27 People Dead, Mostly Children, at Connecticut Elementary

[tater1977]

http://gma.yahoo.com/breaking-conn-scho ... ories.html


More than two dozen people, mostly elementary school children, were shot and killed at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school this morning, federal and state sources tell ABC News.

The massacre involved two gunmen and prompted the town of Newtown to lock down all of its schools and draw SWAT teams to the school, authorities said today.

One shooter is dead and a manhunt is on for a second gunman. Police are searching cars. One shooter was described as a 24-year-old armed with four weapons and wearing a bullet vest, sources told ABC News.

It's unclear how many people have been shot, but 25 people, mostly children are dead, multiple federal and state sources tell ABC News. That number could rise, officials said.

President Obama was briefed on the shooting by FBI Director Bob Mueller.

It is the worst shooting in a U.S. elementary school in recent memory and exceeds the carnage at 1999 Coumbine High School shooting in which 13 died and 24 were injured.

The Newtown shooting comes just three days after masked gunman Jacob Roberts opened fire in a busy Oregon, mall killing two before turning the gun on himself.

Today's shooting occurred at the Sandy Hook Elementary School, which includes 450 students in grades from kindergarten through fourth grade. The town is located about 12 miles east of Danbury.

Watch Upcoming State Police News Conference Live at ABCNews.com

State Police received the first 911 call at 9:41a.m. and immediately began sending emergency units from the western part of the state. Initial 911 calls stated that multiple students were trapped in a classroom, possibly with a gunman, according to a Connecticut State Police source.

A photo from the scene shows a line of distressed children being led out of the school.

LIVE UPDATES: Newtown, Conn., School Shooting

Three patients have been taken to Danbury Hospital, which is also on lockdown, according to the hospital's Facebook page.

"Out of abundance of caution and not because of any direct threat Danbury Hospital is under lockdown," the statement said. "This allows us simply to focus on the important work at hand."

CLICK HERE for more photos from the scene.

Newtown Public School District secretary of superintendent Kathy June said in a statement that the district's school were locked down because of the report of a shooting. "The district is taking preventive measures by putting all schools in lockdown until we ensure the safety of all students and staff."

State police sent SWAT team units to Newtown.

All public and private schools in the town are on lockdown.

"We have increased our police presence at all Danbury Public Schools due to the events in Newtown. Pray for the victims," Newtown Mayor Boughton tweeted.

State emergency management officials said ambulances and other units were also en route and staging near the school.

A message on the school district website says that all afternoon kindergarten is cancelled today and there will be no mid-day bus runs.

[tater1977]

27 dead ...One suspect dead was 20 years old ...
2nd suspect in custody...

[Memorex]

Words can't even begin to describe the tragedy. What the hell is wrong with people? You have to be one fucked up psycho to do something like this. I can't even comprehend the thought process of such madmen.

[G.I.Jim]

Sick bastards. I can't imagine what those families are going through. Right at Christmas time too. Not that that makes a difference, but now everyone connected to those people will remember this every Christmas. Just terrible.

[Memorex]

Of course gun laws and gun control become the topic - though in my opinion it needs to focus on mental health - and then you hear someone in China slashed dozens of kids with a knife today. I don't know how you keep someone from going off this edge when most people can't fathom it in the first place.

[tater1977]

Most of the kids murdered were kindergarten ages..
What the hell did they do to these azzholes...

[slucero]

Obama just got his agenda for this term, repealing the 2nd Amendment.

[tater1977]

So now the police found the dead shooters mother...dead in her house too...
So he murdered her now too?

& one entire kindergarten class is still unaccounted for...

[The Sushi Hunter]

Of course gun laws and gun control become the topic - though in my opinion it needs to focus on mental health - and then you hear someone in China slashed dozens of kids with a knife today. I don't know how you keep someone from going off this edge when most people can't fathom it in the first place.

Tell me about it. My co-worker is freaking about the gun rights stuff right now. Once they outlaw guns, these type of people will just use something else to kill people, like use their car to just run into a bus stop full of people, or like like what happened in '95 with the fertilizer bomb at the federal building.

[StevePerryHair]

Now they are saying his mother was a teacher at the school, and he killed her students. I think we should just wait until everything unfolds. I'm turning it off until later. I hate how the news media jumps around with different info in these situations. They can't just wait for real facts.

[StevePerryHair]

Of course gun laws and gun control become the topic - though in my opinion it needs to focus on mental health - and then you hear someone in China slashed dozens of kids with a knife today. I don't know how you keep someone from going off this edge when most people can't fathom it in the first place.

