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Father Of Son Killed In Thousand Oaks Mass Shooting: 'Absolutely Heart-Wrenching'

THOUSAND OAKS (CBSLA) – Hundreds of frantic family members were anxiously trying to get ahold of their loved ones following the mass shooting Wednesday night at a bar in Thousand Oaks which claimed the lives of 13 people, including the suspected gunman.

Thousand Oaks Shooting Rampage
Jason Coffman (C) speaks to the press as he searches for his son Cody who was at the Borderline Bar and Grill, in Thousand Oaks, California, on Nov, 8, 2018. Twelve people, including a police sergeant, were shot dead in a shooting at the bar close to Los Angeles, police said Thursday. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)

One father, Jason Coffman, told CBS2 that as of 6 a.m. Thursday, he had still not heard from his 22-year-old son Cody, who was at the Borderline Bar and Grill, located at 99 Rolling Oaks Dr.

"I am very emotional right now, this is my firstborn son," Coffman told CBS2 from the Thousand Oaks Teen Center, which had been established as the family reunification center. "To lose your kid in a senseless way like this is pretty tough. And I hope you're out there and I hope you're OK."

However, a distraught Coffman later confirmed to reporters that he had been informed that Cody died at the scene of the rampage.

"Cody was the big brother that my kids need," Coffman said. "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."

Cody had just turned 22 and was preparing to join the Army, Hoffman said. He was a head umpire for the Pony Baseball League.

"This is going to be an absolutely heart-wrenching time for me and my family."

Coffman told CBS2 that Cody went to the bar every Wednesday night to line dance.

"I talked to him last night before he headed out the door. First thing I said is, 'please don't drink and drive.' Last thing I said is, 'I love you.'"

The names of the 12 victims have not yet been officially released by authorities. Another estimated eight to 15 people were being treated at local hospitals, Ventura County Sheriff's officials said. The suspected gunman has been identified as 28-year-old Ian David Long, a Marine Corps veteran. He killed himself at the scene.

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