By Amy Graff
Source SFGate, San Francisco
A father fatally shot his three children and their chaperone Monday night during a supervised visit at a church in Sacramento before turning the gun on himself, officials said.
The shooter was estranged from the kids' mother, who had a restraining order against him, an official said.
Sacramento County sheriff's spokesperson Sgt. Rod Grassman said the children were all girls ages 9, 10 and 13.
Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones said investigators believe the shooting happened during a supervised visit with the children, and the fourth victim, an adult, was the chaperone.
Investigators believe the shooting happened during a supervised visit with the children and the fourth victim was their chaperone, Jones said.
The shooter's identity wasn't immediately released.
A church employee heard the gunshots and called 911, Grassman said. The shooting occurred in the main sanctuary area, he said.
Sheriff's officials are investigating it as a domestic violence incident.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Twitter that the incident is "another senseless act of gun violence in America."
"This time in our backyard," Newsom wrote. "In a church with kids inside. Absolutely devastating. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and their communities. We are working closely with local law enforcement."
The Sacramento Sheriff's Office posted on Twitter at 6:09 p.m. that there was "large police presence due to a shooting" in the Arden-Arcade neighborhood near Howe Avenue and Wyda Way. People are being asked to avoid the area.
Authorities said anyone who may have witnessed the incident on Wyda Way should call 911.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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