(Photo 10News)
One of two students in an elementary school classroom who became unintended victims of a murder-suicide Monday morning in San Bernardino has died. A female teacher was shot to death and two children were critically wounded after a gunman opened fire and then shot and killed himself. Eight year old Jonathon Martinez died at the hospital. The other student, a 9-year-old, whose name was not immediately released, was in stable condition.
At an afternoon news conference, it was revealed that a man known to school staff checked in at the front office to "visit," San Bernardino Police captain Ron Maass said
The teacher who was killed was identified as 53 year old Karen Elaine Smith. Police say her husband, Cedric Anderson, who also was 53, walked into the classroom, said nothing and then opened fire on his wife. She died. Two students who were behind their teacher were struck by bullets.
The classroom where the shooting took place is a special needs class for 1st through 4th grade students.
School Superintendent Dale Masden called it "an absolute tragic event" and asked for prayers for the school staff, for the students and for families.
U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos tweeted asked for prayers for the victims "and all those impacted by today's senseless violence."