ADVERTISEMENT

Horror in Newtown

Parents leave a staging area after being reunited with their children following a shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. (AP)
December 14, 2012

At least 27 people, including 20 children, were killed at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school in a Friday morning shooting, authorities say.

One known shooter, 2, is dead. Police are investigating whether there was a second shooter.

Fox News reports:

The shooter, who sources identified as Adam Lanza, 20, gunned down his mother and her entire class at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., according to sources. Lanza was found dead inside the school, according to officials. Eighteen of the children and six more adults were dead at the school and two more children died later, according to Connecticut State Police Lt. Paul Vance.

Vance would not confirm the shooter's name, and earlier in the day there were conflicting reports over the gunman's identity. Law enforcement sources told FoxNews.com the shooter was Lanza. His brother, Ryan Lanza, 24, was in custody, but it was not sure if he faced charges.

"It is not a simplistic scene," Vance told reporters.

An official with knowledge of the situation said the shooter was armed with a .223-caliber rifle. Four weapons in total were recovered from the scene. The motive is not yet known.

White House press secretary Jay Carney said "today is not the day" to debate gun policy, and said President Obama had been informed of the shooting at 10:30 a.m. by Homeland Security Adviser John Brennan.

"The president as a father and I as a father certainly...feel enormous sympathy for families that are affected," Carney said. "As a father, incidents like these weigh heavily on him."

Published under: Connecticut , Media