Set to retire tomorrow, breaking down before the cameras today when he told the community here that Police Sergeant did not survive. Also breaking here in california tonight, the state of emergency as we come on the air. The explosive wildfire. This entire neighborhood has burned to the ground. Homes destroyed. Schools and a hospital evacuated. Families racing to get out. The flames all around them. The outrage in washington from democrats tonight and concern from some republicans. President trumps pick to serve as the new acting attorney general. And what he said about Robert Mueller before, saying, there was no collusion. Now, hes in charge of the investigation. Supreme Court JusticeRuth Bader Ginsburg in the hospital. We do have news on her condition tonight. And the breaking development in the urgent search for that missing 13yearold girl. The suv she was forced into, and where its now been found. And good evening from california, as we come on the air here in the west tonight. And you probably woke up this morning like so many across this country, saying, not again. We are here in Thousand Oaks, california, tonight, the scene of the nations newest mass shooting. This time, at a popular Country Music bar, the borderline bar and grill on College Night. For students as young as 18, hundreds of people inside, when the horror and the chaos began. The shots ringing out, people hiding under tables and bar stools, smashing windows to get away, running for their lives. Carrying the injured as they ran. Police rushing to the scene, heavily armed officers, including a sheriffs sergeant who was among the first to go inside. That sheriffs sergeant did not survive. Outside, the stunned survivors looking for their missing friends. And overnight and this morning here, families, parents rushing to the bar, some waiting for hours, waiting for news. Tonight, we have learned that 12 people were killed here. And the heartbreaking moment, a father here, holding a picture of his son, then learning hed lost him. Abcs Kayna Whitworth on the scene all night long, and she has the video now emerging from inside that bar. Reporter breaking glass. An empty dance floor. As the camera shakes, that piercing sound. Gunfire. Silence. For six endless seconds. Then listen, as people run for their lives. Guys, run, go hes coming out this door. Reporter its 11 20 p. M. Wednesday night. Authorities say a gunman dressed in all black, his face partially covered, starts shooting, even before he enters borderline bar and grill. He shot the front doorman, the bouncer. Just a young man. And then he shot the cashier. Just a young girl. The subject was at the front shooting at everybody. Think hes still inside the bar. Reporter witnesses say the bar quickly filled with smoke. The gunman was throwing smoke grenades. We got multiple people down. We need a lot of ambulances. Reporter amid the chaos, the voice of a young man calling home. Mom, dad, this is max. Theres been a shooting at borderline. Please wake up. Reporter the gunman keeps firing. I was on the dance floor. I heard the shooter. I looked back. And then, a split second later, everybody yelled, get down. Reporter sheriffs Sergeant Ron Helus is the first onscene within minutes. Accompanied by a Highway Patrol officer, they rush inside, taking on the suspect. Sergeant helus is shot several times and does not survive. 11 others also killed. Several more wounded. Its a horrific scene in there. There is blood everywhere. Reporter the gunman identified by authorities as 28yearold ian david long, a former marine. Authorities say it appears he took his own life inside the bar. Matt wennerstrom hid under a pool table until it was safe to run. So, i grabbed a bar stool, we went through the window and then we people, whoever was in the front, basically, was pushing the glass down and jumping out and helping the guys and girls out. And Kayna Whitworth is with us here live in california. And as you reported there, kayna, at the borderline bar, it was College Night here. The sheriff tonight saying those active shooter drills that so y are growing up with, might have saved lives last night. Reporter yeah, david, its a sad reality, but the sheriff saying, this could have been so much worse if not for the heroes inside. People i spoke with called this their safe place. But david, this is now a place marred with violence and death. Kayna whitworth leading us off on the air here in the west tonight. Kayna, thank you. All morning long here, families and parents were arriving, waiting to hear. One father with that photo of his son i mentioned, hoping someone had seen him, and then he learned the news. The heartbreak. So many lives lost here, so many parents losing sons and daughters. For so many families tonight, an agonizing wait, as were now hearing about the lives lost. So many of the victims young. Including 18yearold alaina housley, a freshman at pepperdine university, there at the restaurant, line dancing with her friends. Tonight, her family saying, alaina was an incredible young woman, with so much life ahead of her. And 23yearold justin meek, who loved music and the outdoors. He was a recent graduate of Cal Lutheran University and worked as social worker helping to support families and children with special needs. Tonight, he is credited with heroically saving lives during the tragedy. Blake dingman was 21. Tonight, his girlfriend writing, my heart is hurting more than words can say. I cannot believe youre gone. I am so grateful for our little infinity. Dan manrique was a marine corps veteran who served in the middle east in 2007. He was an avid dodgers fan. And tonight, heartbreak for this man, jason coffman, showing