Police release 911 tape from church shooting suspect

VISALIA – A man suspected of fatally shooting a Mormon church official in Central California told officers where to find him and warned them to be ready for "mortal combat" when they arrived, according to a 911 call made after the slaying.

Lay Bishop Clay Sannar, 40, a Gridley native, was shot and killed between scheduled services Sunday of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Visalia.

In the 20-second recording made public Tuesday, the caller identified himself as Zane Thomas, but police said it was 47-year-old Kenneth Ward.

The caller sounded almost cheerful when he said he was the person who had "just shot the Mormon bishop."

"You did?" a dispatcher asked.

"Yes, I did," the caller responded.

He then gave an address that turned out to be Ward's childhood home. After a pause, he said, "Be prepared to throw down in mortal combat" and hung up.

When officers got to the home, they exchanged gunfire with Ward, who was killed. No officers were injured.

A funeral service for the father of six is scheduled Friday.

Ward's younger brother, Mike Ward, said he did not know why his brother used the alias. Ward said his brother was mentally ill and had delusional spells in which he blamed the Mormon church for his troubles.