Tell me about it. My co-worker is freaking about the gun rights stuff right now. Once they outlaw guns, these type of people will just use something else to kill people, like use their car to just run into a bus stop full of people, or like like what happened in '95 with the fertilizer bomb at the federal building.

a man stabbed 22 school children in china today. That happens frequently there, I saw, when I looked up the story. Evil finds a way. Just sick, sick people.

[AR]

Obama just got his agenda for this term, repealing the 2nd Amendment.

The worst slaughter in a school in American history did not involve guns.

The Bath School disaster is the name given to three bombings in Bath Township, Michigan, on May 18, 1927, which killed 38 elementary school children, two teachers, four other adults and the bomber himself; at least 58 people were injured. Most of the victims were children in the second to sixth grades (7–11 years of age) attending the Bath Consolidated School. Their deaths constitute the deadliest mass murder in a school in U.S. history and the fourth-deadliest massacre in U.S. history, behind the Oklahoma City bombing, the Mountain Meadows massacre and 9/11.

There was a shooting at the local high school walking distance from my house on the first freaking day of school this year. My daughter was starting 1st grade that day. Brand new school a few miles away that had to be put on lockdown. Nice.

I kind of hope the Mayans are right. Time for a re-boot.

[slucero]

Of course gun laws and gun control become the topic - though in my opinion it needs to focus on mental health - and then you hear someone in China slashed dozens of kids with a knife today. I don't know how you keep someone from going off this edge when most people can't fathom it in the first place.

Tell me about it. My co-worker is freaking about the gun rights stuff right now. Once they outlaw guns, these type of people will just use something else to kill people, like use their car to just run into a bus stop full of people, or like like what happened in '95 with the fertilizer bomb at the federal building.

a man stabbed 22 school children in china today. That happens frequently there, I saw, when I looked up the story. Evil finds a way. Just sick, sick people.

How ironic is it that a mass killing in a communist country (China) that heavily regulates gun ownership that happens on the same day this occurs will be the defense used against the anti-gun abolish/change the 2nd Amendment rhetoric that will come now.

[The Sushi Hunter]

The worst slaughter in a school in American history did not involve guns.

What one was that and what did they use?

One of my co-workers is running around the office getting in anyone's face who she hears laughing about anything sceaming "How can you laugh about anything when all these kids are dead?" She's now getting pissed at people who she sees eating anything saying "How can you eat after hearing about this shooting?"

Nutty co-workers make the world go round I guess.

[Memorex]

All I was saying is how do you stop a madman? I wasn't comparing societies.

[StevePerryHair]

Of course gun laws and gun control become the topic - though in my opinion it needs to focus on mental health - and then you hear someone in China slashed dozens of kids with a knife today. I don't know how you keep someone from going off this edge when most people can't fathom it in the first place.

Tell me about it. My co-worker is freaking about the gun rights stuff right now. Once they outlaw guns, these type of people will just use something else to kill people, like use their car to just run into a bus stop full of people, or like like what happened in '95 with the fertilizer bomb at the federal building.

a man stabbed 22 school children in china today. That happens frequently there, I saw, when I looked up the story. Evil finds a way. Just sick, sick people.

How ironic is it that a mass killing in a communist country (China) that heavily regulates gun ownership that happens on the same day this occurs will be the defense used against the anti-gun abolish/change the 2nd Amendment rhetoric that will come now.

When I googled the china story, it had so many articles about mass stabbings like that. I had no idea that was so common there. There really is no answer for this. Better mental health care, sure. I think mental health care SUCKS. But it's hard to know who is going to snap. Taking guns from everyone isn't the answer either. I don't think there is an answer.

My daughters middle school was locked down last week because an ex student put on Facebook he wanted to shoot people at her school. They locked up, brought in the police, until they tracked the kid down somewhere, a couple hours later. The daily violence in this world is just disturbing.

[Memorex]

Two of my kids had kids in their schools (different schools) kill themselves this year, the second being two nights ago.

Someone said this is the shooters twitter page: https://twitter.com/Ryan__Lanza Seemed unhappy about parents and someone he loved that wasn't loving him back. Not sure how today solves all that.

[AR]

The worst slaughter in a school in American history did not involve guns.

What one was that and what did they use?

Bombs. 38 elementary school children killed in Michigan in 1927. So much for the "good old days"

[slucero]

The deed is done.

Now we have to deal with the aftermath.


At some point in time, after enough of these mass killings with guns.. a cognitively dissonant public will see the solution that is most "logical" as the one that eliminates what is deemed to be the obvious cause, guns.

Pro-gun side will argue the same logical points.

