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It's been a week since a gunman killed 12 people at the Borderline Bar & Grill. A week of vigils, fundraisers and emotional encounters, in addition to helping the victims of the fire.
"I'm just trying to stay strong for my family, for the press, for my kids and for my wife," said Jason Coffman, whose son died as a result of the shooting. "But I promise you, when I have time to cry, I cry."
At least one of the victims will be put to rest this week; others were recalled at commemorative ceremonies.
Ventura County Sheriff Sgt Ron Helus, 54, was one of the first officers to visit the Borderline Bar & Grill. He was shot several times while he was trying to stop the gunman.
On Wednesday night, Coffman's father was out of breath. After greeting supporters at his son's memorial service, he walked away to hit golf balls on a nearby course.
"I barely hit a golf ball, I just cried," said Jason Coffman at a phone call from the golf course. "There is only sorrow that runs through my mind right now, sorrow and sorrow."
On Monday night, hundreds of people gathered to commemorate best friends and road enthusiasts, Blake Dingman and Jake Dunham. Mourners searched trucks and beat American flags
Where is the investigation?
The authorities are still trying to figure out why Ian Long, 28, opened fire on a crowd of young people. And since the shooter is killed, we may never know the motive.
"I hope people call me crazy … (laughing emojis) … that would not be just a big ball of irony? Yeah … I'm crazy, but the only one thing you do after those shootings, it's "hope and prayers" … or "…" keep you in my thoughts … every time … and you ask why this continues, "wrote the author.
A tragedy after the other
And many residents of Thousand Oaks, still afflicted by 12 victims killed at Borderline, had to evacuate.
Some of these residents have been allowed to return home this week to see what's left, said CNN correspondent Scott McLean. But on Tuesday, the Woolsey fire resumed again, forcing the residents of Thousand Oaks to flee once again.
The tragedies that followed were challenging for border mass fire investigators.
"As you can imagine, dealing with a crime scene of this magnitude, forest fires, losing homes and trying to mourn, planning a funeral for a deceased officer – it's extremely difficult," said Sgt. Eric Buschow said Wednesday.
Buschow said that shortly after the massacre, some investigators were evacuated from their homes – himself included. And the pace has been incessant as the authorities face exhaustion and grief.
They slept in their cars and returned to the scene early Friday morning, said Buschow, who lives in Thousand Oaks.
"Everyone is working long hours and trying to cope with horrible losses of life," Buschow said.
How the community is progressing
Borderline has been closed since the shooting and its owner does not know when he will reopen it one day. But he knows that he must decide soon.
Also on Monday, crowds waited long in front of Cody Coffman's favorite pizza store for a fundraiser. The proceeds will be used to fund a baseball scholarship for the pony league, Cody Coffman served as a referee for.
CNN's Stella Chan and Jason Hanna contributed to this report.
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