On November 7, friends, family, and local faith leaders assembled at the North Lakeside Pavilion of Conejo Creek Park in Thousand Oaks to commemorate the eighth anniversary of the tragic Borderline Bar and Grill shooting.
Memorial ceremony
Approximately one hundred people filled the park’s pavilion while ducks glided past twelve water jets dedicated to the victims. A child hopped among the rocks nearby, a quiet reminder of life’s continuity.
During the ceremony, a dozen candles were lit beside single roses as the names of the twelve victims—Sean Adler, Cody Coffman, Blake Dingman, Jake Dunham, Alaina Housley, Daniel Manrique, Justin Meek, Mark Meza, Kristina Morisette, Telemachus Orfanos, Noel Sparks, and Ventura County Sheriff’s Sgt. Ron Helus—were read aloud.
Pastor’s reflections
Kirk DeWitt, associate care pastor at Calvary Community Church and chairman of the board of James Storehouse, opened the service. He recalled spending the night of the shooting in the Thousand Oaks Teen Center gym, waiting anxiously for news about missing loved ones. “It was one of the longest nights we have ever had in our community,” he said.
DeWitt also remembered Lori Dingman, mother of victim Blake Dingman, urging his friends, “Don’t let this ruin your life as well.” He highlighted how the tragedy brought the community together, saying, “In the middle of all that loss, we became a family and discovered how much we actually need each other.”
He urged attendees to honor the victims by living with kindness and hope, noting, “We can’t change what happened, but we can choose how we honor their memories as we move forward.”
Family‑led outreach
Michael Morrisette, father of Kristina Morissette, spoke about his work providing mental‑health support for those affected by the Borderline shooting and similar tragedies. He emphasized the importance of fostering hope even in difficult moments.
Jason Coffman, father of Cody Coffman, shared how his family continues Cody’s legacy through the Cody Lee Coffman Foundation, which offers scholarships for umpires in the Camarillo PONY Baseball Association, assists veterans transitioning to civilian life, and promotes gun‑safety education.
Remembering the event
The 2018 shooting occurred when a gunman entered the popular country‑western dance club, opening fire on a crowded college‑night crowd. Eleven patrons were killed, and Ventura County Sheriff’s Sgt. Ron Helus died from friendly fire while responding. The gunman also died from self‑inflicted wounds.
Eight years later, the gathering served as a reminder that remembrance is not only about looking back but also about supporting one another and choosing how to move forward.
“Thank you for caring. Thank you for showing up. Thank you for remembering,” DeWitt concluded.
Original reporting: Thousand Oaks Acorn — read the source article.
