Gunman in Cook’s Corner shooting identified as retired police officer John Snowling

The suspected gunman in Wednesday night’s shooting at a biker’s bar in California has been identified as retired police officer John Snowling.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said Snowling, a former officer from the City of Ventura, died during a confrontation with law enforcement. Undersheriff Jeff Hallock said he couldn’t confirm whether Snowling was killed by deputies but said it was “safe to assume” so, local news station KTLA reports.

The violence broke out around 7pm at the Cook’s Corner bar. Four people, including the suspected gunman, were killed.

Six others were wounded, with two of them in critical condition. Police did not confirm whether the shooting was prompted by a domestic dispute, but reports have emerged suggesting that Snowling was targeting his wife when he carried out the attack, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Snowling’s estranged wife Marie Snowling was also shot during the altercation. Despite earlier reports that she had not survived the attack, her father William Mosby told The Orange County on Wednesday that Ms Snowling is recovering from her injuries at Providence Mission Hospital Mission Viejo.

“Her friend in the bar said she was shot in the lower jaw,” Mr Mosby told the outlet. “I’m extremely relieved, what I heard was the worst.”

Mr Mosby described Snowling as a “crazy husband” who couldn’t cope with Ms Snowling’s request for a divorce.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office said that Snwoling had been employed by the Ventura Police Department until his retirement in 2014. According to an article published in 2012, Snowling led a patrol task force within the department.