California bar shooting victims include police officer, aspiring Army service member

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Sheriff's sergeant killed at bar 'loved helping people'

Ventura County Sheriff's Office remembers fallen colleague Sgt. Ron Helus, who was killed after responding to calls of gunshots at California's Borderline Bar & Grill.

A police officer who talked to his wife just before rushing into the bar to save lives and a 22-year-old set to join the Army were among the people killed inside a popular California bar Wednesday night.

At least 12 people were killed when a gunman walked into Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, California, threw smoke bombs and opened fire. The gunman, identified as a Marine veteran, was also found dead.

In addition to the dead, one other person was wounded by gunfire, and as many as 15 others suffered minor injuries from jumping out of second-floor windows or diving under tables, authorities said.

The attack on the bar – a college favorite that was hosting a country music event – was the nation's deadliest shooting since 17 students and teachers were killed at a Parkland, Florida, high school nine months ago. It also came less than two weeks after a gunman massacred 11 people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh.

Read on for a look at those who lost their lives in the horrific attack.

Sgt. Ron Helus

Sgt. Ron Helus was a 29-year veteran of the police force. (Ventura County Sheriff's Department via AP)

Before Ventura County Sheriff Ron Helus rushed into the bar, he called his wife.

“He said, ‘Hun, I got to go, I love you. I gotta go on a call,’” Sheriff Geoff Dean said.

Helus, a veteran of 29 years, and a patrolman entered the bar after hearing gunshots. When they went through the front door, Helus was struck multiple times by gunfire. The patrolman rescued Helus from the line of gunfire and he was taken to a local hospital, where he died early Thursday.

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He is survived by his wife and son.

"Ron was a hardworking, dedicated sheriff sergeant," Dean said while holding back tears. "He was totally committed. He gave his all. And tonight, as I told his wife, he died a hero because he went in to save lives. To save other people."

His colleague, Sgt. Julie Novak, told "FOX & Friends" Helus was "an amazing guy" who loved helping people.

"He probably should have retired a couple years ago, he could have, but he stayed on because he loved the fight," Novak said. "He loved helping people, he loved protecting people. He did exactly that tonight."

Cody Coffman

Jason Coffman displays a photo of his son Cody outside the Thousands Oaks Teene Center. He said the 22-year-old lost his life in the tragedy. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images)

Cody Coffman had plans to join the Army, his father, Jason, told reporters Thursday. The 22-year-old was among those killed inside the bar, Jason confirmed.

An older brother, Cody Coffman was looking forward to the birth of a younger sister later this month, Jason said.

“I've been here fighting for him all morning long, and we did just get the news that he was one of [those] killed last night. His name was Cody Coffman, my first-born son,” an emotional Jason said.

Before getting the news of his death, his father said he was fearful his son “went toward the action” because he’s someone who would “run toward a bully to stand up for others.”

He said his last words to his son were not to drink and drive and that he loved him.

"Oh, Cody, I love you, son," Coffman sobbed.

Alaina Housley

The niece of actress Tamera Mowry-Housley and former Fox News correspondent Adam Housley was killed in the shooting. Alaina Housley was an 18-year-old freshman at Pepperdine University, a private Christian college. (Courtesy of Adam Housley via AP)

The niece of actress Tamera Mowry-Housley and former Fox News correspondent Adam Housley was killed in the shooting. Alaina Housley was an 18-year-old freshman at Pepperdine University, a private Christian college.

"Our hearts are broken," the couple said in a joint statement. "We just learned that our niece Alaina was one of the victims of last night’s shooting at Borderline bar in Thousand Oaks. Alaina was an incredible young woman with so much life ahead of her and we are devastated that her life was cut short in this manner. We thank everyone for your prayers and ask for privacy at this time."

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“She’s an amazing girl,” Adam Housley previously told the Los Angeles Times. “I know you always hear those things.”

Justin Meek

Justin Meek "heroically saved lives" during the shooting, his former school said. (Facebook photo)

California Luthern University graduate Justin Meek also died in the tragedy, the school confirmed in a statement.

The 23-year-old "heroically saved lives" during the shooting before his death, the school said. He cared for children with special needs, performed as a singer and worked at the Borderline bar.

Since last summer, Meek had worked for Channel Island Social Services as a respite caregiver, supporting families with children with special needs, mostly developmental disabilities, chief executive Sharon Francis said.

"Parents just adored him. He was able to bond with their kids," she said. "He was just an all-around guy."

Danielle Gallo, who also works at the family-run organization, said he was dedicated to the kids he worked with.

"You could tell he really had a heart for what he did," she said.

