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Mass Shooting at Thousand Oaks Bar Leaves 13 Dead and Many More Injured

A gunman began shooting at 11:20 p.m. on November 7 at the Los Angeles area suburb

Scene outside Borderline Bar & Grill after mass shooting on November 7, 2018, Thousand Oaks, California
Scene outside Borderline Bar & Grill after mass shooting on November 7, 2018, Thousand Oaks, California
Screenshot of Twitter video by Jeremy Childs
Matthew Kang is the Lead Editor of Eater LA. He has covered dining, restaurants, food culture, and nightlife in Los Angeles since 2008. He's the host of K-Town, a YouTube series covering Korean food in America, and has been featured in Netflix's Street Food show.

Yesterday evening around 11:20 p.m., November 7, a gunman shot a semi-automatic weapon into a crowd at Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California, killing 12 people and injuring many more, according to the LA Times. The suspect is also confirmed dead, bringing the total number of fatalities on the scene to 13.

The Western-style bar was hosting a country music event with mostly college students in attendance, some as young as 18 years old, in what’s considered one of LA County’s safest neighborhoods. When deputies arrived at the scene, they exchanged fire with the gunman, shooting one sergeant, who eventually died in the hospital from gunshot wounds. CNN and other media outlets have quoted Thousand Oaks mayor Andy Fox, who said the gunman has been “neutralized.”

The Times estimated that there were potentially hundreds of people inside the bar, dancing and enjoying ‘College Country Night,’ when bystanders heard what sounded like firecrackers. Screams broke out and many suffered gunshot wounds from dozens of rounds. The gunman, who was wearing a black hoodie and pants, as well as a scarf to conceal his face, also allegedly threw smoke bombs upon entering the bar.

The Wednesday night country dance nights at Borderline were popular with local college students ranging everywhere from nearby Moorpark College all the way to California State University Channel Islands and Pepperdine University. Those who witnessed the terrifying event said bystanders ran for cover, smashing windows to escape the building while others hid in the bathrooms.

The Times also reported that the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and ATF were on the scene, though a representative for the FBI did not provide a motive for the shooting. Borderline Bar and Grill originally opened in Malibu in the 1980s but moved to Thousand Oaks in 1993, according to VC Star. Developing...

3:10 a.m.: Updated with the latest number of victims and the confirmation of the dead shooter.

Borderline Bar & Grill

99 Rolling Oaks Dr., Thousand Oaks, CA 91361