Many who knew Jonathan Martinez remembered him for an infectious smile that belied a difficult life.
The 8-year-old was born with Williams syndrome, a rare genetic condition that can result in learning difficulties and medical problems such as heart and kidney ailments. He had undergone heart surgery.
Seeing Jonathan overcome these challenges makes his sudden, violent death inside his special education classroom in San Bernardino all the more difficult to bear, friends say.
Diane Abrams, who worked in the special needs class where Jonathan was a student, said she remembers him as “full of life.”
“He was so special to teach…. He was curious to learn and wanted to do his very best. He was such a loving little guy. He’d sit with his hands folded at his desk and look at me and say, ‘Ms. Abrams, am I being an all-star?’ ” she recalled.
Jonathan’s week began the way it does for most children: He was dropped off at school in the morning after having spent the weekend playing with friends and family, according to neighbors.
But when a gunman walked into the boy’s classroom at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino on Monday morning, the situation took a turn for the worse.
About 10:27 a.m., the gunman fired 10 shots from a Smith & Wesson revolver. One of the bullets fatally struck the boy as he stood near his teacher, Karen Smith, who was also shot dead.
The gunman was Smith’s estranged husband, Cedric Anderson. An employee at the school saw Anderson and recognized him as Smith’s husband. Following normal protocol, she asked him to sign in and allowed him to walk unescorted to Smith’s classroom. Once inside, he began shooting, stopping once to reload, and then shot himself.
Jonathan was airlifted to a nearby hospital but died before entering surgery. A 9-year-old boy identified as Nolan Brandy was also shot and is in stable condition.
Classmates were stunned by what happened.
Jeffrey Imbriani, 7, told the Associated Press he was still trying to process the death of his friend and soccer buddy.
“I know him because one day he just walked up to me and said, ‘Can we be friends?’ and I said, ‘Yeah,’ and we’ve been friends ever since,” he said. “I will think of him as a very best friend.”
Grief counselors met with the boy’s parents and family members Tuesday morning. Throughout the day, their frontyard was lined with cars as friends and neighbors came to give their condolences.
People who have Williams syndrome often endure medical and cognitive setbacks, but the disorder can also inspire empathy in those who suffer from it. Many people with Williams syndrome, particularly young children, are known for their friendliness, said Terry Monkaba, executive director of the Williams Syndrome Assn.
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North Park student Elijah Beaven attends a candlelight prayer vigil with his mother, Laura Beaven.
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North Park Elementary School Principal Yadira Downing is comforted after the candlelight prayer vigil on the school’s playground.
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The mood is somber as hundreds of residents, students and faculty attend a prayer vigil on the playground of North Park Elementary.
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Adrian Newton of San Bernardino attends a candlelight vigil at North Park Elementary.
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Students spend time at a memorial near North Park Elementary after a prayer vigil.
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Adrian Newton, 8, of San Bernardino brings a bouquet of flowers to place at a memorial for shooting victims Jonathan Martinez, 8, and Karen Smith the day after the two were shot in a classroom at North Park Elementary School.
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Ellie Paez places homemade “Stars of Hope” along the fence at North Park Elementary School.
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A young boy pays his respects at a makeshift memorial for the shooting victims at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino.
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Bobbie Haywood, who lives in the neighborhood, stops by to pay respect at a makeshift memorial for the shooting victims at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino.
(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 10/45
Denna Lopez and her 9-year-old son, Raymond Lopez, brings a stuffed animal to place at a makeshift memorial for the shooting victims at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino.
(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 11/45
A sidewalk memorial in front of North Park Elementary on April 11, 2017, a day after a gunman walked into a classroom and opened fire on his wife, a teacher there, also wounded two students, one of whom died, and then killed himself.
(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 12/45
Betty Rodriguez hugs her granddaughter Giselle Rodriguez, 11, during a prayer vigil outside Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church for the victims in the shooting at North Park Elementary School.
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Residents hold a prayer vigil outside Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church for the victims in the shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino.