Meek played water polo for Cal Lutheran and had planned to go to San Diego this coming weekend for the retirement party of his dad, a Navy SEAL.

Telemachus Orfanos

Telemachus Orfanos was a Navy veteran.  (Facebook)

Telemachus Orfanos, a Navy veteran, was among those killed in the shooting, according to his mother.

Orfanos had survived the massacre at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas October 2017.

Susan Schmidt-Orfanos, his mother, doesn't "want prayers" or "thoughts" but simply gun control legislation, she said, according to The Associated Press.

"Here are my words: I want gun control," Schmidt-Orfanos said after finding out about her 27-year-old son's death.

She urged lawmakers on Capitol Hill to "pass gun control so no one else has a child that doesn't come home."

Of the shooter, his father Mark Orfanos said he“was probably as much of a victim as everybody else.”

“I’m not gonna vilify this kid because he's got parents that are grieving, too,” Mark Orfanos said. “And I feel sorry for them as well. Until I find out particularly what the specifics are with this kid who did the shooting I’m not gonna be vilifying him.”

Noel Sparks

Noel Sparks loved Borderline and dancing. (Facebook)

A relative of 21-year-old Noel Sparks, who was a frequent visitor at the Borderline Bar & Grill where the shooting occurred, said her family is "in shock" following word of her death.

Authorities notified Spark's father that his daughter was among those killed in the violence, Patricia Sparks, her aunt, told The Associated Press.

Sparks was an "all-around good girl," her aunt said.

"She was the kind of girl that if you had friends, you'd want them to marry her," she continued.

Sparks helped out with children's programs at the Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village, where she had a part-time job, the Rev. Shawn Thornton told The Associated Press.

"She loved kids," Thornton said. "We had a lot of parents show up today to say, 'She made my child feel important and that they mattered.'"

Sean Adler

Sean Adler was one of the California bar shooting victims. (Debra Ross via AP)

Friends of Sean Adler described the 48-year-old security guard at Borderline as a "passionate person" with "a very, very big personality."

Adler, a married father of two, was killed while doing something he cared about – protecting people, his friend, Debbie Allen, said.

"He was a very, very big personality and had a very, very gorgeous smile," she said.

Aside from his job, Adler also loved coffee. So much so that he decided to open Rivalry Roasters, his very own coffee shop, according to friend Phil Englander.

"He was just the most passionate person about coffee you would ever want to meet," Englander said, adding that his friend had an "energetic personality."

Englander paid his friend a visit at the coffee shop on Wednesday and then "woke up this morning to tragedy," he said.

Dan Manrique

Dan Manrique was one of the California bar shooting victims. (Facebook)

Dan Manrique was a 33-year-old Marine Corps veteran who lived a life of service to other veterans, according to Team RWB, a nonprofit group with the same mission.

“Dan’s life was dedicated to serving others, during his military career and beyond,” said John Pinter, executive director of Team RWB. “We offer our deepest condolences to the Manrique family and ask that our Eagles around the world join us in keeping all those impacted by this tragedy in your thoughts and prayers.”

Manrique served with the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, as a radio operator and was deployed to the Middle East in 2007 with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, according to Team RWB.

“The best way I can describe him is as a ‘saint.’ He truly believed in service,” friend and business partner Tim O’Brien told the Los Angeles Daily News. “Dan was the guy you could rely on if you ran out of gas in the middle of the night. He would help you out if something bad happened. He was there, dedicated, loyal.”

The pair had plans to one day open a veterans-themed brewery.

Marky Meza Jr.

Marky Meza Jr. was just a couple weeks shy of his 21st birthday, his family said. He worked at Borderline as a food runner and busboy, KEYT-TV reported.

"Marky was a loving and wonderful young man who was full of life and ambition," his family said in a statement, adding they are "devastated by his loss."

Kristina Kaylee Morisette

From Simi Valley, Kristina Kaylee Morisette reportedly worked at Borderline. She loved country music, according to KNBC-TV.

“Kristina was always the nicest girl,” friend Brandon Bohning told the Los Angeles Daily News. “She never had a frown on her face – it was rare. She always had a positive attitude about everything. She never picked on anyone growing up.”

Blake Dingman

Remembered for being a local athlete, 21-year-old Blake Dingman was among those killed in the shooting, his great aunt told local news outlets.

“We were really proud of him,” Janet Dingman told the Pasadena Star-News. “He was a really, fun, energetic and loving nephew.”

Fox News' Ryan Gaydos, Elizabeth Zwirz, Stephen Sorace and The Associated Press contributed to this report.