12 People Dead, Including Sheriff

12 People Dead, Including Sheriff's Sergeant, in Thousand Oaks Shooting

Twelve people were killed and dozens more were injured in a shooting at a bar hosting college night.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Nov 08, 2018

Twelve people were killed and 22 more were injured after a gunman open fired on group of people inside a bar line dancing on "college night" in Thousand Oaks, Calif. 

Included in the 12 dead is Sheriff's Sgt. Ron Helus, a 29-year veteran office who was looking to retire next year. Helus was among the first officers respond to the Borderline Bar & Grill, a country-western dance bar, following 911 calls. He later died at the hospital. 

Authorities responded quickly, getting to the scene within three minutes of the first 911 call, gunshot were still going off when they arrived. Officers indicated that approximately 30 gunshots had been fired and that victims were fleeing from the bar into surrounding neighborhoods, according to the VC Star.

Witnesses told authorities that a man dressed in black entered the bar and almost immediately started open firing on people inside. Many told local news that they believe the speakers in the bar had blown out, but quickly understood what was happening once people starting dropping to the ground. Witnesses believe the shooter might have used smoke bombs to confuse people and blur their vision.

Dozens of officers responded to the scene, where they found the unidentified gunman dead inside with 11 of his victims. Eleven to 13 people have been transferred to area hospitals with gunshot wounds and another 8 to 10 people have incident related injuries. 

The Borderline Bar & Grill was hosting a college night at the bar, according its website, which is not far from California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California State University Channel Islands in Camarillo, Pepperdine University in Malibu and Moorpark College in Moorpark.

<

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.