NEWTOWN, Conn. – Here are the details that have come to light about the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday that killed 20 children and six adults.
- The attack occurred on Friday, Dec. 14 just after 9:30 a.m.
- 20 children between, all six and seven years old, were killed at the school, while six adults were killed
- The alleged gunman has been identified as 20-year-old Adam Lanza, who is believed to have suffered a personality disorder and lived with his mother. Before police could apprehend him, he fatally shot himself.
- It is believed that Lanza shot and killed his mother, Nancy Lanza, 52, at their home just before he came to the school
- Lanza shot his way into the school’s front office, which was locked. The front entrance was equipped with a buzzer and a camera, but that did not stop him.
- He then shot to death school principal Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung, 47, as she lunged at him in an attempt to stop the attack. School psychologist Mary Sherlach was also killed as she attempted to stop Lanza. At the time of the incident, he was wearing black, a mask and bullet-proof vest and carrying two 9mm hand guns and a .223 rifle, which were owned by his mother. Lanza may have fired as many as 100 rounds of ammunition during the attack.
- After forcing his way into the school, Lanza then proceeded to two classrooms where he shot most of the other victims, some at close range. Most of the victims were shot multiple times. First-grade teacher Vicki Soto, 27, attempted to shield her students from the gunfire and was killed.
- At about the same time, a custodian ran through the halls, warning of a gunman, and someone switched on the intercom, perhaps saving many lives by letting them hear the chaos in the school office, reports the Associated Press. Teachers locked their doors and ordered children to huddle in a corner, duck under their desks or hide in closets as shots reverberated through the building.
- Lanza’s mother might have been a teacher’s aide at Sandy Hook, but that is unclear
- It is believed the gunman attended the school at some point during his life. He had no criminal history but has been described by those who knew him as odd. Lanza would withdraw entirely, could not feel emotional or physical pain, and had several behavioral disorders.
- Funerals for the victims began on Monday.
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