A man opened fire Monday inside his wife’s classroom in San Bernardino, California, killing her and an 8-year-old boy before turning the gun on himself, police said.
A second student, identified as a 9-year-old boy, was also injured inside the North Park Elementary classroom, but in stable condition.
Police said 53-year-old Cedric Anderson quickly opened fire inside the classroom, fatally hitting his estranged wife, Karen Smith. Jonathan Martinez, who died in the attack, and the other student were standing behind Smith when they were struck by gunfire, police added.
“He came in in a very, very quick manner and quickly, upon entering the classroom, started shooting,” San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said.
Anderson had a criminal history that included weapons charges, domestic violence, and possible gun violations. Public documents show he was charged with battery and battery with serious bodily injury but was not convicted.
A .357 revolver was found next to the shooter and he reloaded once. A revolver typically carries 6 rounds, Burguan said.
Camilo Rocha, left, comforts his daughter, Serina, a 11-year-old student at North Park Elementary School. Jae C. Hong / AP
Smith, also 53, and Anderson were estranged after a short marriage that lasted a few months, police said. The couple separated over a month ago but authorities said there were no indications he would attack her.
The domestic violence incidents in Anderson’s criminal record preceded their marriage, Burguan added.
Maria Garcia, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino City Unified School District, said they received a report of an active shooter at about 10:28 a.m. About 500 students attend North Park Elementary.
Police arrived minutes later as officials locked down the campus. A total of about 150 police officers responded to the shooting.
Garcia said there are no campus police at the district’s elementary schools. They do have unarmed security at the middle schools and uniformed police at high schools.
Police said Anderson’s gun was not visible when he arrived at the school, telling staff that he needed to drop something off for his wife inside.
Throughout the day, parents lined up outside Cajon High School to pick up students who had been evacuated there after the shooting.
The mother of a fifth-grader told ABC7 she was shopping when news broke about the shooting and frantically called police to get information. She was later notified through an app that her son was safe.
“I just want to hold him,” the mother said.
San Bernardino was also the site of the Dec. 2, 2015 mass shooting that left 14 people dead and 22 injured after a couple opened fire at a social services center.
