The suspect in the deadly California bar shooting on late Wednesday night has been identified.
Ian David Long, a 28-year-old Marine Corp veteran from Newbury Park, was the man who opened fire in a crowded bar, killing 12 before turning the gun on himself, Fox News reported Thursday morning.
Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean confirmed the shooter’s identity during a press conference on Thursday morning.
Dean explained that Long had minor interactions with law enforcement over the past few years, consisting of traffic incidents, and a 2015 incident in which he was a battery victim at a bar.
In April 2018, police were called to his home over reports of an “irate” individual. A crisis response team did not determine he was a severe enough threat to take into custody at the time.
Dean added that Long may have suffered with PTSD as a result of his Marine Corps service.
The gunman who killed at least 12 people at a bar outside Los Angeles is identified as 28-year-old Ian David Long, sheriff’s office says. Follow live updates: https://t.co/DvdUGTrFZJ pic.twitter.com/JhPz7OxLpH
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) November 8, 2018
Long began his rampage by shooting a security guard outside the bar. He then entered the building and immediately targeted additional security guards positioned to the right inside the entry. Afterward, he opened fire on patrons.
Long used a legally-purchased .45 caliber Glock 21 handgun in the massacre. It was designed to abide by the 10-round magazine limit mandated by California law, but Long used an extended magazine to hold a greater round capacity.
It’s not yet clear how many rounds Long fired or how many the extended magazine contained. Investigators are processing the weapon as evidence, and it was the only one used in the crime.
First reports of the shooting occurred at 11:20 p.m. PST at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, Calif., approximately 40 miles west of Los Angeles.
A gunman wearing all black used a .45-caliber handgun and a smoke bomb to kill 12 people during a “college night” event at a bar in Thousand Oaks, California, reports @AP.
This is the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. since 17 were killed at a high school in Parkland, FL. pic.twitter.com/WjtoRga41S
— AJ+ (@ajplus) November 8, 2018
The country western-themed bar was hosting “College Country Night” on Wednesday, with “hundreds” of people in attendance, according to law enforcement.
Ventura County Sheriff’s Sgt. Ron Helus was among the first to respond to the scene and was shot when he entered the building. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
