{{Short description|2012 mass shooting in Connecticut, US}} {{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}} {{Use American English|date=December 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2025}} {{Infobox civilian attack | title = Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting | image = Police at Sandy Hook.PNG | caption = Police at the scene of the shooting | coordinates = {{coord|41|25|12|N|73|16|43|W}} | mapframe = yes | mapframe-caption = Location of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut | mapframe-zoom = 15 | location = Sandy Hook Elementary School, [[Newtown, Connecticut]], U.S. | target = Students and staff at Sandy Hook Elementary School | date = {{start date and age|December 14, 2012}} | time-begin = {{Circa|09:35}} | time-end = 09:40:03{{nbsp}}a.m. | timezone = [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]; [[UTC−05:00]] | type = {{hlist |[[mass shootings in the United States|Mass shooting]] |[[murder–suicide]]|[[school shooting]] |[[Child murder|pedicide]] |[[matricide]] |[[Spree killer|spree shooting]] |[[mass murder]]}} | fatalities = 28 (27 at the school, including the perpetrator; and the perpetrator's mother at home)<ref name="nytimes1" /><ref name="cbc">{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/20-children-among-dead-in-connecticut-school-massacre-1.1134782 |work=[[CBC News]] |title=20 children among dead at school shooting in Connecticut |access-date=December 14, 2012 |date=December 14, 2012 |archive-date=December 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214173829/http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/12/14/connecticut-school-shooting.html |url-status=live}}</ref> | injuries = 2<ref name="Police: Second person injured in Connecticut school shooting survived" /> | perp = [[Adam Lanza]]<ref name="ID">{{cite news |first=Miguel |last=Llanos |title=Authorities ID gunman who killed 27 in elementary school massacre |url=http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/14/15911025-authorities-id-gunman-who-killed-27-in-elementary-school-massacre?lite |work=[[NBC News]] |agency=Associated Press |access-date=December 14, 2012 |date=December 14, 2012 |archive-date=December 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216022608/http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/14/15911025-authorities-id-gunman-who-killed-27-in-elementary-school-massacre?lite |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="washingtonpost">{{cite news |last=Jennings |first=Natalie |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2012/12/14/mark-kelly-action-on-guns-can-no-longer-wait |title=Mark Kelly: Action on guns 'can no longer wait' |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=December 14, 2012 |access-date=December 17, 2012 |archive-date=December 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215215956/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2012/12/14/mark-kelly-action-on-guns-can-no-longer-wait/}}</ref> | weapons = {{bulleted list |[[.223 Remington]] [[Bushmaster XM-15 |Bushmaster XM-15-E2S]] [[semi-automatic rifle]] |[[10mm Auto|10mm]] [[Glock#10mm Auto|Glock 20SF]] [[semi-automatic pistol]] (perpetrator's suicide) |[[.22 Long Rifle|.22LR]] [[Savage Mark II]] [[bolt-action rifle]] (murder of the perpetrator's mother at home)<ref name="conn-school">{{cite news |title=Conn. school shooter had 4 weapons |work=CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/conn-school-shooter-had-4-weapons/ |access-date=December 15, 2012 |archive-date=December 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215184407/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57559395/conn-school-shooter-had-4-weapons/ |url-status=live}}</ref> |[[9×19mm Parabellum|9mm]] [[SIG Sauer P226]] [[semi-automatic pistol]] (unused; found in school)<ref name="whatwouldhave">{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/nov/25/adam-lanza-shooting-sandy-hook-elementary-school-n/?page=all |work=The Washington Times |title=What would have prevented Lanza from mass murder at Sandy Hook?|date=November 25, 2013 |access-date=December 24, 2013 |archive-date=December 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220061905/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/nov/25/adam-lanza-shooting-sandy-hook-elementary-school-n/?page=all |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="CTSP-20130118" /> |[[Gauge (firearms)|12-gauge]] [[Izhmash]] [[Saiga-12]] [[semi-automatic shotgun]] (unused; left in car)<ref name="CTSP-20130118" />}} | motive = Unknown<ref name="cnn.com">{{cite news |last1=Ferguson |first1=Christopher |title=Adam Lanza's motive a mystery in Sandy Hook killings |url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/11/27/opinion/ferguson-sandy-hook/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=July 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127185647/https://www.cnn.com/2013/11/27/opinion/ferguson-sandy-hook/index.html |archive-date=November 27, 2013 |language=English |date=November 27, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> | dfen = | litigation = {{bulleted list |[[Wrongful death claim|Wrongful death]] lawsuit against [[Remington Arms]], settled for $73 million<ref>{{cite web |url=https://usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/02/15/sandy-hook-families-reach-settlement-remington-arms/6797030001 |title=Sandy Hook families agree to $73 million settlement with gunmaker Remington |last=Fernando |first=Christine |date=February 15, 2022 |work=USA Today |access-date=February 