A former cop who killed three people at a California biker bar and tried to kill his estranged wife has been identified as John Snowling.
Snowling, a retired ex-sergeant with the Ventura County Police Department, opened fire late Wednesday at Cook’s Corner in Orange County, then killed three and wounded six before being shot dead by police himself.
Eyewitnesses said Snowling, who was first identified by KTL, had gone to the bar to confront his wife Marie and shoot her in the face. Miraculously, she survived.
William Mosby, Marie’s father, identified John and said the couple had experienced an acrimonious divorce, describing him as “crazy.” He has not been officially identified.
The couple lived in the Camarillo area before the acrimonious split, where Snowling was a former cop with the Ventura Police Department.
Former cop John Snowling has been accused of opening fire at a popular biker bar in Orange County, killing four and injuring six
Marie Snowling was shot in the face by her ex-husband, according to her father, but survived
“He was a crazy husband who couldn’t handle the divorce,” Mosby said The Orange County Registry.
Marie, who survived the shooting, had been visiting the popular watering hole for their spaghetti night when she was shot in the lower jaw.
As the terror unfolded, Mosby said he could hear police cars rushing past his yard and panicked calls came in from friends saying his daughter had been shot.
Videos of the chaotic post-shooting scenes were captured by Betty Fruichantie sitting next to Marie as a hail of bullets descended on them
Mosby was convinced his daughter had been killed after first hearing about the shooting on TV, but was “extremely relieved” to learn she was alive.
Videos of the chaotic post-shooting scenes were shot by Betty Fruichantie sitting next to Marie as a hail of bullets descended on them.
In one video, Fruichantie can be seen filming a person being carried out of the pub by emergency services as she yells, “Oh my god Marie!”
Explaining that she had been shot at four or six times but narrowly missed, Fruichantie posted another video showing a white pickup truck in the parking lot, saying it belonged to the shooter.
“That’s the truck he came in. He went back to reload and bring more guns, and the police found him,” Fruichantie said.
Speak with NBC Los AngelesFruichantie said she and Marie were sitting near a stage shortly after 7 p.m. watching a cover band perform.
“We were sitting there listening to the tape and suddenly we heard shooting behind us. A lot of shooting,’ said Fruichantie.
“I thought it was just fireworks, she said nothing. People were shot. People were shot.’
Fruichantie said the gunman then walked up to them and started shooting at them.
In one video, Fruichantie can be seen filming a person being carried out of the pub by emergency services as she yells, “Oh my god Marie!” – in another video she filmed the shooter’s car
“There were other people who didn’t believe it,” she said.
‘They were standing there just like me, but there were a lot of people running. When I saw people running, I thought, ‘Oh my God, I got shot at and I didn’t die. I better run now before I get killed.”
Fruichantie said Marie fell to the ground, but it was unclear if she was hit or was just dodging the bullets.
After the initial shock, Fruichantie ran to the bathroom to hide with two others when they heard gunfire ringing through the room.
“When we came out there were people lying on the ground,” the witness said.
“People were overwhelmed with people trying to help them just by holding their wounds. It was just awful.’
Police said the shooter was a former law enforcement officer, but could not confirm it was Snowling.
The gunman was dead four minutes after his initial report of the shooting reached authorities, who arrived on the scene within two minutes and became involved in gunfire with the gunman, Orange County Sheriff’s Sergeant. said Frank Gonzalez.
Orange County Undersheriff Jeff Hallock gave no details about the shooter during a news conference hours after the shooting.
He said authorities were still gathering information at the scene and interviewing witnesses.
Four people, including the gunman, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Six others were taken to hospital. Two were in critical condition, the Providence Mission Hospital, a trauma center in Mission Viejo, said in a statement.
The shooter was a retired Ventura Police Department sergeant who began his career in 1984 and retired in February 2014. CBS news.
Snowling (right) was a cop with the Ventura Police Department in LA
On Wednesday evening, a large number of police were present at the scene of the shooting
Cook’s Corner is located on the corner of El Toro, Santiago Canyon and Live Oak Canyon roads, a short distance from O’Neill Regional Park and about 50 miles south of Los Angeles
According to Marie’s Facebook, Snowling retired around this time.
Cook’s Corner is located on the corner of El Toro, Santiago Canyon and Live Oak Canyon roads, a short distance from O’Neill Regional Park and about 50 miles south of Los Angeles.
It has been described as one of the most famous biker bars in California.
On Wednesday evening, a large number of police were present at the scene of the shooting. The FBI and ATF are involved in the investigation.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office tweeted, “Incident at Cook’s Corner in Trabuco Canyon. Supposedly several victims by gunfire. More info will follow.’
California State Senator Dave Min responded to the tragic incident on Twitter.
“I am devastated by news of yet another mass shooting tonight, this time at Cook’s Corner, a historic bar in the heart of Orange County,” he said. “My team and I are monitoring the incident and will do everything we can to support law enforcement.”
“Our district is one of the safest areas in the country, yet we too are repeatedly hit by the scourge of mass shootings.”
“An office park in Orange, a church in Laguna Woods, a bar in Trabuco Canyon. There is no place in America that is safe from the scourge of gun violence. There is not a single community that is not affected,” he wrote.
My heart breaks for the families and loved ones of the victims. We cannot rest until we end gun violence in this country.”
The shooting is not the first in Orange County in recent years.
On May 15, 2022, a mass shooting occurred at a church in Laguna Woods. One person was killed and five others were shot.