Bullets shattered windshield, riddled car at Cook’s Corner shooting. Who pays?

Nancy Hughes was at Cook’s Corner that dreadful night, when a vengeful ex-police sergeant stalked into the bar aiming to kill his estranged wife.

John Patrick Snowling walked straight up to Marie Sprawling and shot her in the face without saying a word. Apparently unsatisfied, he sprayed bullets at others as well — band members, bar patrons, it didn’t seem to matter. Killed were Tonya Clark, 49, of Scottsdale, Arizona, Glen Sprowl Jr., 53, of Stanton and John Leehey, 67, of Irvine.

As shots rang out, Hughes and other Cook’s customers fled to the hills and nearby brush, fearing for their lives. Deputies from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department screamed onto the scene and a gun battle ensued, lasting several minutes. More than 70 rounds were fired, Sheriff’s officials would later say. Snowling was dead.

Caught in the crossfire, literally, was Hughes’ 2003 Ford Taurus. Its windshield and windows were shattered. A tire went flat. Bullet holes peppered its body.

Hughes didn’t have comprehensive auto insurance, so repairs for the damage weren’t covered. The repair shop did the work at a discount, but her mom shelled out nearly $2,000 to get the car up and running again. It took more than a month.

While property damage may be the easiest thing to fix after a mass shooting — physical and psychic scars can last a lifetime — it’s not always an easy road to travel.

Elite Automotive of Lake Forest restored Savannah Hopkins’ 2011 Ford F-150, which was also riddled with bullets in the shooting. Hopkins worked at Cook’s and came face-to-face with the shooter that night. She told him she was pregnant. He told her to run.

Insurance, officials say, is the first line of defense in situations like this, making an argument for comprehensive coverage.

Since she didn’t have that, Hughes filed a claim with the county for $5,000 to cover the repairs and other impacts. But in February, the county denied the claim. The rationale is that, though it’s unfortunate that her car was damaged in the shootout, Sheriff’s deputies were simply doing their job — to neutralize the deadly threat — and were not negligent.

That may be exactly right, but it doesn’t do anything to cover the car repair costs.

Cook’s Corner has collected funds for victims of the shooting, but the manager and owner haven’t briefed us yet on how much was raised or how they’re deciding who gets what.

The California Victims Compensation Board, the state agency that’s “the payor of last resort” for victims of violent crime, only grants money “after all available reimbursement and recovery sources are used, including medical insurance, disability insurance, employer benefits and civil suits.”

Civil suits. That means courts and lawyers. But who to sue? The shooter’s estate? The bar? The county? Then, after time and trouble, turning to the state Victims Compensation Board for help if none succeed?

Sheesh. Sounds like it would cost a lot more than $5,000 to go that route.

Source: Orange County Register