California man killed wife before gun rampage

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.

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.

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.”