Mass shooting at a bar in Thousand Oaks, California: what we know so far

A suspect shot and killed 12 bar-goers and a sheriff’s deputy at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, California, late Wednesday night. According to reports, the victims were students attending a college night event at the bar. The suspect, 28-year-old Ian David Long, was a US Marine Corps veteran. He is confirmed dead.

This is breaking news. We will continue to update this post as more information becomes available.

Javier Zarracina/Vox

What we know so far:

• 12 people including a sheriff’s deputy have been killed and perhaps a dozen others injured by a suspect at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, California, about 40 miles west of Los Angeles.
• The victims include Sgt. Ron Helus, a deputy with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, and 11 people who were attending a college night event at the bar. Helus, a 29-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, was one of the first officers at the scene; he was shot multiple times and died in the hospital from his injuries. He was one year short of retirement.
• Pepperdine University confirmed in a statement that it had “received reports that several [of its] students were at Borderline Bar and Grill” when the shooting began, and that the university is now working with authorities to identify and support those individuals.
• The suspect has been identified as 28-year-old Ian David Long, according to Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean. In a press conference, Dean said that Long was a US Marine Corps veteran and was known to law enforcement: “We have had several contacts with Mr. Long over the years, minor offenses.”

The sheriff also described an incident in April of this year in which deputies were called to Long’s house. “He was somewhat irate” and “acting irrationally,” Dean said, but a mental health specialist who spoke with him at the time ultimately “did not feel that he was qualified to be taken” into custody at the time.

• Calls of “shots fired” first came in around 11:20 pm Pacific. Local reports say the shooter, dressed in all black, tossed smoke grenades and fired off dozens of rounds using a Glock 21 .45-caliber handgun; the weapon was purchased legally and included an extended magazine. Hundreds were reportedly inside the bar at the time.
• The suspect was found dead inside the bar. Authorities believe he shot himself.
• Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean described the incident as a “tragic, tragic situation.”
• President Donald Trump tweeted early Thursday morning saying that he had been “fully briefed” on the situation and offering his condolences:

What we don’t know yet:

• The suspect’s motive
• If there is any connection to terrorism
• The final number of dead and injured
• The identities of all of the victims

Contributions are a key part of the future of Vox

Readers rely on Vox for clear, nuanced coverage that not only illuminates the issues, but poses solutions, too. And we rely on help from our readers: Advertising and grants cover the majority of our costs, but we count on contributions to help us close the gaps in our budget. In fact, we’re looking to reach 95,000 individual contributions before the end of the year. Will you make the next contribution right now? Our average gift is just $20 — and it goes a long way in helping us keep our work free. Vox is here to help everyone understand what’s shaping the world — not just the people who can afford to pay for a subscription. We believe that’s an important part of building a more equal society. Join that mission by making a contribution today.

One-Time Monthly Annual

$5/month

$10/month

$25/month

$50/month

Other

$

Yes, I'll give $5/month

Yes, I'll give $5/month

We accept credit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. You can also contribute via