Mormon church gunman from Modesto was ready for 'mortal combat,' 911 tape shows

Visalia police today released a recording of the 911 call a gunman from Modesto made after he shot Mormon Bishop Clay Sannar to death.

Authorities say that Kenneth James Ward, 47, shot the church official at 12:36 p.m. Sunday at the Visalia Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

After the shooting, Ward called 911 to report what he had done. He gave the dispatcher a fake name and said police could find him in the central Visalia neighborhood where his family had once lived.

“Be prepared to throw down in mortal combat,” he says in a challenge to police in the call, which last only a few seconds.

Police said they don't know why he used a false name, Zane Thomas.

Ward was killed in an exchange of gunfire with the four officers who arrived.