TRABUCO CANYON, CALIFORNIA: The tragic events of a mass shooting at Cook's Corner, which claimed the lives of three individuals, including Tonya Clark, 49, have left the community and authorities in shock on Wednesday, August 23.
Tonya Clark, a single mother from Scottsdale, was one of the victims of the shooting. Clark was enjoying a meal with friends when the unthinkable occurred. The other victims were identified as John Leehay, 67, and Glen Sprowl Jr, 53.
What led to the Cook's Corner shooting?
According to officials, the shooter, identified as 59-year-old John Snowling, a retired Ventura police sergeant, entered Cook’s Corner and targeted his wife Marie and other patrons. The shooting resulted in the tragic loss of life and several injuries.
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes shared during a news conference that the department received distressing 911 calls reporting the shooting at approximately 7:04 pm.
The incident unfolded without warning, as Snowling walked directly towards his wife and opened fire.
The act was immediate, leaving no room for confrontation or argument. Tragedy struck when Snowling also shot Clark, who was dining with Snowling's wife.
While Marie survived her injuries, Clark tragically lost her life at the scene.
The situation escalated further as Snowling randomly fired at other patrons within the bar and continued his rampage outside the establishment.
Deputies promptly arrived on the scene, engaging in gunfire with Snowling, which resulted in his death. Remarkably, no deputies were injured during the exchange.
How did law enforcement respond to John Snowling's actions?
Sheriff Barnes revealed that Snowling had killed three people and injured six others before being confronted by law enforcement. Snowling's motive for the shooting remains unclear.
Division Chief Cheyne Maule of the Orange County Fire Authority noted the prompt response of firefighters after being cleared by the sheriff’s department. The victims, including Snowling, were declared deceased at the scene.
The tragedy has shaken the community, with Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer expressing his concerns about the incident.
“Last night, brethren law-enforcement officers killed somebody who at one time had earned the honor of being a sworn police officer — a sergeant — in the state of California,” Spitzer said. “That person is dead.”
Despite the shooter's death, Spitzer emphasized that an investigation into the conduct of the deputies involved is underway.
“There’s nothing that I have found at this point to believe in any way whatsoever that their acts were nothing less than heroic,” Spitzer said. “And that nothing they did last night indicates any criminal activity or excessive use of force in any way whatsoever.”
Don Wagner, chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors said, "We’re seeing a community come together and it will be forever sad — there’s no other word for it — that such a happy place will now go forward under the shadow of what happened last night,” reported Azcentral.
He extended encouragement to those grappling with psychological distress stemming from the incident to reach out for support by contacting OC Navigator’s crisis support line at 855-625-4657.
“This county is determined to make resources available to everyone who is struggling from this horrific event and from whatever might be troubling you out there in this complicated world. We are here for you.”
