Shooting at School: 2 Adults Dead, 2 Students Critically Injured

Two adults, including a teacher, were dead and two students were critically injured in a shooting Monday morning inside an elementary school classroom in San Bernardino, California.

Police do not believe the children were targeted but were close to the female teacher at North Park School when the suspect came to the classroom to visit and then opened fire with a handgun, police Capt. Ron Maass said at a news conference. The shooting appeared to be a murder-suicide, police said.

Monica Garcia, of the San Bernardino Unified School District, said the shooting appeared to stem from a domestic violence dispute involving the shooter and teacher, both of whom were found dead in the classroom.

“We believe the teacher knew who the shooter was,” Garcia said.

The two students, who have not been identified, were airlifted to hospitals in critical condition. Details about the shooter, including his relationship to the teacher, were not immediately clear.

“Our hearts are broken,” said San Bernardino School District Superintendent Dr. Dale Marsden. “This is truly tragic.”

Police first received a report of shots fired at the school at 10:27 a.m., followed by a report of an active shooter at the campus. It was not immediately clear whether the campus has metal detectors or other equipment designed to prevent weapons from being carried into the school.

“There was no indication the gun was visible upon his arrival at the school,” police Capt. Ron Maass said at a news conference.

The school of about 600 kindergarten-through-sixth-grade students was placed on lockdown as law enforcement and first responders swarmed the campus. Aerial video showed lines of students walking across campus recreation fields and basketball courts as authorities evacuated the school.

Parents gathered outside the elementary school, waiting to pick up their children and get updates on the shooting.

“Hold each other, that’s all we can do,” said a parent who spoke to NBC4. “I’m probably going to cry like a baby. I don’t care, I just want to hug my child.”

Another man said his daughter left her phone at home, leaving him unable to reach her for updates. He said he was relieved to learn his daughter was safe.

Police asked parents to pick up students at Cajon High School and urged them to bring valid IDs.

The school is about 10 miles from the Inland Regional Center, where 14 people were killed and 22 wounded in a December 2015 terror attack carried out by a husband and wife.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for updates.