Thousand Oaks, California is one of the most recent cities to be devastated by another horrific mass shooting, leaving 12 dead.

On November 7, 2018, the Borderline Bar and Grill was ravaged by a shooter, acting alone, with the intent of ending his and many other lives that night. The town once described as one of the United States’ safest cities, is now mourning the loss of beloved members of the community, including Ventura County Sergeant Ron Helus, who was shot at the scene.

The shooter, identified as former marine Ian David Long, came into the bar shortly after 11 p.m. and began shooting with a Glock .45-caliber handgun. The victims included the security guard, college students, patrons of the bar, and friends celebrating a birthday.

When officers and reinforcements arrived at the scene, Long had shot himself near the bar entrance.

David Ian Long was a veteran, serving in Afghanistan with the Marines and returning home with lasting consequences to his mental state. He had a history of psychiatric problems, primarily post-traumatic stress disorder, meeting with a mental health specialist and crisis team after an incident in April of this year. Although he wasn’t acting like himself, as described by local Sheriff Geoff Dean, the crisis team decided against detaining the ill patient.

Authorities believe they have identified a post made on Facebook by the shooter just before the Thousand Oaks shooting:

“I hope people call me insane… [laughing emojis].. wouldn’t that just be a big ball of irony? Yeah.. I’m insane, but the only thing you people do after these shootings is ‘hopes and prayers’.. or ‘keep you in my thoughts’… every time… and wonder why these keep happening…”

Friends of Long say that the post is unrecognizable and that it doesn’t sound like the Ian David Long they knew and befriended.

Many of the issues he was facing were unknown to the group and did not warrant attention or help; that is, until the tragic incident occurred.

The .45- caliber handgun used was legally purchased by the shooter.