A retired police sergeant opened fire at a legendary California biker bar’s regular spaghetti night on Wednesday, killing at least three people and leaving six others hospitalized.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department said 911 calls came in at 7:04 p.m., and they were on scene at Cook’s Corner two minute later, KCAL reported. By 7:08, deputies had engaged the gunman and killed him.

#OCSDPIO Update- Incident scene at Cooks Corner is static. We are in unified command with @OCFA. Confirmed 4 deceased at scene, inc. the shooter. 6 transported to hospitals, 5 reported w/gunshot wounds. Officer-involved shooting occurred during the incident. No deputies injured.

— OC Sheriff, CA (@OCSheriff) August 24, 2023

Investigators said the incident began as a dispute between the suspect and his wife.

Witnesses told KCAL the gunfire started in the bar’s picnic area as the last hour of the special night began. Victims said they heard a few shots and then a brief pause before a heavy volley of gunfire.

“We heard gunshots randomly going off,” said Jonathan Div, who lives near the Trabuco Canyon bar. “And a few minutes later we heard it kind of increasing.”

Another witness told KABC that the suspect left the bar and headed out to his truck to reload when deputies found him.

“He came in, he went back to reload and bring more guns and the cops found him,” one woman said. “I’m glad I didn’t die. He shot four or six at me and missed.”

Another man said he’d just arrived as the shooting started.

“I called 911, they told me they already had deputies on the way,” he said. “As soon as the deputies rolled up, he started unloading on them as well. They returned fire. I ducked for cover.”

No deputies were injured, police said.

Six people were hospitalized, with at least five being treated for gunshot wounds. Two were in critical condition, with four in stable condition at Providence Mission Hospital.

Law enforcement swarmed into the area and closed off access. The FBI is assisting in the investigation. The sheriff’s department said it would brief reporters Thursday afternoon and would not release information before that time.

Cook’s Corner has been in operation since 1884 at the intersection of Santiago Canyon and Trabuco Canyon. The Cook family ran the bar until 1975, when they sold it to two brothers who operated a motorcycle accessories shop. The Streicek brothers sold the property in the 1980s and left Southern California.

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[Featured image: KABC screenshot]