Suspect in California biker bar identified as a retired law enforcement officer

Authorities on Thursday were investigating a Wednesday night shooting at a Southern California bar popular with bikers that left four dead, including the suspect, identified as a retired law enforcement officer.

The shooting at Cook's Corner bar in Trabuco Canyon, a small unincorporated community in eastern Orange County, started at about 7 p.m., the Orange County Sheriff's Department said.

Four victims were confirmed dead at the scene, including the suspect, and six were taken to hospitals with injuries, the department said.

Kimberly Edds, a spokesperson for the Orange County district attorney’s office, identified the gunman to USA TODAY as John Snowling, 59. His wife was among the injured, the sheriff's office said.

It was the latest in over 460 mass shootings so far in 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive tracker, making this year one of the most violent on record.

Police in Orange County said they would give more information at a news conference Thursday afternoon.

Here's what we know:

What happened at Cook's Corner?

Sheriff's deputies responded to the scene just after 7 p.m. after "multiple 911 calls of shots being fired," Undersheriff Jeff Hallock said Wednesday night. The deputies found an armed male suspect and a "deputy-involved shooting" involved multiple deputies, Hallock said.

"At this point, the man believed to be involved in the shooting is deceased at the scene. At least one weapon has been recovered at the scene," Hallock said.

Dozens of patrol cars and ambulances swarmed the bar and deputies responded within two minutes of the first report of a shooting, Sgt. Frank Gonzalez said.

"It was like a madhouse,” Betty Fruichantie, who was in the bar with a friend, told NBC4 Los Angeles. 

With bullets flying by, Fruichantie ran and hid in a restroom with others.

“And when we came out, people were on the floor and people were like over people trying to help them, just holding their wounds," she said.

Who was the suspected shooter?

Officials said Thursday that the deceased suspect is Snowling.

Ventura Police Department Cmdr. Mike Brown said Orange County authorities called the department to confirm the suspect had worked there, according to the Ventura County Star, part of the USA TODAY Network.

The man was a retired police sergeant with the Ventura County Police Department who worked there from July 1986 through February 2014, Brown told the newspaper. Brown said he could not verify the events in Orange County and could only provide the dates of employment.

Edds told USA TODAY the district attorney’s office would have been responsible for prosecuting Snowling if he had survived; however, their investigation now centers on the use of deadly force by law enforcement.

“In this case our role is relegated to investigating whether or not there was a crime committed on behalf of the responding deputies, which does not appear to be the case,” she said.

Authorities haven't said whether they are aware of Snowling's motive.

Who were the victims?

Authorities have not released any details about the victims but said three people and the suspect were dead, and at least six others were injured.

Five of the injured had gunshot wounds, and two people were in critical condition at hospitals as of Wednesday night, Orange County Fire Authority Chief Brian Fennessy said.

Historic bar popular with bikers

Cook's Corner has been a fixture in the community for motorcycle enthusiasts, who regularly gathered on Wednesday nights for a weekly spaghetti night and live music.

Before the shooting, rows of motorcycles and bikes were lined by the gravel entrance where plaques describe the storied history of the bar built in 1884.

"We’ve experienced major earthquakes, forest fires, floods, recessions and other disasters. We’ve gotten through all of them and came out stronger," the bar said on its website.

Contributing: Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY; The Ventura County Star; The Associated Press