Anti-gun side will argue that the controls that exist today hasn't stopped it and stronger measures need to be tried. They will not argue assault ban only.. this will include handguns. The shooter in this case used 2 handguns... the Bushmaster AR15 style rifle CNN is ranting about was found in the trunk of the shooters car. Unused.

[StevePerryHair]

The worst slaughter in a school in American history did not involve guns.

What one was that and what did they use?

Bombs. 38 elementary school children killed in Michigan in 1927. So much for the "good old days"

In 1927 people couldn't watch things play out as they happen on tv either. Wonder if the whole country even knew at the time. I try to put things in perspective. Violence has always existed. Terrible horrible violent acts. I guess what's disturbing to me is seeing this kind of violence in such young people. School aged or young people so disturbed to be so violent to themselves and others.

[slucero]

The worst slaughter in a school in American history did not involve guns.

What one was that and what did they use?

Bombs. 38 elementary school children killed in Michigan in 1927. So much for the "good old days"

In 1927 people couldn't watch things play out as they happen on tv either. Wonder if the whole country even knew at the time. I try to put things in perspective. Violence has always existed. Terrible horrible violent acts. I guess what's disturbing to me is seeing this kind of violence in such young people. School aged or young people so disturbed to be so violent to themselves and others.

I can see this happening right now... a horrified mother wanting to watch this on CNN while her young kids are screaming "No!!" ... because they want to continue playing Call Of Duty.. and the horrified mother simply lets them.. oblivious to the the obvious desensitizing effect of violent video games.

[Rick]

The deed is done.

Now we have to deal with the aftermath.


At some point in time, after enough of these mass killings with guns.. a cognitively dissonant public will see the solution that is most "logical" as the one that eliminates what is deemed to be the obvious cause, guns.

Pro-gun side will argue the same logical points.

Anti-gun side will argue that the controls that exist today hasn't stopped it and stronger measures need to be tried. They will not argue assault ban only.. this will include handguns. The shooter in this case used 2 handguns... the Bushmaster AR15 style rifle CNN is ranting about was found in the trunk of the shooters car. Unused.

They can push for it, but it won't happen. Illinois just moved forward with a concealed carry law. I believe they were the last state not to have one.

[slucero]

The deed is done.

Now we have to deal with the aftermath.


At some point in time, after enough of these mass killings with guns.. a cognitively dissonant public will see the solution that is most "logical" as the one that eliminates what is deemed to be the obvious cause, guns.

Pro-gun side will argue the same logical points.

Anti-gun side will argue that the controls that exist today hasn't stopped it and stronger measures need to be tried. They will not argue assault ban only.. this will include handguns. The shooter in this case used 2 handguns... the Bushmaster AR15 style rifle CNN is ranting about was found in the trunk of the shooters car. Unused.

They can push for it, but it won't happen. Illinois just moved forward with a concealed carry law. I believe they were the last state not to have one.

Whilst I agree with you. I'd expect the rhetoric on this, especially after today's incident, along with the expectations of the left now that Obama has won a 2nd term will only further fracture the country.

[The Sushi Hunter]

The worst slaughter in a school in American history did not involve guns.

What one was that and what did they use?

Bombs. 38 elementary school children killed in Michigan in 1927. So much for the "good old days"

Never heard of that one, I'll have to look into that.

Obama's going to address this issue soon. When he says "gun control", rest assured, Obama and his family will have round the clock armed security for the rest of their lives. So it won't matter to them that they take the guns away from the little people like you and I. We won't be able to defend ourselves but that's not Obama's problem, that's ours.

[StevePerryHair]

The worst slaughter in a school in American history did not involve guns.

What one was that and what did they use?

Bombs. 38 elementary school children killed in Michigan in 1927. So much for the "good old days"

In 1927 people couldn't watch things play out as they happen on tv either. Wonder if the whole country even knew at the time. I try to put things in perspective. Violence has always existed. Terrible horrible violent acts. I guess what's disturbing to me is seeing this kind of violence in such young people. School aged or young people so disturbed to be so violent to themselves and others.

I can see this happening right now... a horrified mother wanting to watch this on CNN while her young kids are screaming "No!!" ... because they want to continue playing Call Of Duty.. and the horrified mother simply lets them.. oblivious to the the obvious desensitizing effect of violent video games.

I thought about the desensitizing of our kids a couple weeks ago. I watched the first "nightmare on elm street" with my teen daughter. She's old enough, I remembered how scared I was when I saw it at the age of 17, and she wanted to see it. Do you know it didn't scare her AT ALL! Some parts made her laugh they were so dumb, and graphics were so bad. I didn't even get the scary affect I had when I was younger. She sees more realistic scary things on tv and movies today, many of which are even PG-13. I realized how INNOCENT I was to violence as a teen compared to her.

