THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Twelve people, including a sheriff's sergeant, were killed by a tall, hooded gunman dressed in black who opened fire inside a crowded country dance bar in Southern California late Wednesday. About 40 miles west of Los Angeles, hundreds of people — many of them college students — were inside the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, Calif. At least 11 people were killed at the scene; a deputy later died from his injuries, said Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean. Helus exchanged gunfire with the suspect, identified by authorities as Ian David Long, before being shot multiple times. Image copyright Social Media Image caption Sgt Ron Helus was one of the first officers on the scene

The husband and father-of-one had been a policeman for 29 years and was a professional firearms instructor. More: What we know about the fatal mass shooting at a Thousand Oaks, California, dance bar

Chris Weber, who rushed to the bar after learning a friend might have been shot, told The New York Times he believed people inside the bar at the time had also attended the festival. Helus, a 29-year veteran of the department, was looking to retire "in the next year or so," Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean said. "Ron was a hardworking dedicated sheriff’s sergeant," said Dean, trying to hold back tears.
At least 12 people, including a police sergeant, are killed while ten others are injured by a gunman at the Thousand Oaks Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California at around 11:15 PM PST (UTC-8). The gunman committed suicide at the end of the attack after a stand-off with police.