Last Updated Nov 8, 2018 3:37 PM EST
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — The identities of 12 people who were shot and killed by a gunman in a California bar late Wednesday have started to emerge. A big brother and a recent graduate were among those who died in the shooting at the Borderline Bar and Grill, which was holding a weekly country music dance night for college students.
Here is a look at the victims who have been identified:
Cody Coffman
Jason Coffman identified his 22-year-old son, Cody Coffman, as among the dead. Speaking to reporters Thursday, Jason Coffman said he talked to his son Cody on Wednesday night before he headed out the door. “First thing I said was ‘please don’t drink and drive.’ Last thing I said was, ‘Son, I love you.'”
Jason said Cody had just turned 22 and that he was on his way of fulfilling his dream of serving his country. He was talking to recruiters about joining the military.
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Jason Coffman displays a photo of his son, Cody.
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Cody had two young brothers, aged 8 and 6, and a sister who has not been born yet. “He wanted to be the big brother to these two boys and one sister that’s coming,” Jason said.
He said he wants to pray for everyone else who is going to go through this same situation, adding, “There’s many more to come, but for me this is a heart that I’ll never get back.”
Justin Meek
Another victim was identified Thursday as 23-year-old Justin Meek. California Lutheran University said in a campus alert it learned from the family that Meek, a recent graduate, died in the shooting.
“Meek heroically saved lives in the incident,” the university said.
The university said earlier that classes were canceled Thursday.
Justin Meek
Ron Helus
Ventura County Sheriff’s Sgt. Ron Helus was killed while responding to the shooting. He was on the phone with his wife when he was dispatched to the Borderline Bar & Grill, Sheriff Geoff Dean told reporters.
“‘Hey, I gotta go handle a call, I love you, I’ll talk to you later,'” Dean said Helus told his wife.
Earlier, on “CBS This Morning,” Dean said he and Helus were friends. The sheriff said he had “no doubt” that Helus and a California Highway Patrol officer accompanying him saved lives by engaging with gunman Ian Long.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Ron Helus
Ventura County Sheriff
“I’ve heard anywhere from 150 to 200 people in there. Not that by any means the loss of 13 lives is good, but it could have been much, much worse,” Dean said.
Alaina Housley
Alaina Housley was identified as being among the dead after reports she was missing. “Sister Sister” actress Tamera Mowry-Housley and her husband, former Fox News correspondent Adam Housley, said earlier they were looking for her. Alaina is their niece.
Alaina Housley
“Our hearts are broken,” the couple said in a statement. “We just learned that our niece Alaina was one of the victims of last night’s shooting at Borderline bar in Thousand Oaks.”
“Alaina was an incredible young woman with so much life ahead of her and we are devastated that her life was cut short in this manner,” they said. “We thank everyone for your prayers and ask for privacy at this time.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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