San Bernardino Murder-Suicide Victim Was A 'Loving' Person Devoted To Her Christian Faith
Karen Elaine Smith was teaching her special-needs class in North Park Elementary School when her estranged husband Cedric Anderson came, and without a word, shot her in front of her students and then shot himself. Following the incident, Smith's family revealed that both Smith and Anderson were Christians, news reports say.
NBC News reports that Anderson successfully entered the school where Smith was teaching. San Bernardino Police Capt. Ron Maass said at a news conference that his firearm, a .357 revolver, wasn't visible when he went to the school. He said he needed to drop something off for Smith, and was then allowed to enter.
Anderson then opened fire on Smith "very, very quickly upon entering the classroom," Police Chief Jarrod Burguan told reporters. Two students behind Smith were struck by gunfire, and one of them, eight-year-old Jonathan Martinez, died later at a nearby hospital.
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Officials say that the classroom, intended for special-needs students, had 15 students inside it at the time of the attack. They believe, however, that Anderson's attack wasn't intended for them – only for Smith, and for himself.
Following the incident, it was revealed that Smith and Anderson, both 53, were Christians.
Smith's mother, Irma Sykes, said her daughter was surprised to discover a "dark side" to Anderson, who she knew as a pastor and a gentleman.
"She thought she had a wonderful husband, but she found out he was not wonderful at all," Sykes told the Los Angeles Times. "He had other motives. She left him and that's where the trouble began."
Sykes told New York Daily News that Anderson and Smith were dating on-and-off for four years before they married in January.
"He was a wolf in sheep's clothing," Sykes said. "As soon as they married, he turned on her. The real Cedric came out."
Not long after they got married, Anderson quickly accused Smith of infidelity. Sykes said Anderson even threatened her daughter that he'd throw her out the window. Smith was shocked, Sykes said.
Soon, Smith decided to leave Anderson. Sykes said Anderson, who had been a pastor for 17 years, "tried to butter her up" by saying all sorts of good things to her, but Smith was intent on leaving him for good.
Authorities said that Anderson has a history of domestic violence.
Sykes said Smith was "a wonderful, God-fearing woman." Joshua Smith, Smith's 30-year-old son from a previous relationship, told the Washington Post that his mom was a "genuinely loving and caring person," and someone who was devoted to her Christian faith.