a picture of his son, cody, early this morning. At the time, he was still searching, still praying. Then, just a few hours later, he learned he lost his son. We did just get the news that he was one of the 11 that were hit and killed last night. Reporter cody was his firstborn son. Only him and i know how much i love. Reporter a big brother, an umpire for youth baseball, he was about to enlist in the army. My son was on his he was on his way to fulfilling his dream of of serving the country. Reporter in fact, he says he spoke to his son, cody, as he was heading out last night. First thing i said was, please dont drink and drive. Last thing i said was, son, i love you. That was the last thing i said. Reporter today, he had one last message for his son. I just want him to know that he he is going to be missed. No shortage of heartbreak in this community tonight. And there was another moment here today, when the sheriff, who was set to retire tomorrow, was asked if that sheriffs sergeant, ron helus, had survived. He broke down as he delivered the news. Heres the moment, and then i spoke with the sheriff just a short time ago. It was a powerful and heartbreaking moment here today, when the Community First learned that 54yearold Sergeant Ron Helus did not survive. Ventura county sheriff geoff dean was talking about his friend, on the force 29 years, that sergeant was among the first to enter the club. This morning, in front of the cameras, a reporter asking that sheriff, did your sergeant survive . How is your sergeant doing . Sergeant helus died at the the sergeant passed away at the hospital about an hour ago. Orep r geoff dean with us. We watched you this morning talk about your friend, Sergeant Helus. An impossible day for you, as you try to protect a community, but also react to the loss of your friend. What can you tell us about Sergeant Helus . 29year veteran of the sheriffs office, a father, a husband. Really, really cared about his people. Trained them really hard so they would always be safe. Had a wonderful relationship with his wife. Sadly, talked to her right before he went into that, ran into danger. Reporter he was on the phone with her when the first calls came in . He responded onscene, he was on the phone talking to her like he does several times a night, and he said, i love you, hon, i got to go, i got a call. And jumped in with that Highway Patrol officer and went through that front door. Reporter speaks volumes about his bravery, and all these officers around the country who are responding to these mass shootings. Those officers are heroes. And these two officers, and all the officers that came after them, went back into that building, are all heroes. Reporter did i read that youre supposed to retire tomorrow . Tomorrow at midnight. Reporter and is it impossible just to wrap your head around what youve witnessed today on this last day . Its its difficult, because ive been doing this for 41 years and you dont leave things unfinished. Reporter what do we do as a country . Because a lot of people are watching the news tonight and saying, you know, another one of these. I think we try to look at the core and try to understand what happened and see if theres a way that we can stop it. We all try to make sense of the senseless. Reporter well, i know you lost a friend, so, i thank you for even talking with us tonight, and on the eve of your retirement, i just thank you for your service. I appreciate that. I appreciate your compassion and the way you talk. Reporter thank you, sheriff. Sheriff geoff dean with us late today. The sheriff retires tomorrow. Investigators quickly identified the gunman today, ian david long, a former marine, who appears to have taken his own life after taking so many others here. Heres abcs chief justice correspondent Pierre Thomas tonight. Reporter the fbi descended today on the home of the suspect, 28yearold ian long, a former marine machine gunner who saw combat in afghanistan. These images posted to his mothers Facebook Page show him in uniform. Other images posted to facebook show him in happier times, smiling with friends. But tonight, evidence of a troubled man, and that critical question were warning signs missed . Neighbors describing fits of anger at the home he lived in with his mother. The walls are kicked in and, you know, he was just couldnt control him. Reporter and police today confirming they responded to a disturbance at that home in april, just seven months ago. He was somewhat irate, acting a little irrationally. Felt he might be suffering from ptsd, basing that on the fact that he was a veteran. Reporter they Say Mental Health specialists cleared him after the incident. And because he was not involuntarily committed, he was not prohibited from buying firearms. Authorities today saying he legally purchased that glock. 45caliber pistol allegedly used in the attack. And Pierre Thomas with us live tonight, as well. And as you reported there, pierre, the gun was purchased i legally, but Authorities Say he allegedly used an extended magazine, which is illegal here in california . Reporter thats right, david. Long did allegedly use an extended magazine in his gun, illegal in california, allowing him to fire more than ten bullets at a time. And were now learning that gun was purchased in 2016. David . Pierre thomas tonight. Pierre, thank you. There is another emergency here in california. We are seeing smoke tonight from a fastmoving wildfire. 