David Mora, 39 years old, shot and killed a male chaperone while supervising a visit to his daughters Monday afternoon. He then took his own life at The Church of Sacramento, a nondenominational Christian church place of worship, officials stated Tuesday.
Mora was a resident at the church, Sacramento County sheriff’s Sgt. Rod Grassmann said to KXTV-TV.
Mora’s ex-girlfriend had been with him for around 15 years. She sought a domestic violence order against him last spring. Court documents described him as being jealous and mentally unstable.
“He threatened me with death if I was caught cheating.” … “He has choked me in my past,” the filing stated.
Mora “said he hasn’t killed me because he wouldn’t know where to take the children,” stated the woman, whose identity was withheld because she was abused.
He was also admitted to hospital for a week in April, the woman said.
Mora was also identified in court papers as David Fidel Mora Rojas. He was taken into custody last April 17 for a mental evaluation. A temporary restraining orders was issued nine days later. He was prohibited from possessing ammunition or guns, and investigators were investigating how he acquired the weapon.
May 19th saw the imposition of a five-year restraining or. The order stipulated that Mora could only supervise visits with his daughters for a maximum of four hours per week, with a mutually agreed-upon chaperone. Mora was also required to complete anger management courses.
Authorities have identified Nathaniel Kong, the chaperone of the visitation. Kong, 59, was killed at the church with three young girls, aged 13, 10 and 9. According to court records, he served Mora the May restraining orders.
Sandi Davis claimed that she was walking her dog outside when she heard the gunshot. To protect herself, she immediately released the leash and fell to the ground.
“Our church body is devastated by this senseless tragedy. We ask for continued prayers for the victims’ families and faith community.
They attended schools in the Natomas Unified Schools District, northwestern Sacramento. To provide support, counselors and chaplains were present at the schools Tuesday.
The school district released a statement saying that “there are very few words that could give comfort right now for the unspeakable tragedy.”
A small memorial was set up outside of the church on Tuesday morning. It included flowers, balloons and stuffed animals. There was also a paper with the words “Prayers to peace, may your souls rest.”
Faith Whitmore is the chief executive of Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center, which provides services for victims of domestic violence. To obtain the restraining orders, she worked with a case manager and an advocate.
Whitmore said that the woman came in because she needed emergency intervention. She also needed resources and help.
Whitmore stated that their organization will push for other clients to have supervision by professionals and that they plan to seek funding.
Mora was taken into custody in Merced County just a few days prior to the murders. After he attacked a California Highway Patrol officer, Mora was arrested on charges of resisting arrest and battery on a officer.
“He was drunk, and while they were arresting them — or trying to — he decided he would fight, and ended up with felony accusations because he assaulted a CHP Officer, causing injuries,” Deputy Daryl Allen told The Sacramento Bee.
