‘Multiple fatalities’ at California bar shooting
Police say there are “multiple fatalities” after a shooting at a bar in Thousand Oaks, California.
Reports say the shooting began at about 23:20 local time on Wednesday at the Borderline Bar and Grill about 40 miles (65km) north-west of Los Angeles.
Officials have confirmed the suspect is now dead, and have said there were at least 11 victims in the attack.
At least 200 people were reportedly inside the bar attending a college country music night at the time.
“When deputies arrived they heard shots being fired, it was an active shooter situation,” Ventura County Sheriff’s office spokesman Eric Buschow said.
“They entered the location and I can tell you there are multiple fatalities, multiple injuries, among the victims is one of our sheriff’s deputies that responded in that initial call, as well as the shooter.”
Police have said the number of injured is expected to rise.
Witnesses have described a scene of panic in the bar. Dozens of shots were reportedly fired by the suspect.
People used chairs to break windows to escape, while others sheltered inside toilets.
Reports say the suspect may have used smoke grenades and at least one weapon, described as a semi-automatic handgun by witnesses, during the attack.
A man who was injured told local television channel KTLA that the shots sounded “like fireworks”.
“We just dropped to the ground, we heard a lot of screaming. My friend is the DJ so she cut off the music, we just heard a lot of mayhem,” he said.
Source: bbc.com
