Veteran cop, students, bar staff among dead

One was a beloved veteran cop slated to retire next year.

Another was the niece of a Hollywood celebrity.

Others were university students, recent graduates and blue collar workers.

Today, they are all dead, victims of Ian Long, 28, a former U.S. Marine who unleashed bloodshed at a Thousand Oaks, Calif. honky tonk. Twelve dead in all.

Long apparently killed himself as cops closed in.

Ventura County Sheriff’s sergeant Ron Helus — who was first on the scene — was killed after being shot multiple times in a gunfight with Long.

The 29-year police veteran’s bravery gave scores of young people enough time to get out of the bar and to safety. He was married with children.

“He went in there to save lives. He took decisive action, and it’s just a tragic loss for us,” pal Sgt. Eric Buschow told CNN.

Sister, Sister star Tamera Mowry-Housley and her husband had feared the worst. Her 18-year-old niece Alaina Housley, a university student, was among the dead.

“Alaina was an incredible young woman with so much life ahead of her and we are devastated that her life was cut short in this manner,” Mowry-Housley said in a statement.

Cody Coffman, 22, was planning to go into the U.S. Army. Now, his family is facing agonizing grief.

“The first thing I said was ‘Please don’t drink and drive.’ The last thing I said was ‘Son, I love you’,” his father Jason said.

Justin Meek, 23, recently graduated from California Lutheran University and worked at the Borderline Bar. Witnesses said he saved a number of lives during the mayhem by telling patrons and staff to run for it.

Jake Dunham, 21, had gone to the Borderline to shoot some pool and is now among those still missing. His phone won’t pick up. “I keep calling it but there’s no answer,” his father Ken said.