Authorities say an elementary school principal in Fresno shot and killed himself as sheriff's deputies prepared to search his home as part of a child sex abuse investigation.

Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims says detectives started investigating Orange Center Elementary principal Lance Clement a week ago after a school employee reported seeing him in his office with a female fifth-grader and the lights off.

Mims tells the Fresno Bee the investigators determined that nothing inappropriate had happened but remained concerned after interviews with more than 20 students revealed Clement had often summoned young girls to his office and that his school computer hard drive was missing.

She says deputies were getting ready to search the 42-year-old principal's house In Hanford on Friday when they heard a shot from inside.