15, 2022 |archive-date=February 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215200022/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/02/15/sandy-hook-families-reach-settlement-remington-arms/6797030001/ |url-status=live}}</ref>|[[Defamation lawsuit|Defamation]] lawsuit against [[Alex Jones]] and ''[[Infowars]]'', settled for $1.3 billion<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Smith|first1=Tovia|url=https://www.npr.org/2025/06/06/nx-s1-5424736/sandy-hook-families-alex-jones-settlement-bankruptcy|title=3 years in, Sandy Hook families still wait to collect what Alex Jones owes them|work=NPR|agency=National Public Radio|date=June 6, 2025|access-date=November 14, 2025|archive-date=October 30, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251030182759/https://www.npr.org/2025/06/06/nx-s1-5424736/sandy-hook-families-alex-jones-settlement-bankruptcy|url-status=live}}</ref>}} }}<!-- end of Infobox civilian attack --> {{Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting}}
On December 14, 2012, a [[mass shooting]] occurred at [[Newtown Public Schools|Sandy Hook Elementary School]] in [[Newtown, Connecticut]], United States. The perpetrator, 20-year-old [[Adam Lanza]], shot and killed 26 people. The victims were 20 children between six and seven years old, and six adult staff members. Earlier that day, before driving to the school, Lanza fatally shot his mother at their Newtown home. As [[first responder]]s arrived at the school, Lanza killed himself with a gunshot to the head. The incident is the second [[List of school shootings in the United States by death toll#List|deadliest school shooting in US history]] behind the [[Virginia Tech shooting]] in 2007.
The shooting prompted renewed debate about [[gun control in the United States]], including proposals to make the [[National Instant Criminal Background Check System|background check system]] universal, and for new [[Gun law in the United States|federal and state gun legislation]] banning the sale and manufacture of certain types of [[Semi-automatic firearm|semi-automatic]] [[firearms]] and [[Magazine (firearms)|magazines]] which can hold more than ten rounds of ammunition.
A November 2013 report issued by the Connecticut State Attorney's office stated that Lanza acted alone and planned his actions, but provided no indication of why he did so, or why he targeted the school. A report issued by the Office of the Child Advocate in November 2014 said that Lanza had [[Asperger's syndrome]] and, as a teenager, suffered from [[Depression (mood)|depression]], [[anxiety]], [[obsessive-compulsive disorder]], and [[anorexia]], but concluded that these factors "neither caused nor led to his murderous acts". The report went on to say, "his severe and deteriorating internalized mental health problems{{nbsp}}[...] combined with an atypical preoccupation with violence{{nbsp}}[...] (and) access to deadly weapons{{nbsp}}[...] proved a recipe for mass murder."{{sfn|Office of the Child Advocate|2014|p=9}}
==Background== As of November 30, 2012, 456 children were enrolled in [[kindergarten]] through [[fourth grade]] at Sandy Hook Elementary School.<ref name="Enrollment Report as of November 30, 2012">{{cite web |url=http://www.newtown.k12.ct.us/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=yrE601iIboU%3d&tabid=3295&mid=39347 |title=Enrollment Report as of November 30, 2012 |website=Newtown Public School District |date=December 4, 2012 |access-date=December 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140604214036/http://newtown.k12.ct.us/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=yrE601iIboU%3d&tabid=3295&mid=39347 |archive-date=June 4, 2014}}</ref> The school's security protocols had recently been upgraded, requiring visitors to be individually admitted after visual and identification review by video monitor. Doors to the school were locked at 9:30{{nbsp}}a.m. each day, after morning arrivals.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news |last=Barron |first=James |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/15/nyregion/shooting-reported-at-connecticut-elementary-school.html |title=Nation Reels After Gunman Massacres 20 Children at School in Connecticut |work=The New York Times |date=December 14, 2012 |access-date=December 19, 2012 |archive-date=December 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121220213427/http://www.nytimes.com//2012/12/15/nyregion/shooting-reported-at-connecticut-elementary-school.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
Newtown is in [[Fairfield County, Connecticut]], about {{convert|17|mi|km|sigfig=1}} from New Haven, {{convert|30|mi|km|sigfig=1}} from Hartford, and {{convert|60|mi|km|sigfig=1}} from New York City.<ref name="Newtown">{{cite web|title=Welcome to the Town of Newtown|url=http://www.newtown-ct.gov/Public_Documents/NewtownCT_WebDocs/about|website=Town of Newtown |access-date=January 1, 2013|archive-date=May 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515224816/http://www.newtown-ct.gov/Public_Documents/NewtownCT_WebDocs/about|url-status=live}}</ref> Violent crime had been rare in the town of 28,000 residents; there was only one homicide in the town in the ten years before the school shooting.