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Dispatch tape and witness accounts lay out a chaotic scene and response to Borderline mass shooting
A Ventura County Sheriffs officer stands near a vehicle near the Borderline Bar and Grill, where a mass shooting occurred on November 7, 2018 in Thousand Oaks, California.
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Dispatch tape and witness accounts lay out a chaotic scene and response to Borderline mass shooting
The initial response to the Borderline mass shooting was textbook example of quickly confronting a dangerous gunman in an effort to save lives. But when an officer was shot, the hurried confrontation ground to a halt.
KPCC/LAist combed through publicly available dispatch tape from that night to better understand how authorities responded. We found it took about 15 minutes after the first report Ventura County Sheriff's Sgt. Ron Helus had been shot for authorities to pull him from the building. Then it was another 21 minutes before officers announced they were re-entering.
Read more about what Annie Gilbertson and Frank Stoltze found on LAist.com: Police Responded Immediately To Chaotic, Confusing Mass Shooting At Borderline Bar — Then Slowed
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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