Man who shot dead three daughters, aged nine, ten and 13, killed a fourth person and himself ID’d

184

View
comments

A man who was under a restraining order and not supposed to have a gun fatally shot his three daughters, aged nine, ten and 13, a chaperone and himself during a supervised visit with the girls at a Sacramento church, officials said Tuesday.

Investigators were trying to piece together the father’s motive and how he got the weapon used in the shooting that occurred at about 5 p.m. Monday.

Under California state law, David Fidel Mora-Rojas, 39, was not supposed to have a gun because of the restraining order against him from his wife and was on a supervised visit with his three children at the church on Monday afternoon. 

At the time of the killings, Mora was out on bail after being arrested last week on several charges, including assaulting a police officer.

Court documents paint a disturbing picture of verbal and physical abuse inflicted by Mora on his estranged girlfriend, who is the mother of their three daughters, one of whom would have turned 11 on Wednesday.

Mora ‘is a very jealous person,’ the woman wrote in her request for the restraining order. ‘He threatened to kill me if he ever caught me cheating.’

She said he told her he hadn’t killed her ‘because he would not know where to go with the children.’ In the filing, she said he might flee to Mexico, where he had family.

‘I am scared and nervous. I am afraid (Mora) is going to hurt me. I do not want to return home,’ wrote the woman, whose name was withheld by The Associated Press because she is an abuse victim. 

The horrific attack started at around 5.10pm on Monday when officers were called to the ‘The Church in Sacramento’ in the Arden Mall area of the city, reported ABC10.   

The shooting happened in the main room of the small church. Emergency services were alerted after an employee at the church who was upstairs heard gunshots and called 911. 

A five-year order was imposed May 19. It stipulated Mora only have supervised visits with his daughters for up to four hours per week with a mutually agreed-upon chaperone. He also was required to take anger management courses.

Authorities identified Nathaniel Kong as the chaperone for the visitation. Kong, 59, was shot to death at the church along with the three girls, ages 13, 10 and 9. Business records show Kong had been an executive in the church. Court records show that he served Mora with the May restraining order.

Authorities have not disclosed what type of weapon was used. 

Mora, who also was identified as David Fidel Mora Rojas in court papers, was taken into custody for a mental health evaluation last April 17, and nine days later a temporary restraining order was granted. 

Mora-Rojas was arrested in Merced County on DUI charges by CHP Los Banos on Feb. 22nd.

He was booked into the Merced County Jail on charges of DUI Alcohol, Driving Under the Influence with a Blood Alcohol over .08, Battery Against a Peace Officer, Obstructing / Resists Public Officer, and Battery on a Peace Officer with Injury.

He was bailed out on Feb. 24.

Sgt. Rod Grassman from the city’s sheriff’s office said he did not know if the family members belonged to the the church, which sits on a mostly residential block near a commercial area east of downtown Sacramento, CBS13 reported.

It wasn’t immediately known how many people were at the church or if there were any services or activities at the time of the shooting. 

Investigators believe the shooting happened during a supervised visit for the father inside the church with the children and a chaperone who also was killed. 

The church is known to hold Bible study classes for children and teens, although none were scheduled for Monday. 

The three girls went to Bannon Creek Elementary School and Leroy Greene Academy in the Natomas Unified School District, which issued a statement.

‘There are very few words that can give comfort right now for this unspeakable tragedy,’ the district said Tuesday. ‘There will be a range of emotions from our students and staff, particularly at the schools where the students attended.’

So far, a possible motive for the shooting had not been released but the sheriff’s office said it was a case of domestic violence. 

‘Another senseless act of gun violence in America – this time in our backyard. In a church with kids inside. Absolutely devastating,’ said California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement.

‘Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and their communities. We are working closely with local law enforcement. 

‘Our thoughts are with the community, parishioners, and all those impacted by this horrific event.’ 

The Mayor of Sacramento, Darrell Steinberg, also tweeted about the incident on Monday night.

‘This is an unspeakable tragedy. It happens too often, and tonight it happened in our backyard. First thoughts are with the victims and their families. Same to the first responders who have to confront such a horrible scene.’

It wasn’t known what connection Mora might have had to the church, which is in a residential area. Neighbors said the shooting occurred quickly and police swarmed the area.

Sandi Davis said she was taking her dog outside when she heard a gunshot. She immediately let go of the leash and dropped to the ground to protect herself.

Yadira Ortega, who lives across the street from the church, said she heard gunfire while sitting in her car after returning home from picking up takeout dinner for her family. She was with her 9-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son. Ortega said there were multiple shots, then a pause before a final shot.

Ortega said she knows little about The Church in Sacramento other than it’s busy on Sundays but mostly quiet during the week.

A man who emerged from the church several times to talk to reporters outside said the church is made up of multiple buildings, including a living space where he and several other members live.

The man, who only gave his name as Alfredo, said he was in the church´s main building when the shooting happened and that neighbors called police because he did not have a phone.

He declined to provide more details, saying church elders planned to issue a statement later.

On Tuesday morning, a small memorial with flowers, balloons, stuffed animals, a candle and a piece of paper that read “Prayers for peace, may your souls rest” was set up outside the church.

Faith Whitmore, chief executive of the Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center that provides services to victims of domestic abuse, said the girls’ mother sought help through the agency last April. A case manager and an attorney worked with her to obtain the restraining order.

“She came in, she needed crisis intervention, she needed resources, she needed help,” said Whitmore, who did not work directly with the woman.

Whitmore said their organization will now push for their other clients to have visits supervised by professionals, and they plan to seek out funding to cover the costs.

Joyce Bilyeu, deputy director of the center, also did not work directly with the woman. She spoke generally about supervised visitations, saying the specifics can vary widely.

Sometimes, a victim will request that a pastor or grandparent be the chaperone in their home or church, she said. Other victims seek professional supervision with a trained mediator in a safe location close to law enforcement, but that option can be costly, Bilyeu said.

Bilyeu said visits in places like churches can give victims a false sense of security.

“Generally a lot of people think a church is a safe place,” she said. But “there´s no metal detectors in a church.”

A restraining order, while a typical part of the process in domestic violence cases, should not be considered a solution or deterrent to abuse, she said.

“It is not a shield of armor,” Bilyeu said.

Alongside emergency services, a SWAT team were also called as officers tried to secure the scene reported ABC10.

Video images from the scene showed a heavy police presence outside the church in the Arden-Arcade area outside the city limits. 

‘Please be aware and on the look out. Local law enforcement are responding to a mass casualty shooting event in the county at a church on 2041 Wyda way,’ Sacramento Mayor Pro Tem Eric Guerra said on Twitter. ‘Please be alert while in the area as local law enforcement responds.’ 

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department told the public to avoid the area because of the large police presence, and said it was establishing a command post in the area.