the bar. He suffered severe wounds and later died in the hospital.

He is survived by a son and his wife, whom he called before entering the bar, Dean said.

No motive has been determined.

12 dead in mass shooting at Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California https://t.co/lWf49W7eup pic.twitter.com/cy6kmnBgYi

— TIME (@TIME) November 8, 2018

Before all the pro-gun people whip out their favorite talking point, Thousand Oaks did have a security guard. He was the first one murdered.

— David Leavitt (@David_Leavitt) November 8, 2018

There were six off-duty police officers in the Thousand Oaks bar at time of shooting. “They stood in front of my daughter”, Sheriff says he was told by parent of survivor.

— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) November 8, 2018

This is Ventura County Sherrif’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/yUGTCYwnei

— Willie Geist (@WillieGeist) November 8, 2018

And right-wing loons immediately tried to set the narrative that the shooter was "Middle Eastern."

Thousand Oaks shooter identified as Ian David Long, a white former US Marine. As usual Prison Paul was ahead of the curve this morning, he has since deleted this tweet. pic.twitter.com/RMhn4kCVd6

— Henry Langston (@Henry_Langston) November 8, 2018