<ref name="Police: 20 children among 27 victims of Connecticut school shooting">{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/14/us/connecticut-school-shooting/index.html|title='Why? Why?': 26 dead in elementary school massacre|website=CNN|first1=Susan|last1=Candiotti|first2=Sarah|last2=Aarthun|date=December 15, 2012|access-date=December 15, 2012|archive-date=December 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215034904/http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/14/us/connecticut-school-shooting/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Under the [[Gun laws in Connecticut|Connecticut gun laws]] at the time,<ref name="cga">[http://www.cga.ct.gov/2011/pub/chap950.htm#Sec53a-3.htm Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-3(18) (2011)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731135820/http://www.cga.ct.gov/2011/pub/chap950.htm |date=July 31, 2012}} (defining "'pistol' or 'revolver'" as "any firearm having a barrel less than twelve inches"); [http://www.cga.ct.gov/2011/pub/chap529.htm#Sec29-34.htm Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29–34(b)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907175738/http://www.cga.ct.gov/2011/pub/chap529.htm |date=September 7, 2013}} (banning any transfer of a [[pistol]] or [[revolver]] to a person under 21, except for temporary and supervised use at a target range)</ref> the 20-year-old Adam Lanza was old enough to carry a long gun, such as a rifle or shotgun,<ref name="nytimes9">{{cite news |last1=Fessenden |first1=Ford |first2=Alicia |last2=Parlapiano |first3=Alan |last3=McClean |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/12/17/nyregion/connecticuts-rules-for-purchasing-this-gun.html |title=Connecticut's Rules for Purchasing This Gun |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 17, 2012 |access-date=December 18, 2012 |archive-date=December 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219234632/http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/12/17/nyregion/connecticuts-rules-for-purchasing-this-gun.html |url-status=live}}</ref> but too young to own or carry handguns.<ref name="nbcusnews">{{cite news|url=http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/14/15913678-gunmans-mother-owned-weapons-used-in-connecticut-school-massacre|title=Gunman's mother owned weapons used in Connecticut school massacre|date=December 14, 2012|access-date=December 15, 2012|work=NBC News|first1=Pete|last1=Williams|first2=Kari|last2=Huus|archive-date=December 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216074745/http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/14/15913678-gunmans-mother-owned-weapons-used-in-connecticut-school-massacre|url-status=live}}</ref> The guns he used had been purchased legally by his mother.<ref name="E2o72">{{cite news |last1=Flegenheimer |first1=Matt |last2=Somaiya |first2=Ravi |title=A Mother, a Gun Enthusiast and the First Victim |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/16/nyregion/friends-of-gunmans-mother-his-first-victim-recall-her-as-generous.html |access-date=August 7, 2020 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 15, 2012 |archive-date=August 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817212200/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/16/nyregion/friends-of-gunmans-mother-his-first-victim-recall-her-as-generous.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="oFWN5">{{cite news |last1=Hermann |first1=Peter |last2=Rosenwald |first2=Michael S. |title=Newtown school shooter's mother collected guns, was loath to let people inside home |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/newtown-school-shooters-mother-collected-guns-was-loath-to-let-people-inside-home/2012/12/15/d89c2732-4706-11e2-8061-253bccfc7532_story.html |access-date=August 7, 2020 |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |date=December 15, 2012 |archive-date=July 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726201133/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/newtown-school-shooters-mother-collected-guns-was-loath-to-let-people-inside-home/2012/12/15/d89c2732-4706-11e2-8061-253bccfc7532_story.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
==Events== ===Murder of Nancy Lanza=== Sometime before 9:30{{nbsp}}a.m. [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]] on December 14, 2012, Lanza shot and killed his mother Nancy, aged 52, with a [[.22 Long Rifle|.22-caliber]] [[Savage Mark II]] rifle at their Newtown home.<ref name="esposito">{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/twenty-children-died-newtown-connecticut-school-shooting/story?id=17973836 |title=20 Children Died in Newtown, Conn., School Massacre |agency=Associated Press |first1=Richard |last1=Esposito |first2=Candice |last2=Smith |first3=Christina |last3=Ng |work=ABC News |date=December 14, 2012 |access-date=December 14, 2012 |archive-date=December 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215031441/http://abcnews.go.com/US/twenty-children-died-newtown-connecticut-school-shooting/story?id=17973836 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="49IYz">{{cite news|date=June 7, 2013|title=Sandy Hook School Shootings Fast Facts|url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/06/07/us/connecticut-shootings-fast-facts/index.html|access-date=September 27, 2023|work=[[CNN]]|language=en|archive-date=April 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420231032/https://www.cnn.com/2013/06/07/us/connecticut-shootings-fast-facts/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Investigators later found her body in her bed, clad in pajamas, with four gunshot wounds to her head.