LOS ANGELES, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- A total of 13 people were confirmed dead in a mass shooting Wednesday night in the city of Thousand Oaks in Southern California, including an officer and a gunman, local authorities said.

Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean told the press Sheriff's Deputies responded to multiple reports of gunshots fired at Borderline Bar and Grill around 11:30 p.m. local time.

Deputy Sgt. Ron Helus went into the bar with another highway patrol officer. Helus was shot several times and died in hospital later, Dean said.

More people were wounded, according to Dean.

Helus was a 29-year veteran who was set to retire next year, Dean said.

"Ron was a hardworking, dedicated sheriff's sergeant. He was totally committed, he gave his all and tonight, as I told his wife, he died a hero. He went in to save lives, to save other people," Dean said.

Dean said the identification of the shooter remains unknown. It is unclear whether the shooting was terrorism related.