A man identified in media reports as the suspect in a mass shooting that killed 11 people at a California bar is a Marine veteran, Corps officials confirmed on Thursday.
- Ian David Long allegedly opened fire in the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California, on Wednesday night, several media outlets reported. Long was also found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
- Long served as a machine gunner in the Marine Corps from August 2008 until March 2013, leaving the service as a corporal, the Marine Corps said in a statement to reporters. Long deployed to Afghanistan from November 2010 to June 2011 with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Third Marine Division, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. He also rotated to Japan from June to December 2012 as part of the Unit Deployment Program.
- His awards include two Navy Unit Commendations; Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Combat Action Ribbon; Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal; two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; National Defense Service Medal; and the NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan.
- “The Marine Corps extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims in this senseless tragedy,” Corps spokesman Capt. Joseph Butterfield said on Thursday.
- The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, which lost an officer in the shooting, could not be reached for comment by deadline.
