New Details Released in Thousand Oaks Shooting

Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub

By edhat staff

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office has released new details in the Borderline Bar & Grill shooting in Thousand Oaks that left 12 people dead last month.

During a press conference on Friday morning, officials stated that Ventura County Sgt. Ron Helus, who was killed in the shooting at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, sustained a shot to his heart by a fellow responding officer, as well as other gunshot wounds fired by the gunman.

Autopsy reports revealed that Helus was struck by six bullets, five were fired by the gunman and one was fired by the responding California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer.

Chief Medical Examiner Chris R. Young stated the five shots Helus sustained from the gunman may have been survivable, but the CHP officer’s bullet is believed to have struck his heart, ultimately killing him.

“These bullets caused serious injuries but potentially survivable injuries,” Young said of the bullets used by the suspect’s handgun. The sixth bullet that struck Helus in the heart was confirmed by FBI analysis to be a rifle round fired by a CHP officer who went into the bar with Helus.

“This is sad news and a tragedy, but ultimately this was the most severe injury sustained,” said Young.

Sgt. Ron Helus

“We know that Ventura County Sheriff’s Sgt. Ron Helus and a CHP officer bravely entered the bar together, engaged the suspect who was lying in wait before officers arrived. While Sgt. Helus and the officer’s actions prevented the suspect from killing more people, tragically during the fierce but brief firefight that ensued, a round fired by our officer toward the suspect did strike Sgt. Helus,” said L.D. Maples, Chief with California Highway Patrol’s Coastal Division.

Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub asserted this was a “dynamic and chaotic event” and Sgt. Helus was clearly not the intended target.

The gunman identified as Ian David Long, a 28-year-old Newbury Park resident and former Marine, opened fire on a crowded country bar popular with locals and nearby college students on the night of Nov. 7.

“It is important to remember that the horrific circumstances at the Borderline Bar and Grill on that Wednesday night, exactly one month ago today, were caused by the evil action of one individual: the man who murdered twelve people and injured twenty-two others,” said Ayub. “He alone created the violence and he alone bears the responsibility for his course of action.”

Officials reported Long died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Twelve people, including Sgt. Helus, were killed. Numerous others were injured and wounded while trying to escape the gunfire by jumping out of windows.

Among those killed were a U.S. Navy vet, Pepperdine University student, and employees of the establishment.

The full press conference can be seen below: