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Thousand Oaks shooting: Sheriff's sergeant was killed by friendly fire
At a morning press conference, Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub said Sgt. Ron Helus was struck five times by bullets from the suspect and a sixth time by a round from the CHP officer's AR-type rifle.
Both law enforcement officers had entered the venue to confront 28-year-old Ian David Long, who shot 13 people before he fatally turned his weapon on himself. Helus and 11 other victims died in the Sept. 7 incident.
"This was a dynamic, chaotic event that led to a very brief but furious gun battle between the killer and the lawmen," Ayub said. "We believe that Sgt. Helus was clearly not the intended target of the CHP officer -- which further illustrates the extreme situation both men faced."
At least 13 people, including a sheriff's deputy and the suspected shooter, have been killed, while multiple others were injured during a shooting at the country western dance hall Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, Calif. The bar was holding a "College Country" night event when the shooter reportedly stormed the entrance, per NBC News.
