Massacre survivor sobs as he apologizes for fleeing while saving his son: ‘I should have stayed’

A California mass killing survivor's account of the massacre has gone viral on the internet, as well as the heartbreaking way in which he explained the carnage.

At least 12 people died in the massacre at a Thousand Oaks, California, bar, and 21 more people were injured.

The massacre was first reported at 11:19 p.m. local time Wednesday.

What did he say?

The survivor said that he'd been at the bar, which was hosting a college "Country Night," with his stepson when he heard shots ring out.

"My son thought it was a joke, and so I pulled him down, got some cover," the man explained.

"I looked up and [the suspect] was moving to the right, and he shot the front ... the front doorman, bouncer; just a young man," the survivor wept. "And then, then he shot the cashier; just a young girl."

The man said that the suspect began moving again and noted that the suspect wasn't looking in his direction or at his son.

"He didn't say anything at all, he just started shooting," the survivor added. "I should have stayed ... but I was worried about my boy.

"I should have stayed," he sobbed. "I apologize to anybody who got hurt, or passed, I'm sorry. They're all young. I'm 56; I've lived life — they're all young. This shouldn't have happened to them."

What else?

KABC-TV's Greg Lee shared the footage on Twitter, captioning it, "Absolutely heartbreaking interview from witness with @ABC7Jory at scene of reported mass shooting at #Borderline in #ThousandOaks. 'They’re so young, this shouldn’t have happened to them.'"

Absolutely heartbreaking interview from witness with @ABC7Jory at scene of reported mass shooting at #Borderline in #ThousandOaks. “They’re so young, this shouldn’t have happened to them.” pic.twitter.com/gwHU4XCfaO

— Greg Lee (@abc7greg) November 8, 2018