Sheriff: Gunman targets estranged wife in California shooting.
Retired Police Officer Kills Three in Trabuco Canyon Mass Shooting
In a shocking incident that unfolded on August 23, a retired police officer went on a shooting rampage at a historic restaurant in Trabuco Canyon. Initially targeting his estranged wife, the suspect, identified as John Snowling, later began shooting randomly, leaving three people dead and six others injured.
According to authorities, Snowling, a former sergeant with the Ventura Police Department, had a long and distinguished career in law enforcement before retiring in 2014. The 59-year-old suspect was ultimately killed during a shootout with Orange County sheriff deputies.
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According to Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes, Snowling traveled from Ohio to Southern California with the intention of finding his estranged wife, who was present at Cook’s Corner, a historical ”biker bar.” The couple was in the midst of a divorce.
Sheriff Barnes expressed his dismay at yet another mass shooting incident in Orange County, referring to a previous incident at Geneva Presbyterian Church. He revealed that witnesses reported Snowling approaching his wife directly and firing a single shot without any prior conversation or dispute.
Reports indicate that Snowling arrived at the bar armed with three handguns and a shotgun. He initially used two handguns and later retrieved another handgun and the shotgun from his truck parked in the bar’s lot.
When sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene, Snowling opened fire on them, prompting a swift response. Seven deputies returned fire, ultimately killing the suspect. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer confirmed that his office would review the deputies’ actions but commended their heroic response.
Victims
Tragically, four people lost their lives in the shooting. Paramedics pronounced them dead at the scene. Among the victims was a woman who was dining with Snowling’s wife, as well as a 67-year-old man and another individual who bravely tried to intervene.
Six other victims were rushed to Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo. Two of them, including Snowling’s wife, were listed in critical condition. The hospitals’ Medical Director, Tetsuya Takeuchi, provided updates on their conditions.
Snowling’s wife, identified as Marie Snowling, suffered a gunshot wound to her jaw. She was initially in critical condition but was later transferred to the University of California–Irvine Medical Center, where she remained conscious and able to communicate with her adult son.
Additional male victims were also taken to a local hospital, with one already released and two others expected to be discharged soon. The fourth victim, who sustained an arm injury, was scheduled for surgery.
Mark Johnson, pianist for the M-Street Band performing at the bar during the shooting, confirmed that two band members were among the injured but in stable condition.
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