At least 13 people, including a police officer, were shot and killed in a Southern California bar Wednesday night, according to authorities.
Police are reporting at least 10 other injuries in addition to the 13 killed in the Borderline Bar and Grill about 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The suspected gunman was found dead.
“It’s a horrific scene in there, there is blood everywhere and the suspect is part of that, and I didn’t want to get that close and disturb the scene and possibly disturb the investigation,” Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean said, according to CNN.
The Ventura County sheriff said authorities are unsure of a motive, but said there are no links to terrorism. (RELATED: Was Stephen Paddock Planning An Attack On LA?)
Sgt. Ron Helus, a 29-year law enforcement veteran, was one of the first law enforcement officers on the scene. He was shot and died early Thursday morning in the hospital, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.
Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks hosts “College Country Night” every Wednesday, which draws hundreds of people, according to The Associated Press.
First responders are seen outside Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California, U.S. November 7, 2018 in this image obtained from social media on November 8, 2018. Thomas Gorden/via REUTERS
“I was at the front door and I was talking to my stepdad. I just started hearing these big pops,” witness John Hedge told ABC 7. “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.”
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