The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has determined deputies were justified in fatally shooting a former police officer who was in the midst of committing a mass shooting at a Trabuco Canyon bar two years ago.
Retired Ventura Police Sgt. John Snowling opened fire inside and outside the Cook’s Corner bar on Aug. 23, 2023, first targeting his estranged wife and then eight others.
Of his nine victims, three were killed: Tonya Clark, 49, of Scottsdale, Arizona, John Leehey, 67, of Irvine and Glen Sprowl Jr., 53, of Stanton. Six others, including Snowling’s wife, were wounded.
Former Ventura police Sgt. John Snowling is seen at the Pacific View Mall. (Getty Images) 
Body worn camera footage shows Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies surrounding Cook’s Corner gunman John Snowling after he had been fatally shot in an exchange of gunfire with deputies on Aug. 23, 2023. (OCSD) 
Body-worn camera footage shows Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies exchanging gunfire with Cook’s Corner gunman John Snowling on Aug. 23, 2023. (OCSD) 
Body worn camera footage shows Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies surrounding Cook’s Corner gunman John Snowling after he had been fatally shot in an exchange of gunfire with deputies on Aug. 23, 2023. (OCSD) 
CCTV footage shows John Snowling firing at patrons outside of Cook’s Corner in Trabuco Canyon, California on Aug. 23, 2023. (OCSD) 
CCTV footage shows John Snowling firing at patrons outside of Cook’s Corner in Trabuco Canyon, California on Aug. 23, 2023. (OCSD)
Armed with multiple handguns and a shotgun, Snowling engaged in a firefight with Orange County Sheriff’s deputies that ultimately led to his death.
This week, the OCDA released a report deeming the deputies’ shooting of Snowling as being justified.
“Snowling refused to comply with Deputy Contreras’ order to drop his guns and stop shooting at the deputies. Snowling was a lethal threat to the deputies and the civilians in the area,” the report said, as reported by the Orange County Register. “Deputies Saunders, Moreno, Espinosa, Serrano, Harm, Carrasco, and Contreras were justified when they shot at Snowling and carried out their duties as peace officers in a reasonable and justifiable manner.”
