Man who shot wife at school had history of violence

A man who fatally shot his estranged wife and a special needs pupil in her classroom then killed himself had professed his love for her just last month on social media.

Cedric Anderson married Karen Elaine Smith in late January, but the couple had been estranged for at least a month before he walked into her elementary school in San Bernardino, California. Police said it was a targeted attack on his wife, while two of her pupils were also hit.

On what appeared to be his Facebook page, Anderson posted photos in March smiling and hugging Ms Smith.

In a short video posted on February 27, the 53-year-old looks into the camera and talks about why he loves her.

“She knows when to ignore me,” he said with a laugh. “Well, it makes a happy marriage.”

Anderson had posted that he “loved being married to Karen SmithAnderson!” – calling her “an angel”.

Several other of his posts quoted Bible verses.

The page also had several photos of the wedding, and the couple’s honeymoon among the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona.

His last public post on Facebook was on March 15.

Anderson had a criminal history that included weapons charges, domestic violence and possible drug charges, San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said.

Anderson walked into North Park School on Monday and told a staff member that he needed to drop something off to his wife, police said.

He went to her classroom and “without saying anything” shot her with a large-calibre revolver, Mr Burguan said.

Jonathan Martinez, eight, died shortly after being airlifted to hospital, while a nine-year-old boy was in stable condition.