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| Police: California man killed wife before gun rampage | Police: California man killed wife before gun rampage |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A California man killed his wife and hid her body in their home before he fatally shot four people during a gun rampage, police have said. | |
| "We believe that's probably what started this whole event," Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston told reporters on Wednesday. | "We believe that's probably what started this whole event," Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston told reporters on Wednesday. |
| Kevin Janson Neal, 43, fired into an elementary school in Rancho Tehama, but was stopped from entering by teachers. | Kevin Janson Neal, 43, fired into an elementary school in Rancho Tehama, but was stopped from entering by teachers. |
| His wife's body was found hidden under floorboards, police say. | His wife's body was found hidden under floorboards, police say. |
| Investigators said they believe Neal shot and killed his wife on Monday night, sparking the gun rampage early on Tuesday. | |
| Mr Johnston said police also found two neighbours shot dead. The victims were involved in an ongoing dispute with Neal that lead to an assault with a deadly weapon charge against him last January, authorities said. | |
| He killed two others who police said appeared to have been shot at random. | |
| A motive for the attack is still unclear, but Mr Johnston added: "I think he had a desire to kill as many people as he could." | |
| At one point Neal crashed a stolen vehicle through the Rancho Tehama Reserve School's locked gate before class began, firing dozens of shots through windows and walls when he was unable to enter the building. | |
| Mr Johnston praised teachers for issuing a lockdown and securing the school after hearing gunshots, adding that their actions prevented a "horrific bloodbath". | |
| Police said 14 people were injured in total, including seven children. | |
| One child at the school was shot in the chest while other children were mainly hurt by broken glass, Mr Johnston said. | |
| The family of Alejandro Hernandez, 6, created a GoFundMe account to help raise money for his healthcare costs after he was shot in the chest and foot. | |
| Police said two semi-automatic rifles - also known as assault rifles - that were used by the gunman were recovered from one of the crime scenes. | |
| Mr Johnston said the guns were obtained "in an illegal manner" and manufactured illegally. | Mr Johnston said the guns were obtained "in an illegal manner" and manufactured illegally. |
| According to court documents, a restraining order taken out against him following an incident with his neighbours in January would have required him to forfeit any firearms. | |
| During the attack, Neal also wore a military-style assault vest capable of storing multiple rounds of ammunition. | |
| "I'm on a cliff and there's nowhere to go" | |
| Police said he was out on bail after he posted a $160,000 (£121,000) bond for an assault with a deadly weapon charge, which stemmed from an incident with his neighbours. | |
| A woman, who identified herself as Neal's mother, told the Associated Press news agency that Neal called her before the attack and said: "I'm on a cliff and there's nowhere to go." | A woman, who identified herself as Neal's mother, told the Associated Press news agency that Neal called her before the attack and said: "I'm on a cliff and there's nowhere to go." |
| She said Neal was in a long-running dispute with neighbours who he believed were cooking methamphetamine. | She said Neal was in a long-running dispute with neighbours who he believed were cooking methamphetamine. |
| She added that Neal, who was raised in North Carolina, had been working as a cannabis farmer and had recently married his long-time girlfriend. | She added that Neal, who was raised in North Carolina, had been working as a cannabis farmer and had recently married his long-time girlfriend. |
| His sister, Sheridan Orr, told the AP that she believed her brother was addicted to drugs and struggled with mental illness and a violent temper. | His sister, Sheridan Orr, told the AP that she believed her brother was addicted to drugs and struggled with mental illness and a violent temper. |
| "We're stunned and we're appalled that this is a person who has no business with firearms, whatsoever," Ms Orr said. | "We're stunned and we're appalled that this is a person who has no business with firearms, whatsoever," Ms Orr said. |