A gunman who killed three people and injured six others, including his estranged wife, late Wednesday at a bar in Orange County, Calif., was a former police officer, according to authorities.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department on Thursday identified the gunman as John Snowling. The 59-year-old was a retired Ventura Police Department sergeant.
Authorities said during a news conference that Snowling entered Cook’s Corner bar with two firearms. Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said Snowling “walked directly” to his wife, who had filed for divorce late last year, shot her once, wounding her and then shot a woman she was eating with. That person later died, Barnes said. Snowling then started “shooting randomly” at patrons who were seated inside and outside of the bar, Barnes added.
The gunman returned to his truck to retrieve a third firearm. A man from the bar attempted to stop him but was shot and killed, authorities said.
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Within two minutes of the first 911 call, police said they were able to confront the shooter. A gunfight ensued between Snowling and police before the retired officer was ultimately shot and killed.
Share this articleShareThe motive for the attack is still under investigation, law enforcement sources said. Two victims remain in critical condition. John Leehey, 67, of Irvine, Calif., was identified as one of the people killed. The two others were not named as authorities were still working on informing their next of kin.
Snowling’s wife was conscious but remained in the hospital Thursday, authorities said.
The shooting occurred at Cook’s Corner, a bar popular with motorcyclists in Trabuco Canyon, about 50 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Cook’s Corner, which classifies itself as a dive bar on its Facebook page, was hosting an “$8 Spaghetti Night Special” on Wednesday evening.
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On Thursday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said on social media site X, “Once again, a siege of bullets has shaken a community and torn families apart. We mourn for the victims of last night’s horrific shooting at Cook’s Corner.”
The Ventura Police Department said Snowling worked there from July 1986 through February 2014 and retired about 10 years ago, the Ventura County Star daily newspaper reported.
Ventura County Superior Court records show that Snowling’s estranged wife filed for divorce Dec. 21, 2022, NBC Los Angeles reported.
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