In one of the deadliest mass shootings in United States history, 27 people – among them, 20 children – are reported dead following a gunman’s rampage at a Connecticut elementary school.
Local officials say that Adam Lanza, 20, entered Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. early Friday morning. The alleged shooter proceeded to gun down 26 people, a majority of whom were young children ages 5 to 10, before apparently committing suicide.
Initial law enforcement accounts erroneously had listed Lanza’s brother Ryan, 24, as the gunman. Updated Associated Press reports indicate that Ryan Lanza has been taken into custody for questioning by Hoboken, N.J. officials.
Lanza’s mother, a teacher at the school, is listed among those killed. CNN reports that her body was found at her son’s residence in Newtown.
“A number of our citizens, beautiful children, had their life taken away from them as well as adults whose responsibility it was to educate and supervise those children,” said Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy. “Earlier today a tragedy of unspeakable terms played itself out in this community.”
President Obama made a live announcement at 3 PM this afternoon.
“Our hearts are broken today for the parents and grandparents, sisters and brothers of these children and the families of the adults we lost,” he said. “We’ve endured too many of these tragedies in the past few years. Each time I learn the news I react not as a president but as anybody else would as a parent.”
The incident is the second worst school shooting massacre in U.S. history, and the deadliest to ever occur at one of the nation’s elementary schools.
