December 14, 2012

Connecticut State Police are confirming that 28 people including 18 children and the gunman as well as another adult at a secondary scene are dead after a shooting inside a school in Newtown Friday morning.

State police said this is one of the worst shootings emergency officials have seen in a long time.

"It's a tragic, tragic scene," said state police Lt. Paul Vance about the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

State police said the gunman was found dead inside the school, but it was unknown how the gunman, who emergency service officials have not identified, died.

The Associated Press is reporting that the shooter is Adam Lanza.

His older brother Ryan Lanza, who is 24 and lives in Hoboken, N.J., was being questioned by authorities, the Associated Press reports. Ryan Lanza was mistakenly identified by police as the shooter, the Associated Press reports.

State police said another adult victim was found at a secondary scene. 

Eyewitness News is on scene of a home in Newtown on Yoganada Street, where gunman's mother is believed to live. At least one and possibly two bodies have been found inside the home, according to sources.  

According to CBS News, the gunman got into an argument with people at the front office, possibly the principal, at about 9:30 a.m. People have to be buzzed in before entering the school and there is a camera to view whoever is entering the building.

State police said they are executing warrants on the possible suspect in and out of state. 

A law enforcement source told CBS News two pistols, a Sig and a Glock, were found in the school and a Bushmaster rifle was found in the car. According to CBS News, a preliminary trace shows that the guns belonged to Lanza.

Connecticut State Police is assisting the Newtown police along with other agencies with the shooting investigation. Multiple police, ambulance and emergency crews from the surrounding area remain at the scene.

During a press conference at Treadwell Park Friday afternoon, state police Lt. Paul Vance said the scene is secure.

"The public is no longer in danger," he said. 

Upon arrival, state police immediately entered the building and performed a search of the building. Children inside the school were evacuated to the nearby Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Department and reunited with some of their parents at this staging area.

Vance said the shooting into place in "one section" of building and occurred in two classrooms. 

Sources told Eyewitness News that someone may have tripped the loud speaker system as possible a way of warning everyone in the school.

A fourth grader told Eyewitness News that a scream was heard over the intercom this morning and then shut off.

Sources are also reporting that the gunman went classroom to classroom shooting adults and children. There were reports that piles of bodies were seen inside the school.

Among the people dead are Dawn Hochsprung, who is the principal at Sandy Hook Elementary School. 

Connecticut has called surrounding states for more medical examiners because they do not have enough to conduct autopsies.

Vance said the most challenging part will be identifying all the bodies, however some preliminary identifications have been made. 

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who has been in communication with President Barack Obama and the head of FBI, is at the scene in Newtown and will continue to update the public. 

"You can never be prepared for this type of tragedy," Malloy said.

He added that the shooting will leave a mark on the community and every family in Connecticut.

"Earlier today, beautiful children had their lives taken away from them," Malloy said.

Just before 12:30 p.m., Malloy had finished a conference call with federal officials about what assistance could be needed

"We have endured too many tragedies in recent years," said President Obama, who was visibly emotional during the speech and even wiped tears from his eyes.

He said the majority of those who died Friday were children between 5 to 10 years old.

President Obama said on days such as Friday, he acts as a parent and not a president and feels overwhelming grief for all those affected. 

"Our hearts are broken today," he said.

President Obama said more preventive measures need to be taken in the future. 

"And may God bless the memories of the victims," he said. 

Malloy along with state police have met with the families of the victims and their main goal is to get them as much information as possible.

"I hope and pray that the flood of sympathy and condolences offered to the victims and survivors of this unspeakable crime will ignite the dedication and ingenuity of our nation to end this scourge of violence," said U.S. Rep Jim Himes (CT-4) in a statement. 

Eyewitness News reporters on the scene observed a man in camouflage gear being taken away from the staging area. He screamed to people in the area that he was not involved in the shooting.

The superintendent's office said all the schools were placed in lock down schools as a preventive measure to ensure safety of the students and staff. All schools except for Sandy Hook Elementary School are no longer on lock down.

The only shooting was at Sandy Hook Elementary School, officials confirmed.

There are 600 students in grades kindergarten to fourth that attend Sandy Hook Elementary School.

http://www.wfsb.com/story/20345707/cbs-27-people-dead-in-newtown-sc...