Mormon Bishop Shot to Death

A man walked into a Visalia LDS church between services early Sunday afternoon and shot to death the congregation's bishop.

The victim was identified as Clay Sannar, 42, the married father of six boys. Sannar, lay bishop of the Visalia 2nd Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was shot in an office at the LDS church at 825 W. Tulare Ave., Visalia police said.

The shooting was reported at 12:37 p.m.

Less than a half an hour later, Visalia police engaged in a gun battle with a man who called police dispatchers to claim responsibility for the church shooting.The suspect was killed at Burrel Avenue and Divisadero Street, less than two miles from the church.Police late Sunday had not identified the suspect.Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed at the scene, witnesses said.

Chief Colleen Mestas said Sunday that investigators still were trying to determine a motive for the church shooting."We're all stunned," said Ralph Jordan, a church member who acted as a spokesman. "This is an event that has never happened in the history of this local area."

Dale Reher, a member of the LDS church on Lovers Lane, said Sunday that he broke down in tears upon hearing of Sannar's killing.He said his mind raced with possible motives but that he doesn't want to jump to conclusions."It was, oh, wow, I hope it wasn't a targeted thing [against Mormons]," said Reher, 42.News of the killing drew dozens of church members to the church at Tulare and Conyer streets.

They watched police detectives and crime-scene crews walk in and out of the building, which was surrounded with yellow police tape.Several members of the congregation on cell phones told friends and fellow members what happened, sharing their concerns about Sannar's wife and sons.Sannar's youngest child is less than 6 months old.