THOUSAND OAKS - Ventura County sheriff’s Sgt. Ron Helus was fatally struck by a round fired from the rifle of a California Highway Patrol officer as the two were responding to the Nov. 7 shooting at the Borderline Bar & Grill.

At a news conference Friday, the one-month anniversary of the Thousand Oaks shooting, Sheriff Bill Ayub announced the shot by friendly fire was fatal for Helus.

“This was a dynamic, chaotic event that led to a very brief, but furious gunbattle between the killer and the lawmen,” Ayub said.

Helus and the CHP officer entered the Borderline after the suspect, Ian David Long, opened fire on bar patrons and threw smoke grenades.

Long, 28, would fire more than 50 rounds in the shooting, killing 11 people and striking Helus multiple times with gunfire before turning the gun on himself.

Helus was struck by six bullets, five of which were recovered at the time of autopsy, said Ventura County Chief Medical Examiner Christopher Young.

The five bullets recovered during the exam were all similar and compatible with rounds fired by the suspect, Young said.

“These bullets caused serious injuries but potentially survivable injuries,” he said.

A sixth round had been previously recovered while Helus underwent surgery at Los Robles Regional Medical Center, the medical examiner said.

“FBI analysis confirmed that this was a rifle round fired by the CHP officer. This bullet struck Sgt. Helus in the chest and struck his heart,” Young said. “Ultimately, this was the most severe injury sustained.”

CHP Coastal Division Chief L.D. Maples said the CHP officer, a nine-year agency veteran with a military background, was unaware until he was informed this week that his bullet had struck Helus.

“I delivered the message to him yesterday. He had no clue that it was coming. It was a surprise to all of us. He’s devastated,” Maples said at the news conference.

Story Date: December 12, 2018