<ref name="Evidence hints at deadlier plan in Conn massacre">{{cite news|title=Evidence hints at deadlier plan in Conn. massacre|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/dec/16/governor-gunman-shot-self-first-responders-closed/?page=all#pagebreak|access-date=December 30, 2012|newspaper=The Washington Times|date=December 16, 2012|first1=John|last1=Christofferson|first2=Matt|last2=Apuzzo|first3=Jim|last3=Fitzgerald|first4=Bridget|last4=Murphy|first5=Pat|last5=Eaton-Robb|agency=Associated Press|archive-date=January 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128202848/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/dec/16/governor-gunman-shot-self-first-responders-closed/?page=all#pagebreak|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Marcus |first=Ruth |date=May 17, 2023 |title=Opinion {{!}} Nancy Lanza, a mother tragic and infuriating |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ruth-marcus-nancy-lanza-a-mother-tragic-and-infuriating/2013/11/26/30efee1c-56cb-11e3-835d-e7173847c7cc_story.html |access-date=October 13, 2024 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=February 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216200215/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ruth-marcus-nancy-lanza-a-mother-tragic-and-infuriating/2013/11/26/30efee1c-56cb-11e3-835d-e7173847c7cc_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Lanza then drove to Sandy Hook Elementary School in his mother's car.<ref name="esposito" /><ref name="foxnews20121214_Gunman_dead">{{cite news |title=Gunman dead after killing 20 children, 6 adults at Connecticut elementary school |work=Fox News |date=December 14, 2012 |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/as-nation-mourns-investigators-try-to-figure-out-what-led-to-tragedy-in-newtown-conn |access-date=December 14, 2012 |archive-date=December 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216093811/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/12/16/at-least-26-dead-in-shooting-at-connecticut-school/ |url-status=live}}</ref> [[File:Map of Sandy Hook shooting.png|thumb|upright=1.2|Red circle: Sandy Hook Elementary School{{pb}}Black circle: Lanza household]]
===Mass shooting begins=== Shortly after 9:35{{nbsp}}a.m., armed with his mother's [[Bushmaster XM-15|Bushmaster XM15-E2S rifle]] and ten magazines with 30 rounds each,<ref name="CTSP-20130118">{{cite web|last=Vance|first=J. Paul|title=Update: State Police Identify Weapons Used in Sandy Hook Investigation|url=http://www.ct.gov/despp/cwp/view.asp?Q=517284&A=4226|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517175905/http://www.ct.gov/despp/cwp/view.asp?A=4226&Q=517284|archive-date=May 17, 2016|website=State of Connecticut |access-date=December 15, 2016|quote=Seized inside the school: #1. Bushmaster .223 caliber model XM15-E2S rifle with high capacity 30 round magazine #2. Glock 10 mm handgun #3. Sig-Sauer P226 9mm handgun [...] The shooter used the Bushmaster .223 to murder 20 children and six adults inside the school; he used a handgun to take his own life inside the school. No other weapons were used in this crime.}}</ref><ref name="conn-school"/><ref name="Newtown shooter's guns: What we know">{{cite news |last=Almasy |first=Steve |title=Newtown shooter's guns: What we know |url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/18/us/connecticut-lanza-guns/index.html |work=CNN |access-date=December 30, 2012 |date=December 19, 2012 |quote=The primary weapon used in the attack was a "Bushmaster AR-15 assault-type weapon," said Connecticut State Police Lt. Paul Vance. The rifle is a Bushmaster version of a widely made AR-15, the civilian version of the M-16 rifle used by the U.S. military. The original M-16 patent ran out years ago, and now the AR-15 is manufactured by several gunmakers. Unlike the military version, the AR-15 is a semiautomatic, firing one bullet per squeeze of the trigger. But like the M-16, ammunition is loaded through a magazine. In the school shooting, police say Lanza's rifle used numerous 30-round magazines. |archive-date=December 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121229142140/http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/18/us/connecticut-lanza-guns/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Lanza shot his way through a glass panel next to the school's locked front entrance doors.<ref name="nX6hZ">{{cite web |last1=Dorn |first1=Chris |last2=Dorn |first2=Michael |last3=Steve |first3=Satterly |last4=Shepherd |first4=Sonayia |last5=Nguyen |first5=Phuong |title=7 Lessons Learned from Sandy Hook |url=https://www.campussafetymagazine.com/safety/7-lessons-learned-from-sandy-hook/ |website=Campus Safety |access-date=September 20, 2018 |archive-date=September 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920045730/https://www.campussafetymagazine.com/safety/7-lessons-learned-from-sandy-hook/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="wtvr">{{cite news |first=Alix |last=Bryan |title=TIMELINE: Connecticut elementary school shooting updates |work=[[WTVR-TV|WTVR]] |date=December 16, 2012 |url=http://wtvr.com/2012/12/14/timeline-of-connecticut-elementary-school-shooting/ |access-date=December 19, 2012 |archive-date=December 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218034905/http://wtvr.com/2012/12/14/timeline-of-connecticut-elementary-school-shooting/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="TheTimesUK20121216">{{cite news|last=Gray|first=Sadie|title=Sandy Hook gunman Adam Lanza shot his way through school door|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/us-world/article/sandy-hook-gunman-adam-lanza-shot-his-way-through-school-door-fc3bfjr5qlk|work=[[The Times]]|date=December 16, 2012|access-date=December 18, 2012|archive-date=December 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218030229/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/americas/article3632863.