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.

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About the Author

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

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