I have been following the story of Clay Sannar an LDS Bishop that was shot and killed in a church meeting house in Visalia, Ca. Today they released the name of the man who committed the shooting. It was also released that the reason for the shooting is that he felt “shunned” by a former Bishop back in 1988, 22 years ago. It was also explained that the man suffered from mental illness and had taken his grandfather’s gun.
Objectively, I can’t for a moment imagine the horror the Bishop’s family is going through. To have something so horrible happen, for something that wasn’t your fault. My heart and prayers got out to the family.
What strikes me also, is the assailant. A man with mental illness that spiraled out of control to the point that he took another’s life then his own. I have to wonder that if his issues were know, had someone reached out to him earlier if both lives could have been spared. i guess those kind of questions are irrelevant and asking them doesn’t change the current situation.
What happened is so tragic, and though honestly, I am appalled by what happened, if we don’t try to look at why, we will never be able to stop them.
The Fresno Bee newspaper is carrying an interview with the suspect's brother (http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/08/30/2058190/shooting-reported-at-visalia-mormon.html). It sounds as if the family was aware of his mental illness. This is sad all the way around. The suspect had a wife and 6yr old son.