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> He was wearing black clothing, yellow earplugs, sunglasses,<ref name="X7QWs">{{cite web|url=http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2013/12/03/newtown-report-reveals-details-but-no-motive/|title=Newtown report reveals details, but no motive|author-first1=Marek|author-last1=Ramilo|author-first2=Pooja|author-last2=Salhotra|work=Yale Daily News|date=December 3, 2013|access-date=October 5, 2014|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006200604/http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2013/12/03/newtown-report-reveals-details-but-no-motive/|url-status=live}}</ref> a black hat, and an [[Olive (color)#Olive drab|olive green]] utility vest.<ref name="hc">{{cite web |url=http://articles.courant.com/2013-01-06/news/hc-sandyhook-lanza-earplugs-20130106_1_adam-lanza-nancy-lanza-yogananda-street |title=Newtown shootings: Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooter Adam Lanza Wore Earplugs |first1=Dave |last1=Altimari |first2=Jon |last2=Lender |newspaper=[[Hartford Courant]] |access-date=October 5, 2014 |quote=Besides the earplugs, he was wearing all black clothes under a drab olive green utility vest with pockets filled with 30-round magazines for the Bushmaster. |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006093109/http://articles.courant.com/2013-01-06/news/hc-sandyhook-lanza-earplugs-20130106_1_adam-lanza-nancy-lanza-yogananda-street |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Mike |title=Police Release Final Report On Sandy Hook School Shooting |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/mikehayes/police-final-report-on-sandy-hook-school-shooting |access-date=February 26, 2023 |website=BuzzFeed News |date=December 27, 2013 |language=en |archive-date=June 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614233429/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/mikehayes/police-final-report-on-sandy-hook-school-shooting |url-status=live }}</ref> Initial reports that he was wearing [[body armor]] were incorrect.<ref name="clothing_3">{{cite web|date=December 27, 2012|title=Newtown shooter Adam Lanza was not wearing body armor during massacre|url=http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2012/12/27/news/doc50dce5187860b303917697.txt|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130024031/http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2012/12/27/news/doc50dce5187860b303917697.txt|archive-date=January 30, 2013|access-date=December 28, 2012|work=New Haven Register|location=New Haven, Connecticut}}</ref> Some of those present heard the initial shots on the school intercom system, which was being used for morning announcements.<ref name="nytimes" />
Principal Dawn Hochsprung and school [[psychologist]] Mary Sherlach were meeting with other faculty members when they heard, but did not recognize the gunshots. Hochsprung, Sherlach, and lead teacher Natalie Hammond went into the hall to determine the source of the sounds and encountered Lanza. A faculty member who was at the meeting said that the three women called out "Shooter, stay put!", which alerted their colleagues of the danger and saved their lives.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McCarthy |first1=Tom |title=Sandy Hook victim's daughter calls Ben Carson 'insensitive' for Oregon reaction |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/oct/08/ben-carson-sandy-hook-newtown-oregon-school-shooting |access-date=August 5, 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=October 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013024919/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/oct/08/ben-carson-sandy-hook-newtown-oregon-school-shooting |archive-date=October 13, 2015}}</ref> Diane Day, a school therapist who had been at the faculty meeting with Hochsprung, said that both Hochsprung and Sherlach immediately jumped up from their chairs and ran into the hallway to confront Lanza.<ref name="Tales of Sandy Hook heroism, young and old"/> Shari Thornberg, an aide, heard gunshots.<ref name="qTxXR"/> A teacher hiding in the math lab heard school [[janitor]] Rick Thorne yell, "Put the gun down!"<ref name="FjktB">{{cite news|last=Christoffersen|first=John|title=Conn. files: Gunman's mother loving but bewildered|work=Philadelphia Daily News|agency=Associated Press|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/news/nation_world/20131228_ap_79ac9e6773c844c6a3adf5f360f2764b.html|access-date=December 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230233015/http://www.philly.com/philly/news/nation_world/20131228_ap_79ac9e6773c844c6a3adf5f360f2764b.html|archive-date=December 30, 2013}}</ref><ref name="qTxXR"/> Lanza killed both Hochsprung and Sherlach.<ref name="wsj5">{{cite news |last=Levitz |first=Jennifer |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323297104578181583018831100 |title=Sandy Hook Locals Face New Reality |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=December 16, 2012 |access-date=December 19, 2012 |archive-date=July 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723233238/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323297104578181583018831100 |url-status=live}}</ref> Hammond was hit first in the leg, and then sustained another gunshot wound. She laid still in the hallway and then, not hearing any more noise, crawled back to the conference room and pressed her body against the door to keep it closed.