Ian Long, the gunman who killed 12 people at a California bar, posted on Facebook and Instagram immediately before and during the massacre, the Wall Street Journal reports. Investigators are trying to determine why Long, 28, opened fire Wednesday night at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, Ca., during its weekly country-music dance party for college students. A Facebook post published to his account around the time of the attack said, “I hope people call me insane… (laughing emojis).. wouldn’t that just be a big ball of irony? Yeah.. I’m insane, but the only thing you people do after these shootings is ‘hopes and prayers’.. or ‘keep you in my thoughts’… every time… and wonder why these keep happening…”
Long’s profiles on Facebook and Instagram, which the social-media giant owns, were deleted after the attack because Facebook doesn’t allow mass killers to have a presence on its platforms. Those who served in the military with Long recalled him on Facebook as a “great marine.” Some posted their phone numbers and implored fellow soldiers to call them if they are having any mental-health issues. The Ventura County Sheriff said Long may have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. After leaving the military in 2013, Long made an effort to enroll in the Department of Veterans Affairs system, but quit the process before receiving any health-care benefits. It wasn’t clear why Long didn’t complete the VA application process. The agency has made an effort to promote health care, especially mental health services. “Almost no one gets turned away for mental health,” said Lou Celli of the American Legion.