An official with knowledge of a shooting at a Connecticut elementary school says 27 people are dead, including 18 children. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is still under way.
LATEST SUMMARY
Early unconfirmed reports are that 26 victims have been killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Twenty of the victims are reported to be killed, and are believed to be kindergarten age. An entire kindergarten class is unaccounted for. A principal is reported to have been killed. A shooter, Adam Lanza, is also reported to be dead inside the school. At least three people are reported to have been transported to nearby hospital(s) in critical condition. The injuries were later described as non-life-threatening. One is a teacher and two are children. The school incident is now reported to be secure (and the public safe) by law enforcement officials, but there were reports that police were on some type of search at a home nearby, and possibly in New Jersey. Later it was reported that Nancy Lanza’s body was found at the home nearby. Including the shooter, 27 people are reported dead at the school. Nancy Lanza’s deaths brings the total dead to 28. There were unconfirmed reports of a second shooter. But these reports were probably erroneously generated from police wanting to question Ryan Lanza. He has been cleared. His father, Peter Lanza, has also been cleared. Earlier in the day, it was also erroneously reported that Peter Lanza had been killed.
DISPATCH
Newtown police and firefighter paramedics responded about 9:30 a.m. Friday to reports of a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, 12 Dickinson Drive in Newtown. Police received a report that the shooter was still shooting near the office area. There are early reports that the shooting occurred during morning announcement, so the rest of the school was able to hear the gunfire that began near the office. The front glass at the school was shattered. A new security system was reported to have been recently installed.
EARLY REPORTS AND UNCONFIRMED REPORTS
All schools in the school district were in lockdown. There was an early unconfirmed report that a police officer carried out a child who appeared to be seriously injured.
There was also an early report that a teacher was wounded in the foot. ABC News and Fox News have mentioned unconfirmed reports that the gunman is dead. The shooter at first was reported to be a 24-year-old male named Ryan Lanza. Earlier the suspect was reported to have been 20-years-old. Then the shooter was reported to be Adam Lanza, 20 years-old and Ryan’s troubled brother.
Law enforcement officers believe that Adam Ryan woke up and shot his mother — a school teacher Nancy Lanza at the Sandy Hook Elementary School. He then carried a Sig Sauer handgun, a Glock handgun, and a rifle described as a .223 caliber or M-4 or assault rifle. Adam Lanza then shot his mother’s classroom students and six adults. He then shot and killed himself.
Report of a second person as a suspect (not confirmed, and later apparently turned out to be Adam’s brother — not connected to the crime).
A car was cordoned off at the entrance of the school — directly in front of the school entrance.
Report of a person found dead inside a house near the school (Adam and Ryan’s mother, Nancy Lanza).
WEAPONS
223 rifle and multiple handguns are reported to have been used. Later it was reported that the rifle was in the car, and was not used.
1:44 p.m. ET OFFICIAL UPDATE (LT PAUL VANCE, CT STATE POLICE):
Authorities held a brief press conference at 1:45 p.m. ET, which had been scheduled at 1:30 p.m. ET. Prior to the press release, the only official word from law enforcement was that the incident involves a “large scene” but that no further information would be released until the press conference.
Newton police received a 9-1-1 call just after 9:30 a.m. Friday and immediately requested assistance from State Police.
Police immediately entered the school to search for an active shooter and evacuate the school. The entire school was thoroughly searched, and a staging area was set up.
There are several fatalities — both students and staff — but the numbers are not yet released officially.
The shooter is deceased inside the school building. The shooter is reported to have been dressed in military fatigues and a bullet proof vest.
4:47 p.m. ET OFFICIAL UPDATE (LT PAUL VANCE, CT STATE POLICE):
FBI Crisis management team is responding.
All on-duty and off-duty state troopers responded to the scene.
18 children killed at the scene. Two children were transported in critical condition and died at the hospital.
6 adults were dead at the scene. Shooter dead at the scene.
Police have a tentative identity of the shooter, but were not prepared to release the identity of the shooter.
Police confirmed there was only one shooter.
The grade of the students was not confirmed.
A parent of a second grader at the Connecticut elementary school where 27 people were killed including 18 children, describes his feelings of ‘sheer terror’ upon hearing of the incident.
SCHOOL FACTS
About 600 elementary school students attend the school daily.
The Newtown Public school system operates four elementary schools (the Hawley School, Head O’Meadow School, Middle Gate School, and Sandy Hook Elementary School) that serve grades K-4, an intermediate school (Reed Intermediate School) serving grades 5-6, Newtown Middle School (serving grades 7-8), and Newtown High School serving grades 9-12.
RAW VIDEO: Conn. Police Search Woods After Shooting.
NEWTOWN CONNECTICUT FACTS
Affluent community with a population of 27,560 in the 2010 census located in Fairfield County, Connecticut.