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/11/26/nyregion/26newtown-report.html |title=State's Attorney's Report on Sandy Hook Elementary School Shootings |date=November 25, 2013 |access-date=December 1, 2013 |work=The New York Times |archive-date=November 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129200741/http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/11/26/nyregion/26newtown-report.html |url-status=live}}</ref> She was later treated at [[Danbury Hospital]].<ref name="wsj5" /><ref name="CBS3">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/conn-school-shooting-what-we-know/|title=Conn. school shooting: What we know|work=CBS News|date=December 16, 2012|access-date=December 16, 2012|archive-date=December 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216083021/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57559336/conn-school-shooting-what-we-know/|url-status=live}}</ref>
A nine-year-old boy said he heard the shooter say "Put your hands up!" and someone else say "Don't shoot!" He also heard many people yelling and many gunshots over the intercom while he, his classmates, and his teacher took refuge in a closet in the gymnasium.<ref name="nytimes6">{{cite news|title=Who Would Do This to Our Poor Little Babies|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/15/nyregion/witnesses-recall-deadly-shooting-sandy-hook-newtown-connecticut.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 14, 2012|first1=Peter|last1=Applebome|first2=Michael|last2=Wilson|access-date=February 28, 2017|archive-date=March 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311201149/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/15/nyregion/witnesses-recall-deadly-shooting-sandy-hook-newtown-connecticut.html|url-status=live}}</ref> One teacher was closing a door further down the hallway, when she was hit in the foot with a bullet that ricocheted. Lanza never entered her classroom.<ref name="Police: Second person injured in Connecticut school shooting survived">{{cite web |title=Police: Second person injured in Connecticut school shooting survived |url=http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/17/15969867-police-second-person-injured-in-connecticut-school-shooting-survived?lite |website=[[NBC News]] |access-date=December 17, 2012 |archive-date=April 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416220342/http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/17/15969867-police-second-person-injured-in-connecticut-school-shooting-survived?lite |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Hartford Courant">{{cite web |first1=Dave |last1=Altimari |first2=Edmund H. |last2=Mahony |first3=Jon |last3=Lender |url=https://www.courant.com/2013/03/13/adam-lanza-researched-mass-murderers-sources-say-2/ |title=Newtown shootings: Adam Lanza Researched Mass Murderers, Sources Say |work=Hartford Courant |date=March 13, 2013 |access-date=March 14, 2013 |archive-date=April 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130410172658/http://articles.courant.com/2013-03-13/news/hc-newtown-lanza-mass-murderers-20130313_1_nancy-lanza-adam-lanza-lanza-s-newtown |url-status=live |quote=... second teacher was closing the door to her classroom much farther down the hallway, where Lanza never went, when she was hit in the foot.}}</ref><ref name="qTxXR">{{cite news |first=Gary |last=Stoller |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/12/18/connecticut-school-shooting-survivor/1778431/ |title=School shooting survivor tells her story |newspaper=USA Today |date=December 19, 2012 |access-date=December 7, 2013 |archive-date=December 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202162031/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/12/18/connecticut-school-shooting-survivor/1778431/ |url-status=live |quote=The school's intercom was on, and Thornberg next heard "more shots, screaming, crying and whimpering." She heard the janitor yell at the gunman, "'Put the gun down! Put the gun down.'"}}</ref>
After killing Hochsprung and Sherlach, Lanza entered the main office but apparently did not see the people hiding there, and returned to the hallway.<ref name="bee">{{cite news|last=Gorosko|first=Andrew|date=November 26, 2013|title=Long-Awaited 12/14 Report Offers Details, But No Motive|newspaper=The Newtown Bee|url=http://newtownbee.com/news/0001/11/30/long-awaited-1214-report-offers-details-no-motive/178307|access-date=December 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224113824/http://newtownbee.com/news/0001/11/30/long-awaited-1214-report-offers-details-no-motive/178307|archive-date=December 24, 2013}}</ref> School nurse Sarah (Sally) Cox,<ref name="r85do">{{cite web|url=http://www.snopes.com/politics/guns/newtown.asp |title=Sandy Hook Exposed? |date=December 15, 2012 |website=snopes.com |access-date=March 26, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Official">{{cite web|title=Staff Directory|url=http://newtown.sandyhook.schooldesk.net/Staff/StaffDirectory/tabid/17319/Default.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406030442/http://newtown.sandyhook.schooldesk.net/Staff/StaffDirectory/tabid/17319/Default.aspx|archive-date=April 6, 2012|access-date=July 29, 2013|website=Sandy Hook Elementary School}}</ref> 60, hid under a desk in her office. She later described seeing the door open, and Lanza's boots and legs facing her desk from approximately 20 feet (six meters) away. He remained standing for a few seconds before turning around and leaving. She and the school secretary Barbara Halstead called [[911 (emergency telephone number)|911]] and hid in a first-aid supply closet for nearly four hours.