nine. >> reporter: it was just around 7:00 p.m. last night, patrons gathering at cook's corner bar to hear a live band and enjoy spaghetti night, when authorities say john snowling started shooting, striking his estranged wife, marie, in the face. she was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. >> mr. snowling, the suspect, then started randomly shooting at patrons within cook's corner. >> there is a massive police presence by the orange county sheriff's department. >> reporter: sources tell abc news investigators believe when snowling was out of ammo, he ran to his vehicle. orange county sheriff's deputies had arrived on scene, confronting snowling against his truck. >> the suspect began firing multiple rounds at our deputies. multiple deputies were involved in the shooting. and we do know, and do believe, that it was a gunfire from those deputies that ultimately took the life of the individual. >> reporter: tonight, the sheriff crediting his deputies' quick response for preventing a bigger tragedy. >> undoubtedly, more individuals may have lost their lives. >> david: authorities briefing reporters just moments ago. will carr among them, now live outside the scene, and will, we