I love the real special effects we have now. It's great. But a lot of very YOUNG children have no parental supervision or intelligence around them to keep them from it. I remember 2nd graders telling me about R rated violent movies they've seen. I still can't enjoy a movie like that, when I see a parent walk in with a kid. I get so upset with these stupid people.

That being said, my teens play some of these violent video games. I'm raising 3 children who are not violent in any way. Not even regular fighting at school. They just don't engage that way. But every child is different. I do believe that SOME kids are pushed to behave more violently when they are desensitized this way. But not all. We need better parenting with people who don't have their heads up their butts. Who know their children, and if they have aggressive tendancies, and will these things make it worse? Instead it's an easy babysitter. I protected my kids from a lot for as long as I could, but when they get to a certain age it gets impossible. They roll their eyes at me when I say no to certain movies and things I don't want them seeing even as teens. They don't see the big deal. I would venture to say more parents are laid back about this stuff though. From knowing things my kids friends have seen, at much younger ages, I know it's true.

[AR]

No live TV on in my house tonight. No freaking way I'm letting my 6 year old see any news reports.

[Clasicrockldy]

As of now... here is the stats...

20 children dead.

Shooter went to Hoboken, NJ, to shoot father.

Then went to the school, shot people in the front office, then went to his mother's Kindergarten class, shot her, children, and then shot himself. Possibly a friend is dead along with a love interest.

Police have shooter's younger brother in custody.

This is the link I am watching....

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/State-Police-Responding-to-Shooting-at-School-Police--183498401.html

Sad, sad day.

[Clasicrockldy]

Update from the Associated Press as of 10 minutes ago.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jQFVxPi4y0Pr-qGlyqGmnxLYGxHA?docId=e7547b1a4be04ff9829ddb39f606d2a5

Sign in

Man kills 26 at Conn. school, including 20 kids

By By JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN, Associated Press – 9 minutes ago

NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) — A man opened fire Friday inside the Connecticut elementary school where his mother worked as a teacher, killing 26 people, including 20 children, by blasting his way through two rooms as youngsters cowered helplessly in the building.

The gunman killed himself and another person was found dead at a second scene, bring the toll to 28, authorities said.

The attack, coming less than two weeks before Christmas, was the nation's second-deadliest school shooting, exceeded only by the Virginia Tech massacre that left 33 people dead in 2007.

Panicked parents raced to Sandy Hook Elementary School, about 60 miles northeast of New York City, looking for their children. Students were told to close their eyes by police as they were led from the building.

Schoolchildren — some crying, others looking frightened — were escorted through a parking lot in a line, hands on each other's shoulders.

"Our hearts are broken today," a tearful President Barack Obama, struggling to maintain composure, said at the White House.

Youngsters and their parents described teachers locking doors and ordering the children to huddle in the corner or hide in closets when shots echoed through the building.

A law enforcement official identified the gunman as 20-year-old Adam Lanza, the son of a teacher. A second law enforcement official said his mother, Nancy Lanza, was presumed dead.

Adam Lanza's older brother, 24-year-old Ryan, of Hoboken, N.J., was being questioned, the first official said. Earlier, a law enforcement official mistakenly identified Ryan as the shooter.

Both officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the record about the unfolding investigation.

Robert Licata said his 6-year-old son was in class when the gunman burst in and shot the teacher.

"That's when my son grabbed a bunch of his friends and ran out the door," he said. "He was very brave. He waited for his friends."

He said the shooter didn't utter a word.

Stephen Delgiadice said his 8-year-old daughter was in the school and heard two big bangs. Teachers told her to get in a corner, he said.

"It's alarming, especially in Newtown, Connecticut, which we always thought was the safest place in America," he said. His daughter was fine.

Mergim Bajraliu, 17, heard the gunshots echo from his home and ran to check on his 9-year-old sister at the school. He said his sister, who was fine, heard a scream come over the intercom at one point. He said teachers were shaking and crying as they came out of the building.

"Everyone was just traumatized," he said.

Mary Pendergast, who lives close to the school, said her 9-year-old nephew was in the school at the time of the shooting, but wasn't hurt after his music teacher helped him take cover in a closet.

Richard Wilford's 7-year-old son, Richie, is in the second grade at the school. His son told him that he heard a noise that "sounded like what he described as cans falling."

The boy told him a teacher went out to check on the noise, came back in, locked the door and had the kids huddle up in the corner until police arrived.

"There's no words," Wilford said. "It's sheer terror, a sense of imminent danger, to get to your child and be there to protect him."