<ref name="Sandy Hook Elementary School nurse Sarah Cox relives terror of Newtown, Connecticut shooting">{{cite news |last=Klein |first=Melissa |url=http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/could_see_his_feet_was_frozen_in_ygbEGJD62sWTIMQlZ9CUFP |title=Sandy Hook Elementary School nurse Sarah Cox relives terror of Newtown, Connecticut shooting |work=[[New York Post]] |date=December 14, 2012 |access-date=December 18, 2012 |archive-date=January 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130107080114/http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/could_see_his_feet_was_frozen_in_ygbEGJD62sWTIMQlZ9CUFP |url-status=live}}</ref> Janitor Rick Thorne ran through hallways, alerting classrooms.<ref name="abclocal">{{cite news|url=https://6abc.com/archive/8920117/|title=20 children, 6 adults killed at Connecticut school|work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|agency=Associated Press|date=December 14, 2012|first=John|last=Christoffersen|access-date=December 15, 2012|archive-date=December 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214184521/http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news%2Fnational_world&id=8920117|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Classroom shootings=== [[File:Sandy Hook Elementary floorplan.svg|thumb|upright|Floorplan of Sandy Hook Elementary; Classrooms 8 (Rousseau/D'Avino), 10 (Soto/Murphy) and 12 (Roig) are labeled along with the main office (o) and Conference Room 9 (Hochsprung/Sherlach/Hammond)]] Lanza entered Room 8, a first-grade classroom where Lauren Rousseau, a substitute teacher, had herded her first-grade students to the back of the room, and was trying to hide them in a bathroom, when Lanza forced his way into the classroom.<ref name="Hartford Courant" /> Rousseau, Rachel D'Avino (a behavioral therapist who had been employed for a week at the school to work with a special needs student), and 15 students in Rousseau's class were killed. Fourteen of the children were dead at the scene; one injured child was taken to a hospital for treatment, but was later pronounced dead.<ref name="nytimes.com" /> Most of the teachers and students were found crowded together in the bathroom.<ref name="cIDnP">{{cite web |url=https://cspsandyhookreport.ct.gov/ |title=Connecticut State Police Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting Report |website=State of Connecticut |date=December 14, 2012 |access-date=December 29, 2013 |archive-date=December 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228025247/http://cspsandyhookreport.ct.gov/ |url-status=live}}</ref> A six-year-old girl, the sole survivor, was found by police in the classroom following the shooting.<ref name="nytimes.com" /> She hid in a corner of the classroom's bathroom during the shooting.<ref name="DoRF2">{{cite news |url=http://news.msn.com/crime-justice/details-emerge-on-sandy-hook-shooting-lanzas-belongings |title=Details emerge on Sandy Hook shooting, Lanza's belongings |work=MSN |access-date=December 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230234301/http://news.msn.com/crime-justice/details-emerge-on-sandy-hook-shooting-lanzas-belongings |archive-date=December 30, 2013 }}</ref> Her family's pastor said she survived by playing dead. When she reached her mother, she said, "Mommy, I'm okay, but all my friends are dead."<ref>{{cite web |title=Pastor Explains How Girl Played Dead to Survive |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/connecticut-shooting-pastor-explains-girl-played-dead-survive-17989933 |publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |access-date=December 25, 2024 |date=December 16, 2012 |archive-date=December 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214200447/https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/connecticut-shooting-pastor-explains-girl-played-dead-survive-17989933 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Abby Rogers |title=One Little Girl Had To Lay Among Her Dead Friends To Escape The Sandy Hook Gunman |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/sandy-hook-elementary-survivor-stories-2012-12 |access-date=July 31, 2024 |work=[[Business Insider]] |date=December 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219025803/https://www.businessinsider.com/sandy-hook-elementary-survivor-stories-2012-12 |archive-date=December 19, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Raf Sanchez |title=Connecticut school shooting: six-year-old stayed alive by playing dead |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9750471/Connecticut-school-shooting-six-year-old-stayed-alive-by-playing-dead.html |access-date=July 31, 2024 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |date=December 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218064433/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9750471/Connecticut-school-shooting-six-year-old-stayed-alive-by-playing-dead.html |archive-date=February 18, 2015}}</ref> A girl who was hiding in a bathroom along with two teachers told police that she heard a boy in the classroom screaming, "Help me! I don't want to be here!", to which Lanza responded, "Well, you're here," followed by "hammering" sounds.<ref name="Michael P. Mayko and John Pirro">{{cite web|first1=Michael P.|last1=Mayko|first2=John|last2=Pirro|url=http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/The-voices-of-children-who-saw-evil-5104362.php|title=The voices of children who saw evil|newspaper=[[The News-Times]]|date=December 31, 2013|access-date=January 3, 2014|archive-date=January 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102131829/http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/The-voices-of-children-who-saw-evil-5104362.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
