Some people in New York may have heard about a deadly shooting at a bar in California on Nov. 7. Witnesses say a man entered the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks and began shooting. Police responded to the incident shortly before 11:30 p.m.
One officer entered the bar and was shot multiple times. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital, one of 13 people who died. Another of the dead was the gunman, who apparently shot himself. Police said they did not know what the man's motive was and that the only weapon found on the scene was a handgun.
Around 200 people were present when the gunman entered the bar. Reportedly, he threw smoke bombs although a bomb squad that came onto the scene did not find any devices. Witnesses say that some people hid in the bathrooms while others broke windows to escape or to help others escape. One witness described the gunman as appearing to act with a purpose.
Property owners and managers are obligated to keep their customers safe. This does not just extend to making sure that structures are safe and that people are unlikely to suffer accidents such as slipping and falling. When an incident like this occurs, property owners and managers might be held responsible for a lack of adequate security. People who are injured in situations like these or whose loved ones are killed in these types of circumstances might want to talk to an attorney about premises liability. It may be possible to file a lawsuit against the party or parties responsible. There might be an out-of-court settlement, or the case may go to court where, among other things, the court would determine whether reasonable security measures were taken.
Source: CBS News, "13 dead including sheriff's sergeant and suspect in shooting in Southern California bar -- live updates," CBS News, 11/8/2018