1 Child, 2 Adults Dead; Second Child Hurt In Shooting At San Bernardino Elementary School
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (CBSNewYork/CBSLA.com/AP) -- Two adults and a child were killed, and a second child was critically wounded, in what was described as a murder-suicide at a school in San Bernardino.
Police said the adult victim was the gunman's estranged wife.
The incident was reported just before 11 a.m. local time at the 600-student North Park Elementary School at 5300 block of North H Street in San Bernardino, according to San Bernardino County Fire officials.
The adults were found dead in a special needs classroom, police said. The gunman was identified late Monday as Cedric Anderson, 53, of Riverside, California.
The victim was his estranged wife -- Karen Smith, also 53 -- who was earlier described as a teacher at the school.
Eight-year-old Jonathan Martinez was also pronounced dead hours after the shooting, police said. Another child remained in critical condition.
As CBS2's Tony Aiello reported, authorities do not believe the injured children were targeted -- they were near the teacher when she was shot and killed.
Parents of children at the were almost sick with worry as they waited for word.
"Unspeakable, they're little, they're young, it shouldn't happen," one parent said.
"Our daughter called on the way here, so she was just in a panic. What kid wouldn't be in a state like this?" Jamil Awad said.
CBS2 LA's Greg Mills talked on one mom who was anxiously awaiting her two kids' arrival at Cajon Elementary School.
"What's this like for you"? Mills asked.
"It's bad, it's really bad," she replied.
Others were shaken by the latest violence to hit the city of San Bernardino.
"This is just tragedy," said William Green, whose son attends the school. "This is not a good time right now, it's just not. I grew up in this area… man, this tough right now, I don't even have the words to speak it right now."
"It's traumatizing. My eyes are just shaking," another parent said. "I'm at a loss for words."
One woman was worried about her third grader.
"Chaos, chaos, don't know where he's at, don't know if he's okay, but it happened, confirmed, so we're just nervous," she said.
Parents hugged and prayed as they waited for any crumb of information.
Children were escorted to safety, and loaded on buses to be driven to a nearby college campus, where police hoped to interview some of them about what they saw and heard.
"I don't even know how I feel right now. I just want to see my babies, my little girl, and my little boy. That's all I care about right now, are my little babies," Maria Rodriguez said.
"I saw blood across the room," student Brooklyn Hughes said. "I ran as fast as I can and I lost a shoe!"
Families were finally reunited late Monday afternoon.
San Bernardino Mayor R. Carey Davis said he was contacted by a White House spokesperson after the shooting.
Police say Anderson had a history of weapons and domestic violence charges. School officials knew he was estranged from his wife, but allowed him in when he said he had something to drop off for her.
Officials say the elementary school will be closed until at least Thursday.
(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