Obama promised action to prevent such tragedies again but did not say what that would be.

The scene was one of the most outwardly emotional moments of Obama's presidency.

"The majority of those who died were children — beautiful, little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old," Obama said.

He paused for several seconds to keep his composure as he teared up and wiped an eye. Nearby, two aides cried and held hands as they listened to Obama.

"They had their entire lives ahead of them — birthdays, graduations, wedding, kids of their own," Obama continued about the victims. "Among the fallen were also teachers, men and women who devoted their lives to helping our children."

Associated Press writers Jim Fitzgerald in Newtown, Pete Yost in Washington, D.C., and Michael Melia in Hartford contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

[Clasicrockldy]

Another AP article from 8 mins ago...

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jQFVxPi4y0Pr-qGlyqGmnxLYGxHA?docId=e7547b1a4be04ff9829ddb39f606d2a5



Man kills 26 at Conn. school, including 20 kids

By By JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN, Associated Press – 8 minutes ago

NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) — A man opened fire Friday inside the Connecticut elementary school where his mother worked as a teacher, killing 26 people, including 20 children, as youngsters cowered in their classrooms and trembled helplessly to the sound of gunfire reverberating through the building.

The killer, armed with two handguns, committed suicide and another person was found dead at a second scene, bringing the toll to 28, authorities said.

The attack, coming less than two weeks before Christmas, was the nation's second-deadliest school shooting, exceeded only by the Virginia Tech massacre that left 33 people dead in 2007.

Panicked parents raced to Sandy Hook Elementary School, about 60 miles northeast of New York City, looking for their children. Students were told to close their eyes by police as they were led from the building.

Schoolchildren — some crying, others looking frightened — were escorted through a parking lot in a line, hands on each other's shoulders.

"Our hearts are broken today," a tearful President Barack Obama, struggling to maintain composure, said at the White House. He called for "meaningful action" to prevent such shootings.

Youngsters and their parents described teachers locking doors and ordering the children to huddle in the corner or hide in closets when shots echoed through the building.

A law enforcement official identified the gunman as 20-year-old Adam Lanza, the son of a teacher. A second law enforcement official said his mother, Nancy Lanza, was presumed dead.

Adam Lanza's older brother, 24-year-old Ryan, of Hoboken, N.J., was being questioned, the first official said. Earlier, a law enforcement official mistakenly identified Ryan as the shooter.

Both officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the record about the unfolding investigation.

The gunman drove to the school in his mother's car, the second official said. Three guns were found — a Glock and a Sig Sauer, both pistols, inside the school, and a .223-caliber rifle in the back of a car.

Lanza's girlfriend and another friend were missing in New Jersey, the official also said.

Robert Licata said his 6-year-old son was in class when the gunman burst in and shot the teacher.

"That's when my son grabbed a bunch of his friends and ran out the door," he said. "He was very brave. He waited for his friends."

He said the shooter didn't utter a word.

Stephen Delgiadice said his 8-year-old daughter was in the school and heard two big bangs. Teachers told her to get in a corner, he said.

"It's alarming, especially in Newtown, Connecticut, which we always thought was the safest place in America," he said. His daughter was fine.

Mergim Bajraliu, 17, heard the gunshots echo from his home and ran to check on his 9-year-old sister at the school. He said his sister, who was fine, heard a scream come over the intercom at one point. He said teachers were shaking and crying as they came out of the building.

"Everyone was just traumatized," he said.

Mary Pendergast, who lives close to the school, said her 9-year-old nephew was in the school at the time of the shooting, but wasn't hurt after his music teacher helped him take cover in a closet.

Richard Wilford's 7-year-old son, Richie, is in the second grade at the school. His son told him that he heard a noise that "sounded like what he described as cans falling."

The boy told him a teacher went out to check on the noise, came back in, locked the door and had the kids huddle up in the corner until police arrived.

"There's no words," Wilford said. "It's sheer terror, a sense of imminent danger, to get to your child and be there to protect him."

Obama's comments on the tragedy amounted to one of the most outwardly emotional moments of his presidency.

"The majority of those who died were children — beautiful, little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old," Obama said.

He paused for several seconds to keep his composure as he teared up and wiped an eye. Nearby, two aides cried and held hands as they listened to Obama.

"They had their entire lives ahead of them — birthdays, graduations, wedding, kids of their own," Obama continued about the victims. "Among the fallen were also teachers, men and women who devoted their lives to helping our children."

Associated Press writers Jim Fitzgerald in Newtown, Pete Yost in Washington, D.C., and Michael Melia in Hartford contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

[ebake02]

What the fuck is wrong with this country