SAMUEL Cassidy was identified as the gunman responsible for the Valley Transportation Authority massacre on May 26 that left nine dead – including himself.

Cassidy, 57, was a "long time" substation maintainer employee at the VTR rail yard.

Read our San Jose shooting live blog for the very latest news and updates…

Who is Samuel Cassidy's ex-wife Cecilia Nelms?

Cassidy was married to Cecilia Nelms, 64, for 10 years.

The couple divorced in 2005, and had not been in contract for 13 years.

Nelms told the Associated Press that Cassidy had a “bad temper” and repeatedly spoke about wanting to kill people.

She said: “I never believed him and it never happened. Until now.”

Nelms recalled how Cassidy would come home from work angry about things that had happened during the day.

She told the Canon City Daily Record: "He had two sides. When he was in a good mood he was a great guy. When he was mad, he was mad."

What did Cassidy's ex-girlfriends say about him?

Two other women previously involved with Cassidy described the 57-year-old as being riddled with a dark side.

In 2009, an ex-girlfriend filed a restraining order against him following a domestic violence incident, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The publication cited court documents related to the domestic relationship with a 45-year-old woman suggesting the man suffered from bipolar disorder and imbibed copious amounts of alcohol.

In a sworn declaration the 5ft 4in, 120lb woman claimed several times she had fought off the 6ft 1in, 200lb Cassidy from aggressive sexual behaviors, the Chronicle reported.

The physical and mental abuse the woman claims she endured in the court papers cited by the Chronicle depicts a sadistic persona.

“He also played several mind games which he seems to enjoy,” she said, according to the court documents cited in the article.

The woman claimed in September of 2008 Cassidy allegedly forced himself on her after tossing her on a bed, the newspaper reported.

“Several times during the relationship he became intoxicated, enraged and forced himself on me sexually,” the woman wrote in a sworn declaration. 

On occasions where she refused him, he “restrained me by holding my arms to my side and forcing his weight on top of me.”

The incident followed another where Cassidy allegedly tried to force the woman to engage in anal intercourse.

Cassidy appeared to show contrition after the episodes and swore to abstain from such demands.

He apparently was so fixed on this kind of sex that he threatened to break up with her on Valentine’s Day if she didn’t acquiesce, the Chronicle reported.

In February 2009, the woman said that Cassidy had shared his home with another woman.

Cassidy allegedly would throw a temper whenever she asked about the new woman or their relationship status.

The publication also reports that the woman’s court papers suggest Cassidy had admitted he stole tools and equipment from his current and past employers.

Who were the nine victims killed in the shooting?

The nine victims, all employees at the railyard, were named by the Santa Clara County Coroner on May 26.

Paul Delacruz Megia, 42; Adrian Balleza, 29; Jose Dejesus Hernandez III, 35; Timothy Romo, 49; Abdolvahab Alaghmandan 63; Taptejdeep Singh, and Michael Rudometkin, 40, were also among those killed.

Alex Ward Fritch, who was wounded by the gunfire, died the night of May 26 at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.

Singh, a light rail operator, reportedly left an office to help other escape, The Mercury News reported.

His uncle Sakhwant Dhillion said: "He told people, 'be careful, hide'. He was running around the building to save others' lives."

Singh's brother-in-law said he was "helpful" and "caring".

Air Force Veteran Romo had worked at VTA for over two decades.

His neighbor Nancy Martin told the San Francisco Chronicle: “He was a very friendly man, always ready to help you out."

Victim Balleza was married and had a young son, KPIX reports.

Cassidy and the responding officers did not exchange gunfire.

Officials announced that Cassidy turned his gun on himself "when he realized deputies were in the building.”

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