California Biker Bar Shooter Identified As Retired Police Sergeant

Web Desk — The man who shot dead four people and injured six others at a Southern California bar popular with bikers has been identified as a retired law enforcement officer.

According to USA TODAY, authorities are investigating the Wednesday night shooting at Cook’s Corner bar in Trabuco Canyon, a small unincorporated community in Eastern Orange Country, which started at about 7 p.m.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department said four victims were confirmed dead at the scene, including the suspect, and six were taken to hospitals with injuries.

USA TODAY quoted the Orange County district attorney’s officer spokesperson as saying that the gunman was identified as John Snowling (59), whose wife was also among the injured.

In over 460 mass shootings in the US, the Cook’s Corner bar shooting was the latest so far in 2023. According to the Gun Violence Archive tracker, this makes 2023 one of the most violent on record.

Undersheriff Jeff Hallock said Sheriff’s deputies responded and reached just after 7 p.m. after multiple 911 calls of shots being fired. Sgt. Frank Gonzalez said dozens of patrol cars and ambulances swarmed the bar and deputies responded within two minutes of the first report of a shooting.

Suspected Shooter?

Officials have confirmed that the shooter was identified as Snowling and he was also among those killed in the bar. The shooter was a retired police sergeant with the Ventura County Police Department who worked there from July 1986 through February 2014.

The Victims?

No details have yet been released about the victims but authorities said three people and the suspect were dead, and at least six others were injured.

Five of the injured had gunshot wounds, and two among them were in critical condition at hospitals, Orange County Fire Authority Chief Brian Fennessy said.

Historic Cook’s Corner Bar

Cook’s Corner has been a popular spot for motorcycle enthusiasts for its spaghetti and live music on Wednesday nights. The bar was built in 1884.

The bar management has given an encouraging statement, saying they have seen and faced major earthquakes, forest fires, floods, recessions, and other disasters. We experienced all of them and came out stronger.