Suspect who shot to death 12 people in Thousand Oaks bar was Marine Corps veteran, possibly had PTSD

Authorities said 28-year-old Ian David Long appeared to kill himself shortly after opening fire on a country bar in Thousand Oaks and killing 12 people including a Ventura County sheriff’s sergeant.

There are reports that Long had post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Newbury Park resident was a United States Marine Corps veteran and legally bought the Glock .45-caliber handgun. The handgun was equipped with an extended magazine on it when he allegedly entered the Borderline Bar & Grill at around 11:20 p.m. Wednesday.

The extended magazine would allow it to hold more rounds than the standard number of 10.

“We have no idea what the motive was at this point,” Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean told reporters at a news conference near the scene at around 7 a.m. “It appears (the shooting was) random inside. I don’t believe he was targeting people.”

The first to respond to the scene was Sgt. Ron Helus, a 29-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department. He was shot several times and died.

Deputies found Long’s body inside the office of the bar and believe he committed suicide.

Dean said Long had been contacted by authorities in April during a disturbance call where he was “irate” and acting “irrationally.” Mental health officials cleared him that day and did not place him into a psychiatric hold.

Twenty-one other people were injured and were taken to hospitals.

There are no apparent connections between the suspect and the victims or the bar, which is popular with nearby college students, authorities said.

Investigators were at the man’s home waiting for a search warrant.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.