Five People, Including Three Children, Dead In Murder-Suicide Shooting At Sacramento Church

Topline

A man shot and killed his three daughters and their chaperone before taking his own life at a church in Sacramento, California on Monday in an incident that comes as the state’s lawmakers work on legislation to allow private citizens to target gunmakers.

Key Facts

The shooting took place at around 5 p.m. on Monday when the man was meeting up with his three children and their chaperone as part of a court-supervised visit, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office told the press.

The three girls killed in the incident were aged 9, 10 and 13, but the age of the chaperone was not revealed.

The shooter, 39, had a restraining order placed against him by the girls’ mother.

The sheriff’s office is investigating the shooting as a domestic violence incident.

NBC News, citing law enforcement sources, reported that the shooter used an  AR-15-style semi automatic rifle.

Crucial Quote

Reacting to the shooting, California Governor Gavin Newsom tweeted: “Another senseless act of gun violence in America – this time in our backyard. In a church with kids inside. Absolutely devastating. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and their communities.”

Key Background

Earlier this month, lawmakers in California introduced a new bill that would allow private citizens to go after gunmakers with lawsuits, modeled similarly to the controversial Texas abortion law. Newsom has publicly backed the legislation noting that it will take advantage of the “wide open” door he said the U.S. Supreme Court opened with the Texas law. The California governor added that there was “no principled way” that the top court could not uphold the gun law as it was “literally modeled after the (anti-abortion) law they just upheld in Texas.”

Further Reading

Man kills 3 daughters, 1 other, himself at California church (Associated Press)

Father kills his three children, adult during supervised visit in California, officials say (NBC News)

Newsom supports bill to allow residents to sue gun industry, challenging Texas abortion law (Los Angeles Times)