Close to the eighteenth anniversary of the tragic Columbine High School shooting, North Park Elementary was unexpectedly attacked by a gunman who killed a first grade, special education teacher before turning the gun on himself. 8-year-old, Jonathan Martinez, and another student were standing behind Smith when they were shot by a high caliber revolver. Local San Bernardino authorities were notified about the incident shortly after shots were fired at 10:27 a.m. The assailant, Cedric Anderson, 53, of Riverside entered the first grade classroom after checking into the schools front desk before he carelessly opened fire on his estranged wife, Karen Elaine Smith.

“I watched as they took the bodies from the classroom, and I stood on my front porch, scared for the kids who I know walk by my house every morning,” shared local resident Jesus Ruiz, who lives across the street from the school.

Martinez passed away several hours after being airlifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center. The other student, a 9-year-old whose name has not been released by officials, is reported to be in stable condition. Both students were taken to the same hospital, while the husband and wife were pronounced dead on the scene.

The rest of the North Park students were evacuated to nearby Cajon High School, where parents endured a lengthy checkout process before being reunited with their children. “As a parent you feel hopeless and anxious to get back to your kid after such a bad situation,” expressed parent, Lucina Castro. Castro was at the adult school located on the site of North Park elementary school during the attack and was eager to get to her daughter.

San Bernardino School Board Superintendent, Dale Marsden, notified parents that school will be closed for at least 2 days due to the severity of the situation and counseling will be available to those students who are in need of it.