(Eagle News) — The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that an 18-year old Filipino-American student was among those killed in a mass shooting at a country music bar filled with college students in Los, Angeles, California.
The DFA has expressed condolences to the family of 18-year-old Alaina Punzalan Housley, a freshman English student at Pepperdine University.
Alaina is the niece of American actress and TV host Tamera Mowry-Housley and her husband journalist Adam Housley.
Her grandfather, Ernie Punzalan, said Alaina was planning to take up law. He said she was just sitting inside the Borderline Bar and Grill when the gunman entered the bar late Wednesday night.
At least 12 persons, including Ventura County Sheriff Sgt. Ron Helus, were killed in the tragic incident.
Witnesses said that the gunman entered the bar and grill and threw several smoke grenades before he started shooting into the crowd that was composed of mainly college students.
The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, Consul General Adel Angelito Cruz, was the one who confirmed that Punzalan Housley, was among the fatalities in the mass shooting, according to DFA spokesperson Elmer Cato.
“The Consulate General continues to monitor developments related to the incident that took place inside a crowded dance bar in Thousand Oaks, California, about 40 minutes west of Los Angeles,” Cato said.
He said that the Philippine consul was still coordinating with authorities to check if there were other Filipinos or Filipino-Americans among the victims.