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A child rests his head on his father’s shoulder during a prayer service at Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church for the victims in the shooting at North Park Elementary School.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 15/45
Parents wait to be reunited with their children at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School.
(Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 16/45
Children walk in single file to be reunited with parents at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino.
(Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 17/45
A parent and child hug after being reunited hours after a shooting inside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 18/45
Parents are reunited with their children at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School.
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Children high-five on their way to be reunited with parents at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino.
(Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 20/45
Parents are reunited with their chidlren at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino.
(Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 21/45
Parents are reunited with their children at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School.
(Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 22/45
Parents are reunited with their children at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School.
(Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 23/45
A police officer leads children to be reunited with their parents at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School.
(Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 24/45
Parents are reunited with their children at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School.
(Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 25/45
Parents are reunited with their children at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School.
(Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 26/45
Children high-five on their way to be reunited with parents at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino.
(Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 27/45
Children high-five on their way to be reunited with parents at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino.
(Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 28/45
Parents are reunited with their kids at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School.
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Children high-five on their way to be reunited with parents at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino.
(Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 30/45
Parents are reunited with their children after a shooting inside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 31/45
Parents are reunited with their children at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School.
(Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 32/45
Parents are reunited with their children after a shooting inside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino.
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Children high-five on their way to be reunited with parents at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino.
(Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) 34/45
A SWAT officer stands guard with evacuated children on the playground at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino after a shooting in the school.
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Summer Terrell hugs her daughter Jaylah James, 5, after being reunited with her at Cajon High School hours after a shooting inside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 36/45
Parents are reunited with their children who were evacuated after a shooting inside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino.
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Children high-five on their way to be reunited with parents at Cajon High School after a school shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino.
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A woman is tended to outside North Park Elementary School.
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San Bernardino police officers help evacuate children to awaiting school buses after a shooting inside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino.
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Children are led across a playground, holding hands. Students were being evacuated to Cal State San Bernardino’s physical education building.
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Children are evacuated from North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. Two injured students were airlifted to a local hospital, authorities say. One student later died.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 42/45
SWAT officers stand guard with students waiting to be taken to Cal State San Bernardino. Parents were directed to go to Cajon High School, where officials will verify their identity before sending them to the college to pick up their children.
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SWAT officers walk through the playground after a shooting inside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino.
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Evacuated students and teachers gather on the playground after a shooting inside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino.
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A San Bernardino police officer puts up crime scene tape after a shooting inside North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) “Everyone who smiles at them is their friend,” Monkaba said. “They tend to notice the little things that make you feel good, like a new dress. They are often considered the mayor of their elementary school.”
Some scientists believe the friendliness of those with Williams syndrome is used as a coping mechanism to diminish their anxieties.
The disorder is caused by missing genes, including one that plays a role in forming the protein elastin, leading to cell overgrowth and problems around arteries and vessels.
People with Williams syndrome can have mild to severe learning disabilities, but children with the disorder are not usually in special education programs, Monkaba said.
“Today, more and more children with Williams are included in regular classrooms with some accommodations,” she said.
About 25,000 people nationwide have the disorder.
Monkaba said even though she didn’t know Jonathan personally, his death is something that people in that community feel personally.
Jonathan’s death, “because it was so senseless and so tragic, it just makes it that much harder,” she said.
Jonathan’s cousin set up a GoFundMe page to help the family cover funeral costs and has raised more than $117,000 in one day.
Mary Wilson, who lived across the street from the boy’s family, described him as a well-behaved and beloved kid.
“He never left the frontyard when he played outside,” she said.
Bobby and Janet Lopez walked hand in hand to the Martinez family household Tuesday afternoon with a white bouquet of flowers. They have lived in the neighborhood for 50 years and have been neighbors of the Martinez family for more than 10.
Trying to hide his tears, Bobby Lopez said he wanted to show his neighbor support.
“We could feel their pain and we know we can’t take it away, but we are here to share our love,” he said.
Times staff writers Matt Hamilton, Sonali Kholi and Laura Nelson contributed to this story.
To read the article in Spanish, click here
melissa.etehad@latimes.com
Follow me on Twitter @melissaetehad
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