Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, and Tashfeen Malik, 27, told Farook's mother they were going to a doctor's appointment after leaving their child on Wednesday.
Hours later they were shot dead following a police chase.
Farook, who was born in the US, worked as an environmental health specialist for San Bernardino County, inspecting restaurants for health violations and public pools at apartment and housing complexes.
On Wednesday, he attended the annual holiday gathering for employees of his department, but left after an apparent dispute, returning later with Malik dressed in assault clothing and armed with legally purchased long rifles.
San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said that the shooting spree had been clearly planned in advance and that the suspects left several explosive devices, apparently pipe bombs, at the scene of the shootings.
Officials with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), who have been in touch with the family, said the couple were married two years ago and have a six-month-old baby girl.
They left the baby with Farook's mother in nearby Redlands on Wednesday.
At a CAIR news conference, Farook's brother-in-law Farhan Kahn said he was "shocked" by the news.
He said: "I'm very sad that people lost their life and there are victims out there. I am in shock that something like this could happen.
"I spoke to him about a week ago. I have no idea why would he do that, why would he do something like this."
Mr Burguan said officers went to a house in Redlands and saw the couple leave in a black SUV. Police then pursued that vehicle to San Bernardino, where they were fatally injured in a gun battle.
Farook's family was originally from South Asia, while Malik was believed to be from Pakistan and to have lived in Saudi Arabia before coming to the US, according to CAIR Los Angeles chapter executive director Hussam Ayloush.
He said that Farook had an older brother, who had served in the US military.
David Bowdich, an assistant regional FBI director, said on Wednesday that authorities had not ruled out terrorism.
He said: "It is a possibility, but we don't know that. It's possible it goes down that road. It's possible it does not."
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