Authorities say the 39-year-old father of three who gunned down his young daughters and their chaperone during a supervised visit at a Sacramento, California, church on Monday was previously arrested and had a restraining order against him.
What’s a brief history here?
David Mora Rojas was visiting with his three daughters when he pulled out an AR-15-style rifle and shot 9-year-old Samarah Mora Gutierrez, 10-year-old Samantha Mora Gutierrez, and 13-year-old Samia Mora Gutierrez alongside their chaperone 59-year-old Nathaniel Kong who is believed to have been a family friend.
He then turned the gun on himself.
Authorities believe that Rojas, who was estranged from the girls’ mother, was present at the Sacramento-area church for a court-ordered visitation.
Authorities are investigating the murders as a domestic violence incident.
What else do we know about this?
The mother, who remains unnamed at the time of this reporting, is said to have had a restraining order against Rojas.
Sergeant Rod Grassmann with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said that the woman’s restraining order came after a lengthy period of domestic violence.
“The restraining order was obtained after a domestic violence incident at some time in the past,” Grassmann explained.
In her petition, the unnamed woman said, “Respondent has a history of being verbally and physically aggressive that has been ongoing for the past 10 years. I have moved out the house with the children because I am afraid of Respondent and concerned my safety and the safety of my children.”
A previous arrest
KXTL-TV reported that Rojas was recently arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and battery of an officer and nurse.
The station reported that the California Highway Patrol in Los Banos arrested Rojas on Feb. 22.
“An altercation ensued. Mr. Rojas assaulted Officer Alvarez, basically hitting him on the side of the head,” CHP spokesperson Shannon Stiers told the station.
Rojas was transported to a nearby hospital for a blood draw, upon which time he reportedly assaulted a nurse.
‘Filled with sorrow’
In a statement on the murders, the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California said that the “heinous crime” was too horrific to behold.
“I am filled with sorrow at this tragedy, compassion for the family left behind, and frustration at senseless violence involving guns,” Bishop Megan Traquair said in a statement on the deaths. “God’s faithfulness and love are greater than our hardest sorrow, and he weeps with us.”