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Trabuco Canyon historic biker bar shooting claims 4 lives, leaves 6 injured
Four dead, including shooter, in shooting at biker bar in Trabuco Canyon. Six others wounded. Domestic dispute involved.
A historic biker bar in Trabuco Canyon was the scene of a deadly shooting that left four people dead, including the shooter, and six others wounded.
The fatal incident occurred at Cook’s Corner, located in the 19000 block of Santiago Canyon Road.
Deputies responded to the shooting and confronted the suspect, who was armed with a handgun. The suspect was shot by the deputies, but it is not clear if he died from their bullets or from a self-inflicted wound.
According to KCAL News, the shooting stemmed from a domestic dispute between a retired law enforcement officer and his wife. The couple was at the bar when the argument turned violent and the shooter opened fire on his wife and other patrons.
A retired police sergeant opened fire at a popular biker bar in Orange County, injuring at least nine people, authorities said.
The gunman was shot and killed by deputies who responded to the scene within minutes.
The shooting happened around 7 p.m. on Thursday at Cook’s Corner, a historic bar and restaurant located in the foothills of Santiago Canyon. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) said it received multiple 911 calls reporting shots fired at the bar.
Deputies arrived at 7:06 p.m. and confronted the shooter, who was armed with a handgun. They exchanged gunfire with him and fatally wounded him. He was pronounced dead at 7:08 p.m.
Six victims were transported to a nearby hospital, five of them with gunshot wounds. Two of them were in critical condition and four were in stable condition, according to the hospital.
Three other victims were treated at the scene for minor injuries.
KCAL News reported that the shooter was a former sergeant with the Ventura Police Department. He had served for 30 years before retiring in 2014.
The motive for the shooting is still under investigation.
The OCSD said it was working with the FBI and other agencies to process the crime scene and interview witnesses.
The sheriff’s department also issued a SigAlert for El Toro Road, which leads to Cook’s Corner, and asked people to avoid the area. A command center was set up at Saddleback Church for law enforcement personnel.
Local officials and community members expressed their shock and sadness over the shooting. Supervisor Katrina Foley tweeted, “Heartbroken to hear of another senseless mass shooting, this time in our own backyard.”
Cook’s Corner is described on its website as “one of the most famous biker bar & restaurants in Southern California.” It has been operating since 1926 and has survived several natural disasters and economic downturns.
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The bar was hosting a spaghetti night special from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday. It is unclear how many patrons were inside when the shooting occurred.
Wendy Koro, Operations Manager at Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys, described Cook's Corner as a "storied icon" where her firm played a role in constructing the stage. She said the bar was not a “rough and tumble place” but rather the “heart of the Orange County riding community.”
