San Bernardino school shooting: 911 audio released

ByCarlos Granda and ABC7.com staff KABC logo
Saturday, April 15, 2017
San Bernardino principal speaks out after murder-suicide on campus
On the same day the frantic 911 calls were released, North Park Elementary School principal Yadira Downing spoke exclusively to Eyewitness News about the murder-suicide that killed an 8-year-old on campus.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KABC) -- Police released 911 audio recordings from Monday's fatal shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino.

The audio recordings were released on Friday by the San Bernardino Police Department.

In the first recording, a female voice can be heard on the call, telling the dispatcher there is an active shooter at North Park Elementary.

"One of our teachers was shot," she says.

The dispatcher urges the caller to stay on the phone while she transfers her to school police.

MORE: Documents reveal abuse allegations against San Bernardino school gunman

"One of our teachers got shot in the classroom," she says again, describing the shooter as "Mrs. Smith's husband."

She said the man was wearing a beige blazer, and said the victim was in her classroom, B-1.

In the second recording, dispatch can be heard telling units the suspect is possibly the husband of a school employee, and that the victim may be in classroom B-1.

On Monday, a special education teacher, Karen Smith, and one of her students, 8-year-old Jonathan Martinez, were fatally shot by Smith's estranged husband, Cedric Anderson, who then turned the gun on himself. Another boy, 9-year-old Nolan Brandy, was critically injured but later upgraded to good condition. He was released from the hospital Friday afternoon.

MORE: Nolan Brandy, 9-year-old shot at San Bernardino school, released from hospital

Anderson fired off 10 shots from a .357 Magnum. Just a month after they got married, Anderson and Smith had marriage problems. In the week before Monday's shooting, Smith told family members that Anderson had tried to get her to return home and threatened her, but she didn't take him seriously.

School officials said they didn't know this when he arrived at the school and was allowed to see his wife.

North Park Elementary School principal Yadira Downing spoke exclusively to Eyewitness News about the deadly incident as she prepared to welcome the children and staff back to school on Monday.

"They said this is their school and they do not want what happened to disrupt their life and to intimidate them to come into work...they wanted to be here for their kids," Downing said about school staff.

A vigil was set to be held at 6 p.m. for Smith, the beloved teacher killed in the shooting, Friday night at Grace Chapel in San Bernardino.

RAW AUDIO: San Bernardino school shooting 911 recordings

Listen to the raw 911 audio Police released from Monday's fatal shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino.

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Operator - "911 Emergency"

Caller - "We have an active shooter at North Park Elementary"

Operator - "At North Park Elementary School?"

Caller - "Yes, one of our teachers was shot."

Operator - "Okay, we're on our way. Hold on, hold on. Don't hang up. Don't hang up."

Caller - "I'm... (inaudible)"

Operator - "Don't hang up!"

Operator - "... at North Park Elementary.... Yup... Hold on honey, I'm getting school PD on the switcher. Hold on. Hold on."

Police operator - "District police, this is Jeanie"

Operator - *jumbled*"They're telling me they have an active shooter at North Park Elementary School."

Police operator - "I didn't get any of that, but go ahead and transfer the call."

Operator - "okay, they're on the phone"

Police operator - "Okay, Hi - how can I help you?"

Caller - "We have an active shooter. One of our teachers got shot in the classroom."

Police operator - "At what school?"

Caller - "At North Park Elementary. Please hurry."

Police operator - "Okay, we'll get you... do you have a description of the shooter?"

Caller - "Um, he's a black male, he's Mrs. Smith's husband."

Police operator - "He's a black male?"

Caller - "Yes, and he was wearing a beige blazer."

Police operator - "A beige blazer?"

Caller - "Yes"

Police operator - "Okay, we'll get units out there. And where's the victim at?"

Caller - "Um, I think she's in her classroom."

Police operator - "What classroom is it?"

Caller - "Um, B-1"

Police operator - "Classroom B-1?'

Second operator (?) - "Okay, in B-1"

Police operator - "Is the guy still on the campus right now?"

Caller - "As far as I know he is. I'm scared, I'm in the office."

Police operator - "That's okay... did you guys lock down?"

Dispatcher: "Units en route to the shooting we have a possible suspect. Black male, adult. Bald, black shirt. Looks like it's possible a husband of the employee. It's gonna be in classroom Baker One. B-1"