Who was John Snowling? Ex-cop identified as Cook's Corner shooting suspect who fatally shot three in California
ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: The suspected shooter in the Cook's Corner shooting in California on Wednesday night, August 23 has been identified as John Snowling.
According to the Orange County Sheriff's Office, the retired police officer also died in the shooting during a confrontation with responding sheriff deputies, reported CBS News.
What led to the Cook's Corner shooting?
Eyewitnesses of the mass shooting reportedly stated Snowling visited the biker bar in Trabuco Canyon to confront his wife Marie who recently filed for a divorce from him.
The suspected gunman shot Marie in the face when he carried out the attack.
Earlier reports of her not surviving the shooting were dismissed after Marie's father William Mosby confirmed she was recovering from her gunshot wounds at Providence Mission Hospital Mission Viejo.
#OCSDPIO The suspect of the Trabuco Canyon shooting is confirmed as John Snowling, 59. Despite misinformation, his wife was injured in the shooting and is not deceased. We will provide additional information at the press briefing this afternoon.
— OC Sheriff, CA (@OCSheriff) August 24, 2023
"Her friend in the bar said she was shot in the lower jaw. I’m extremely relieved, what I heard was the worst," said Mosby.
Talking to NBC, Marie's friend Betty Fruichantie said that the two were at the biker's bar enjoying a live performance when the shooter entered the bar.
"We were sitting there listening to the band and all of sudden, from behind us, we hear shooting. A bunch of shooting," said Fruichantie.
"I thought it was just firecrackers, she didn’t say anything. People were getting shot," she added.
Who are the victims of the Cook's Corner shooting?
The identities of the victims have not yet been released. The horrifying attack took place at the Cook's Corner bar at around 7.00 pm on Wednesday night and four people, including Snowling, were killed in the shooting.
Two of the six people injured in the attack remain in critical condition.
Marie's father described the alleged gunman as a "crazy husband" who could not deal with the divorce. She had been living with her friends following the divorce filing.
John Snowling led Ventura Police Department's patrol task force
According to the Orange County District Attorney's Office, Snowling retired from the Ventura Police Department in 2014.
The suspected gunman led a patrol task force within the agency during his time of service, according to a 2012 article, reports Independent.
In 2013, he was promoted to sergeant, according to a report from the Ventura County Star at the time. Snowling also once served as the Ventura Police Officer's president.
At a news conference on Wednesday night following the shooting, Orange County Undersheriff Jeff Hallock that it was too early to confirm whether the attack was a domestic violence incident.