12 dead in mass shooting in California

At least 12 people, including a police officer, have been killed in a mass shooting at college country music event in southern California.

The slain police officer  has been named as Ventura Sheriff's Sergeant Ron Helus. Officer Helus was a 29-year force veteran, a father-of-one and was due to retire next year.

The shooting started at about 23:20 local time on Wednesday at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks.

Another 10 were also injured.

The shooter was later found dead inside. As of yet it is not clear whether he killed himself or was shot by police.. They do not yet know his motive for the shooting.

At least 200 people were reportedly inside the bar attending a college country music night at the time.

Ventura County Sheriff's office spokesman Eric Buschow told the press: "When deputies arrived they heard shots being fired, it was an active shooter situation.

The suspect may have used smoke grenades and witnesses describe at least one weapon as a semi-automatic handgun.

Teylor Whittler, an eye witness inside the venue said: "I was on the dance floor and I heard the gunshots, so I looked back and then all of a sudden everyone screamed: Get Down!" 

"It was a huge panic, everyone got up, I was trampled, I was kind of left on the floor until some guy came behind me and grabbed me and dragged me out."

If witness reports are true, we can expect further calls for gun confiscation by zealot democrats in the democratic-controlled congress come January.