injuring at least 11 people and killing one.The shooter stormed the student night at Borderline Bar and Grill wearing a black trenchcoat armed with a 'high capacity' pistol and smoke grenades.
Among the victims was a Ventura County deputy sheriff and a doorman - as well as a cashier and college students. The lifeless body of a suspected male victim was seen outside of the venue.
Police confirmed the shooter was one of the 11 injured, but it was not clear if he was dead or alive. Officials said there have been fatalities but would not say how many.There were 'at least 200 people' inside the bar tonight when the gunman opened fire. Police said the number of casualties is 'very likely' to go up.
One witness told ABC7: ‘I was at the front door talking to my stepdad. I heard these big pops.
'There were three or four and I hit the ground. The security guard was dead and the man had a handgun. He threw in smoke bombs and he kept firing. People threw chairs out of the windows to try to get away.
'The gunman had glasses and a black jacket. He had a big hand gun.’
Another witness said: 'This maniac came in. Threw in smoke to confuse people and opened fire on the dancefloor. He’s taken many young lives’. A Ventura County Sheriff's Office official said approximately 30 shots had been fired inside the building.
People were hiding from the shooter in bathrooms and attic spaces, while others who managed to escape fled to nearby gas stations for medical help, reports claim.
Some had to use chairs to break windows inside the bar to escape.
Before the shooter opened fire, revelers were enjoying a country music night aimed at college students.
Witnesses said the shooter was dressed in all-black, wearing a baseball cap, sunglasses and a mask covering the bottom part of his face. It's thought that a man opened fire at the bar with a semi-automatic gun at about 11.20pm.
The gunman was still believed to be inside the bar an hour later, according to a police official.
The attack has been upgraded to a level 2 mass casualty incident, according to local reportsA SWAT team have been pictured surrounding the venue in their formations, while the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is also at the scene.
Borderline is a country music bar that hosts live music events.
Tonight's event was aimed at college students, according to the bar’s website and Instagram page.
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