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.
Mora-Rojas had a restraining order against him from his wife and was on a supervised visit with his three children at the church on Monday afternoon.
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 huge police presence built up outside the church where the shooting took place
Multiple people were killed in a shooting on Monday at a church near the California capital of Sacramento, CBS13 television reported, citing the Sacramento Metro Fire department
A large police presence could be seen gathered outside the church in the Arden-Arcade area
Police vehicle could be seen positioned outside of the church early on Monday evening
Residents watch police activity following a shooting at a church in Sacramento, California
People look over a fence towards a church following a shooting in Sacramento
Police block off Ethan Way and Wyda Way after a shooting at the Church in Sacramento
A father killed four, shooting three of his children before killing himself at the church in Sacramento
A sheriff's deputy puts up crime scene tape following the shooting
A police officer can be seen putting up crime scene tape following the shooting on Monday
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.
The church is known to hold Bible study classes for children and teens, although none were scheduled for Monday.
