Band that was playing at Trabuco Canyon bar on night of mass shooting hosts benefit concert
TRABUCO CANYON, Calif. (KABC) -- The band that was performing at a Trabuco Canyon restaurant and bar when a gunman walked in and opened fire hosted a benefit concert Sunday to help the community heal.
The M Street band was playing at Cook's Corner the night a gunman killed three people and injured six others, including some members of the group. The benefit concert was held at Old World Biergarten in Huntington Beach, and the money raised will go to the victims' families.
Two band members, Ed Means and Dave Stretch, were among those injured by the gunman. They played for the first time since then on Sunday.
"The first song was kind of a hot mess - we're forgetting lyrics, we're forgetting parts. But once we got into the third or fourth song, it's almost like riding a bike," Means said.
"I was struck on the forearm and luckily, it didn't do any permanent damage - no nerves, no arteries. I'm fine."
Stretch, who was shot in the hip, also made a full recovery.
Sunday's fundraiser drew a massive turnout. Dozens of people sang and danced as tip jars overflowed with cash donations. Those in attendance were also able to scan QR codes to donate directly to the victim's GoFundMe pages.
"The physical injuries will repair. The mental stuff for everybody... it's just traumatic and it's just going to take time to dull and fade, but it will. We're not going to let someone like this rob us of what we enjoy," Means added.
Another benefit concert is planned for Monday at Cook's Corner, which reopened Friday following the Aug. 23 shooting, with the manager saying she wants to "bring the family back together."
"We feel it's time to bring the family back together," she said.
READ MORE | Cook's Corner in Trabuco Canyon reopens following mass shooting that killed 3
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said the gunman -- 59-year-old retired Ventura Police Department Sgt. John Snowling -- entered the bar carrying two handguns and walked directly to his estranged wife, Marie, and shot her once.
Marie Snowling was shot in the jaw but survived. She filed for divorce from her husband late last year.
The gunman then shot the woman with whom his wife was dining, 49-year- old Tonya Clark of Scottsdale, Arizona. Clark managed to run outside the bar, where she died.
Also killed were Glen Sprowl Jr., 53, of Stanton, and John Leehey, 67, of Irvine.
John Snowling was shot and killed in a confrontation with sheriff's deputies.
City News Service, Inc. contributed to this report.
