TO CLOSE

Residents close to Thousand Oaks, California, already in shock from a mass shootout, were facing the dangers of the fire on Friday as a high-speed fire swept the region, threatening homes and forcing evacuations. (November 9)
AP

An autopsy confirmed that the former sailor who shot dead 12 people in a bar in southern California last week was shot at himself.

Christopher Young, Chief Forensic Pathologist for Ventura County, said that a toxicological study was still underway to determine whether gunman Ian David Long, 28, had drugs in his system when he opened fire inside the crowded Borderline Bar and Grill bar in Thousand Oaks late Wednesday.

Long, 28 people killed 11 clients of the bar and Sgt of the Sheriff of Ventura County. Ron Helus, the first officer to respond to the shooting. Helus was hit several times after exchanging shots with Long. A memorial service for Helus was scheduled for Thursday.

A GoFundMe campaign raised more than $ 18,000 for the sergeant's family.

Long, armed with a semi-automatic pistol, killed everyone he had slaughtered. More than 20 people were injured by broken glass and a chaotic race to escape the carnage.

Captain Garo Kuredjian of the Ventura County Sheriff's Office said the investigators had interviewed hundreds of people but had not yet determined what Long's motive was for "such a heinous attack".

More: A Thousand Oaks shooter posted on Instagram during the massacre

More: Veteran, survivor of a shooting: the victims of the shooting with the Thousand Oaks

The authorities were trying to determine if Long thought that a former girlfriend could have been at the bar, with more than 100 people for the university party.

"We will exhaust all possible means of investigation," Kuredjian said. "We will not know until we see where the evidence leads."

Kuredjian said that there was no timetable to complete the investigation. The analysis of the elements obtained during the research could take months, he said.

Long posted on social media during the deadly rampage, according to law enforcement officials. The messages were then deleted.

The first call to the forces of order arrived at 23:19. Wednesday, said the officials. Officers entered the building at 11:25 pm The first long time on Instagram at 11:24 pm: "It's a pity I can not see all the illogical and pathetic reasons that people will put me in the mouth to explain why I did it, "said the veteran in a message. "The fact is that I had no reason to do it, and I just thought … that life is boring so why not?" Long posted, according to ABC News and Buzzfeed.

Three minutes later, Long post: "I hope people call me crazy (two emoticons with smiley face), would that be just a big ball of irony? Yeah .. I'm crazy, but the only thing you do after these shootings, it's "hopes and prayers" … or "keep you in my thoughts". "

He added: "… and wonder why this continues … – (two smiley face emoticons)."

Contributor: Dalvin Brown, United States TODAY & # 39; HUI; Associated press

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