Officer's Last Words To Wife Were 'I Love You' Before Gunman Took His Life In Mass Shooting

Nov 19, 2018

On the night of November 7th in Thousand Oaks, California, Sergeant Ron Helus sat in his police car and called his wife like he did every shift. This particular night, he had been called in on a disturbance call at Borderline Bar and Grill.

Shortly before, 28-year-old Marine veteran Ian David Long had loaded his pistol with an extra large magazine of bullets, entered the western-themed college bar, and at 11:20 pm, began firing on the crowd of approximately one hundred people. Long's neighbors suggested that Long, as a veteran, suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and reported that there had recently been an incident where the police where called to his home for a domestic disturbance.

Twelve students and bar employees died during the barrage of bullets, obscured by Long's smoke grenade as Sergeant Ron Helus and a California Patrol officer moved into the gunsmoke filled bar intent on finding and stopping Long.

Before entering, Sergeant Ron Helus called his wife and told her, "I've got to go handle a call. I love you," ended the call, and entered the building intent on protecting the people of his country. In doing so, he received several fatal gunshot wounds and perished hours later at the local hospital.

"Ron was a hardworking, dedicated sheriff's sergeant," an officer informed the news. "He was totally committed. He gave his all tonight. As I told his wife, he died a hero because he went in to save lives, to save other people."

The intervention of him and the other officer likely saved lives, though it is unclear whether Long was fired upon or chose to end his own life.

Sergeant Helus was planning on retiring next year after twenty-nine years of dutiful service. Sergeant Helus' last actions are an incredible act of humanity, love, and bravery as the citizens of Thousand Oaks, as well as the rest of the country, acknowledge his great sacrifice.

Help spread awareness of the 308 mass shootings that have occurred in the United States so far this year. Some of the students in the bar were survivors of last year's deadly Las Vegas shooting, who helped other bar patrons escape through broken windows or find shelter.  Remind your friends to support civil servants who risk their lives for the safety of our country.