Authorities are investigating what may have prompted a former police sergeant to open fire in a popular Orange County bar on Wednesday, killing at least three people and injuring six others.
Authorities said the shooter was also killed within minutes of sheriff's deputies arriving at Cook’s Corner, and on Thursday, gave more details about how the incident unfolded.
What we know so far
- O.C. sheriff's deputies responded to the shooting shortly after 7 p.m. at Cook’s Corner, a historic biker bar in Trabuco Canyon at 19152 Santiago Canyon Road.
- Orange County Undersheriff Jeff Hallock said deputies responded to 911 calls at 7:04 p.m. Two minutes later, he said the deputies arrived, and two minutes after that, confronted the shooter. At that point, Hallock said multiple "deputy-involved shootings" occurred.
- Of the six victims who were transported to the hospital, all have been stabilized and one was due to be released, medical officials said.
- M Street band member Brian Lynch said in a Facebook post that two fellow band members had been injured in the shooting and were treated by paramedics.
- O.C. District Attorney Todd Spitzer identified the shooter as John Snowling, a retired sergeant for the Ventura Police Department. Officials said he had three handguns and one shotgun.
- Snowling’s wife, Marie Snowling, filed for divorce against him this December in a case that is still ongoing, according to the Ventura County court website.
- The sheriff's department said investigators believe John Snowling "drove from Ohio to California to target his wife over a domestic dispute."
- A Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson told LAist there are no previous domestic violence calls or restraining orders in their files regarding Snowling. The department is the police agency for the city of Camarillo, where the couple lived.
- State Sen. Dave Min, who represents that area, said in a statement that he was “devastated by news of yet another mass shooting tonight,” particularly in Orange County. Supervisor Katrina Foley also said she was "heartbroken to hear of another senseless mass shooting, this time in our own backyard.”
More on the incident
Spitzer told LAist on Thursday that at some point after Snowling began shooting, he retreated to his car and retrieved additional weapons. Spitzer said Snowling appeared to have targeted some people, but "he apparently was also shooting randomly.”
Spitzer said it was still unclear whether Snowling was killed by officers or if he killed himself.
“There appears to have been a gun battle,” Spitzer said.
Speaking at a news conference Thursday afternoon, Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said a deputy-involved shooting occurred, and that "we do know and do believe that it was the gunfire from those deputies that took the life of that individual."
Marie Snowling, meanwhile, “is conscious and is speaking so her status seems to be improving somewhat significantly,” Barnes added.
The district attorney noted that federal law allows most retired law enforcement officials to carry guns “essentially for life.” Spitzer said that following the Wednesday night shooting, he would be urging state legislators to consider an “intermittent review process” to determine whether retired officers should continue to be allowed to carry guns throughout their retirement.
“Because if somebody retires at 50 years of age or thereabout, and then they are in their 60s and there’s a change in circumstance in their life, their status, their psychological well-being or whatever, they should have to check in and somebody should be determining whether or not [they] should be allowed to continue to carry a weapon,” he added.
Snowling served as president of the Ventura police union in 2009 and was reportedly re-elected to the position that year.
The dead victims
Authorities released more information about the people who were shot and killed, but remained vague on details. Among them was John Leehey, 67, of Irvine, and Glen Sprowl Jr., 53, of Stanton.
Tonya Clark, a 49-year-old resident of Scottsdale, Arizona, was eating dinner with Marie Snowling when shots rang out. After being hit by gunfire, Clark was able to escape to the roadway outside, but succumbed to her wounds, officials said.
We stand in mourning alongside the family and friends of Tonya, John and Glen. They were tragically killed Wednesday in a shooting at Cook's Corner in Trabuco Canyon.
— OC Sheriff, CA (@OCSheriff) August 25, 2023
Please join us in wishing all who knew and loved them comfort during this extremely difficult time. pic.twitter.com/h7Laaczaqq
Reaction from shooter's attorney
John Snowling’s attorney told LAist he was horrified by the shooting, and that there was no hint of domestic violence in the divorce filings or his conversations with his client.
“This is an absolute nightmare,” Tristan teGroen said in an interview, adding that his thoughts are with the couple’s adult children.
“I’m stunned. I’m horrified,” he added. “This seemed to be a very calm divorce case.”
“There was never the prospect of domestic violence whatsoever,” teGroen added. “I never received anything from the other lawyer saying that my client was threatening or mean or doing anything that might be considered violence.”
An attorney for Snowling’s estranged wife did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
What's next
- Authorities said the sprawling crime scene will be closed for the foreseeable future, with investigators processing the area into the night.
Location of shooting
Resources for dealing with trauma
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Trauma resources for adults and employers:
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- Coping in the Aftermath of a Shooting (American Counseling Association)
- Supporting Employees in Coping with Community Violence (Employee Assistance for Education – EASE)
- Trauma and Disaster Mental Health (American Counseling Association)
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How to help children make sense of the news:
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- What To Say To Kids When The News Is Scary (NPR)
- Parent Guidelines For Helping Youth After The Recent Shooting (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network – English/Spanish)
- Talking to Children About Violence: Tips For Parents And Teachers (National Association of School Psychologists)
- Helping Children Cope With Frightening News (Child Mind Institute)
- Teaching in the Wake of Violence (Facing History and Ourselves)
- An example of a calming technique to help kids with stressful situations (Coping Skills For Kids)
- Younger kids may not yet have the language to express their feelings. Here's a helpful list of words for emotions. (University of California, Santa Barbara)
Resources for anyone in crisis
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If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs immediate help, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or visit the 988 website for online chat.
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For more help:
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- Find 5 Action Steps for helping someone who may be suicidal, from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
- Six questions to ask to help assess the severity of someone's suicide risk, from the Columbia Lighthouse Project.
- To prevent a future crisis, here's how to help someone make a safety plan.
- Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health’s 24/7 Help Line (Spanish available): 800-854-7771.
- East Los Angeles Women’s Center 24/7 crisis hotline (Spanish available): 800-585-6231.
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for 24/7 crisis counseling.
How we're reporting on this
This is a developing story. We fact check everything and rely only on information from credible sources (think fire, police, government officials and reporters on the ground). Sometimes, however, we make mistakes and/or initial reports turn out to be wrong. In all cases, we strive to bring you the most accurate information in real time and will update this story as new information becomes available.