500 miles to the north of where were broadcasting here in california, another major wildfire, exploding this morning. Flames burning along both sides of the road as families were trying to get out. Abcs will carr is in Northern California tonight. Reporter tonight, racing to escape the flames. High winds driving a massive, dangerous, out of control wildfire north of sacramento. We do have numerous structures destroyed, and we do have several civilian injuries. Reporter winds gusting above 50 miles per hour, exploding the fire into an 18,000acre out of control inferno in just a few hours. Not only is the wind playing a role, but the fire is creating its own weather. Right now, the fire, unfortunately, is moving through the town of paradise. Reporter krcr reporter Meaghan Mackey shooting video as she made her way through the flames. Definitely a lot of people very scared. People driving on both sides of the road, going up the wrong way. And at the same time, there are all these fire personnel trying to get through and get close to the flames. We grabbed our animals and some food and some clothes and were getting the heck out of here. Were asking everyone, please heed the warnings. Get out now. Reporter some drivers trapped in their cars, others abandoning their vehicles and taking refuge wherever they can. Southbound from Feather River hospital on pentz is all blocked by fire. Reporter dozens evacuated from this hospital, where at least one building was consumed by flames. Tonight, authorities investigating reports of fatalities in the fire zone. David, tonight, were in a neighborhood surrounded by flames. You can see fire shooting up into the air out of that home. This entire neighborhood has burned to the ground. This looks like a scene from armageddon. Pretty much everything here is gone. David . Will, thank you. Next, to the uproar over the forced resignation of attorney general Jeff Sessions and the appointment of sessions chief of staff as a temporary replacement. His name is matthew whitaker, and he has been publicly critical of special counsel Robert Muellers investigation already. Now hes running it. Heres abcs chief White House Correspondent jonathan karl. Reporter tonight, amid a growing outcry over the president s appointment of a political loyalist to run the justice department, multiple sources tell abc news acting attorney general Matt Whitaker will not recuse himself from overseeing the russia investigation. And before joining the Trump Administration last fall, whitaker had made his views on that investigation perfectly clear. On the question of whether the Trump Campaign colluded with the russians . The truth is, there was no collusion with the russians and the Trump Campaign. There is not a single piece of evidence that demonstrates that the Trump Campaign had any illegal or even improper relationships with russians. Its that simple. Reporter and heres whitaker on whether the president obstructed justice there is no criminal obstruction of justice charge to be had here. Theres just the evidence is weak. No reasonable prosecutor would bring a case on what we know right now. Reporter whitaker is now the acting attorney general, until a permanent replacement is confirmed. White house Officials Say whitaker himself could be nominated. Other names on the short list include other staunch political supporters of the president. His personal lawyer, rudy giuliani, and chris christie, now an abc news contributor, who ran the trump transition during the campaign. Christie told david he would consider taking the job. You always take a call from your president , no matter which party. And you listen to what he has to say. Reporter david, whitaker could remain the acting attorney general for up to seven months. He is running the department of justice at a critical time. Abc news has learned that special counsel Robert Mueller is in the process of writing his final report. David . All right, stay tuned on this front. Jon karl tonight. Thank you. Next this evening, a new health care for security Justice Ruth Bader ginsburg, causing her to miss an important ceremony today. At 85, Justice Ginsburg is the oldest justice on the court. And mary bruce is live at the Supreme Court tonight. Abcs mary bruce at the Supreme Court tonight. Mary, Justice Ginsburg is in the hospital . Reporter david, tonight, the 85yearold justice does remain in the hospital with three broken ribs after she fell here in her office. Her absence was felt here today as the president attended that ceremonial swearing in for his new justice, brett kavanaugh. Ginsburgs age and health has been a source of concern for liberals but shes made clear she has to plans to retire soon. She says she has at least five more years on the bench. David . Mary bruce tonight. Mary, thank you. There is still much more ahead on world news tonight this thursday from california. Were following breaking news tonight in the urgent search for that missing 13yearold girl. New clues coming in. The man seen on surveillance. Why police want to talk to him tonight. And the suv she was forced into, where thats now been discovered. And news tonight about that deadly tour boat accident. 17 People Killed when their boat capsized in a severe storm. What pros kuehl torps are now revealing about the captain. Well be right back. The doctor just for a shot. With Neulasta Onpro patients get their day back. To be with family, or just to sleep in. Strong chemo can put you at risk of serious infection. In a key study neulasta reduced the risk of infection from 17 to 1 , a 94 decrease. Neulasta onpro is designed to deliver neulasta the day after chemo and is used by most patients today. Neulasta is for certain Cancer Patients receiving strong chemotherapy. Do not take neulasta if youre allergic to it or Neupogen Filgrastim . An incomplete dose could increase infection risk. 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