California shooting victims: Man, 22, who dreamed of military service among 12 shot dead by ex Marine Ian David Long

The first victims have been identified following a mass shooting in the US in which 12 people were killed.

Cody Coffman, 22, has been identified by his father as being among the dead after ex marine Ian David Long, 28,opened fire on party-goers inside a bar in the town of Thousand Oaks, California.

Mr Coffman, a keen baseball player, was the second named victim.

Earlier, hero police officer Sgt Ron Helus was identified by police as being among those killed in the mass shooting in the Borderline country and western bar.

Jason Coffman displays a photo of his son Cody
AFP/Getty Images

The husband and father-of-one had been a policeman for 29 years and was a professional firearms instructor.

He was due to retire next year.

"Sister Sister" actress Tamera Mowry-Housley and her husband Adam Housley, a former Fox News correspondent, said their 18-year-old niece Alaina Housely, was also among those killed.

The family had been trying to contact the teen, a student at nearby Pepperdine University, for hours after the shooting.

"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," the couple said in a statement.

Alaina Housley is said to be among the dead according to her aunt

A fourth named fatality was Justin Meek, a 23-year-old recent graduate of Cal Lutheran, according to the university.

Cal Lutheran President Chris Kimball said in a statement that Mr Meek had "heroically saved lives" in the attack, without giving details.

He had majored in criminal justice, school spokeswoman Karin Grennan said.

He worked as a respite caregiver supporting families with children with special needs and mostly worked with youngsters with developmental disabilities.

"Parents just adored him. He was able to bond with their kids," said Sharon Francis, chief executive of Channel Island Social Services. "He was just an all-around guy."

Police named the gunman, Long, hours after the shooting. According to the Marine Corps he was deployed to Afghanistan from 16 November 2010 to 14 June 2011.

He was in the Marines from August 2008 until March 2013, serving as a machine gunner and becoming a corporal in August 2011.

The shooter Ian David Long was found dead at the scene 

Victim Cody Coffman was said to be talking to recruiters about joining the military which his father, Jason, called his “dream”.

Cody's father had been searching for his missing son ahead of hearing the news.

Tamera Moury-Housley has said her niece died in the incident
Getty Images

Mr Coffman said: “I have been here fighting for him all morning and we did just get the news that he was dead.

“Cody was the big brother that my kids need. I have a daughter coming on the 29th of this month. He was so excited to have his first sister and now she'll never know him.

“Oh Cody. I love you son. I just want to thank you for putting him in the news. I want to pray for everybody else going through this same situation. For me this is a heart I will never get back.

"I talked to him last night before he headed out the door. The first thing I said was please don't drink and drive. The last thing I said was I love you."

A procession for sergeant Ron Helus who died in the shooting 
REUTERS

Victim sergeant Ron Helus rushed to the scene to confront the shooter.

He was on the SWAT team for much of his career and worked in narcotics and investigations.

Sgt Helus was also married with a grown son.

Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean says the report of the shooting came as Sgt Helus was on the phone with his wife.

'Hero': Sgt Ron Helus
Gun Control: Firearms Training and CCW Instruction/Facebook

The sheriff said Helus told her: "Hey I gotta go handle a call. I love you. I'll talk to you later."

The named attacker Long was found dead in the office of the bar at the centre of the shooting and it has been reported he took his own life.

He rose to the rank of corporal before leaving active service in 2013, Joseph Butterfield, a Marine spokesman, wrote in an email.

He earned several awards, including a Combat Action Ribbon and a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal.

Long was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Third Marine Division in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

He served in the war in Afghanistan for seven months beginning in late 2010, the Marine Corp said, and was awarded multiple ribbons, commendations and medals.

It was not immediately clear what Long did after leaving active duty.

Law enforcement outside the home of Ian David Long following the shooting
AFP/Getty Images

Sheriff Geoff Dean said police previously had "minor interactions" with Long, who lived near the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California.

Long, who is reported to have had mental health issues, used a Glock 21 .45 calibre handgun and a smoke bomb in the shooting, for which his motive is still unclear.

Donald Trump has ordered flags at the White House to be flown at half-mast following the tragedy.

However, he has been criticised for failing to reign in US gun culture after posting words of condolence on Twitter.

The President wrote a string of tweets and said: "God bless all of the victims and families."

The Thousand Oaks incident was the deadliest mass shooting in the US since 17 students and teachers were killed at a Parkland, Florida, high school nine months ago.

The attack came less than two weeks after a gunman massacred 11 people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh.

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