Thousand Oaks, California Shooting

 

When: November 7, 2018

Location: Borderline Bar & Grill, Thousand Oaks, California

Attacker: Ian D. Long, 28

Victims: 12 dead, 22 wounded
Weapon(s): .45 caliber Glock handgun

Type of attacker: Mental health issues

 

Description:
28-yr-old Ian Long approached the entrance of the Borderline Bar & Grill in Bakersfield, California at approximately 11:15 pm dressed in dark clothing, including a dark cap. It was Wednesday evening, November 7, 2018. It was “College Country Night” at the popular country-themed bar & grill. On entry, Long immediately threw one or more smoke grenades and shot the unarmed security guard. He then began shooting patrons indiscriminately. The crowd dropped, ran, hid, fled through back exit and front entrance, and broke windows to escape. Long, an experienced former marine, walked through the establishment shooting even the wounded to make sure he was killing the patrons. At the time, there was a little less than 200 customers available as targets.

During the attack, Long posted on social media saying he was bored but sane. He also said that they would debate his mental state for years to come. The attack ended with Long apparently shooting himself and was dead when found. He had killed 12 innocent victims and injured as many as 22. He had been a frequent patron of the bar & grill prior to the attack. Long had come to the attention of law enforcement officials on several occasions previously and had even been evaluated by mental health professionals. However, he was not detained on any of the previous occasions. A specific motivation for the attack has not yet been uncovered which is not unusual when such attacks are fueled by mental health issues.  

 

Links:

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Jose A. Del Real, Jennifer Medina and Tim Arango, “California Shooting Kills 12 at Country Music Bar, a Year After Las Vegas,” The New York Times, November 8, 2018.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/08/us/shooting-california-thousand-oaks.html

 

Andrew Blankstein and Jo Ling Kent, “California mass shooter posted to social media during bar rampage,” NBC News, November 9, 2018.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/california-mass-shooter-posted-social-media-during-bar-rampage-n934496