Ian David Long

Ian David Long was born on March 27, 1990, in Orange, Orange County, California. His parents separated when he was around two to three years old and eventually divorced. Long’s father died while Ian was still a child, and he was raised by his mother, with whom he moved frequently due to her work commitments before settling in Newbury Park, a suburb in Ventura County, California.

He attended Newbury Park High School during his junior and senior years, graduating in June 2008. Later that same year, Long enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he served for nearly five years, from August 2008 to March 2013. He attained the rank of corporal and was deployed to Afghanistan between November 2010 and June 2011. After his honorable discharge, Long attended California State University, Northridge as an athletic training major from 2013 to 2016 but did not complete his degree.

During his post-military life, Long experienced mounting psychological and physical issues. He was involved in a motorcycle accident that resulted in a collapsed lung and other injuries. His mental health diagnoses included post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), adjustment disorder, military operational stress reaction, chronic pain, and anxiety. These conditions appeared to intensify after the accident, and his mother later remarked that he had begun to "unravel" afterward.

Long had two recorded non-criminal interactions with law enforcement—one in 2006 related to a traffic accident, and another in 2015 involving a bar fight. In April 2017, police and a mental health crisis team responded to reports of Long acting erratically, but he was ultimately not hospitalized or detained.

On the night of November 7, 2018, Ian David Long committed a mass shooting at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California. The bar, known for its country-themed college nights, was filled with approximately 260 patrons—many of whom were students from nearby universities including Pepperdine, California Lutheran, CSU Channel Islands, and Moorpark College.

At 11:18 p.m., Long entered the bar dressed in black, armed with a legally purchased .45-caliber Glock 21 semi-automatic pistol fitted with a tactical light and laser sight. He carried seven illegal high-capacity magazines, containing a total of 190 rounds. Additionally, he brought smoke bombs, a folding knife, and fireworks. Upon entry, he shot the cashier, then indiscriminately opened fire on the crowd, killing several victims within minutes. Eyewitnesses recalled scenes of terror and chaos, as smoke bombs were thrown and patrons either fled through broken windows or hid in closets and attics.

Within minutes, local law enforcement responded. Two California Highway Patrol officers arrived first, followed by Ventura County Sheriff’s Sgt. Ron Helus at 11:23 p.m. Helus and a CHP officer entered the dark, smoke-filled venue at 11:25 p.m. and were fired upon by Long, who had been monitoring their approach through security camera footage on a bar monitor. Helus was struck five times by Long and fatally shot once by the CHP officer during the crossfire, a tragic incident confirmed later in the investigation.

After exchanging fire with police, Long ceased attacking. At 11:38 p.m., he shot himself under the chin, dying by suicide. The total number of fatalities was 13, including Long. Nineteen survivors were rescued from inside the bar, and only one person aside from the victims sustained a gunshot wound. Sixteen others were injured due to incidental causes like broken glass or falling during escape.

The victims included college students, a bouncer, a Marine veteran, a Navy veteran, and Sgt. Ron Helus. One victim, 27-year-old Telemachus “Tel” Orfanos, had survived the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting. Most of the victims died from close-range gunshot wounds; one was also stabbed in the neck.

A later investigation by the Ventura County Sheriff's Office in 2021 concluded that Long suffered from PTSD and had developed a deep animosity toward civilians, particularly students. While there was no definitive motive, a working theory suggested he was targeting college students and non-military individuals out of resentment. An 86-page independent review issued thirty recommendations to improve emergency response, including SWAT procedures and communication.