Lanza also went to Room 10, another first-grade classroom nearby. At this point, there are conflicting reports about the order of events. According to some reports, the classroom's teacher, [[Victoria Leigh Soto]], had concealed some of the students in a closet or bathroom, and some of the other students were hiding under desks.<ref name="Hartford Courant" /> Soto was walking back to the classroom door to lock it when Lanza entered the classroom.<ref name="FTN130421p5">{{cite episode |title=Face the Nation transcripts April 21, 2013: Boston bombings |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/face-the-nation-transcripts-april-21-2013-boston-bombings-patrick-davis-mccaul-more/5/ |series=[[Face the Nation]] |network=[[CBS]] |air-date=April 21, 2013 |access-date=April 11, 2014 |archive-date=April 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413142037/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/face-the-nation-transcripts-april-21-2013-boston-bombings-patrick-davis-mccaul-more/5/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Lanza walked to the back of the classroom, saw the children under the desks, and shot them. First-grader Jesse Lewis shouted at his classmates to run for safety, and several of them did. Lewis was looking at Lanza when Lanza fatally shot him.<ref name="FTN130421p6">{{cite episode |title=Face the Nation transcripts April 21, 2013: Boston bombings |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/face-the-nation-transcripts-april-21-2013-boston-bombings-patrick-davis-mccaul-more/6/ |series=Face the Nation |network=CBS |air-date=April 21, 2013 |access-date=April 11, 2014 |archive-date=April 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413124047/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/face-the-nation-transcripts-april-21-2013-boston-bombings-patrick-davis-mccaul-more/6/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Another account, given by a surviving child's father, said that Soto had moved the children to the back of the classroom, and that they were seated on the floor when Lanza entered. According to this account, neither Lanza nor any of the occupants of the classroom spoke. Lanza stared at the people on the floor, pointed the gun at a boy seated there, but did not fire.<ref name="rm4mK">{{cite news|last=Christoffersen|first=John|date=September 29, 2013|title=Fear permeates young lives of Newtown witnesses|newspaper=San Jose Mercury News|agency=Associated Press|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_24200882/fear-permeates-young-lives-newtown-witnesses|access-date=September 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003032053/http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_24200882/fear-permeates-young-lives-newtown-witnesses|archive-date=October 3, 2013}}</ref> The boy ran out of the classroom.<ref name="Michael P. Mayko and John Pirro" /> The final report into the shooting concluded that the sequence of events in Rooms 8 and 10 was "indeterminate".<ref name="final_report" />
A ''[[Hartford Courant]]'' report said that six of the children who escaped did so when Lanza stopped shooting, either because his weapon jammed or he erred in reloading it.<ref name="Hartford Courant" /> Earlier reports said that, as Lanza entered her classroom, Soto told him that the children were in the auditorium. When several of the children came out of their hiding places and tried to run for safety, Lanza fatally shot them. Soto put herself between her students and the shooter, who then fatally shot her.<ref name="sacrificed">{{cite news|last=Rayment|first=Sean|title=Teachers sacrificed themselves to save their pupils|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9746935/Teachers-sacrificed-themselves-to-save-their-pupils.html|access-date=December 15, 2012|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=December 15, 2012|archive-date=December 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215201845/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9746935/Teachers-sacrificed-themselves-to-save-their-pupils.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Anne Marie Murphy, the special education teacher who worked with special-needs students in Soto's classroom, was also shot and killed; she was found covering six-year-old Dylan Hockley, who also died.<ref name="newsday1">{{cite news|last=Ramos|first=Victor Manuel|url=https://www.newsday.com/news/nation/sandy-hook-educators-died-trying-to-save-the-children-e38597|title=Sandy Hook educators died trying to save the children|work=Newsday|date=December 15, 2012|access-date=December 26, 2012|archive-date=December 31, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121231010416/http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/sandy-hook-educators-died-trying-to-save-the-children-1.4338161|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ctpost2">{{cite web |first=Tom |last=Cleary |url=http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Dylan-Hockley-died-in-Anne-Marie-Murphy-s-arms-4122828.php |title=Dylan Hockley died in Anne Marie Murphy's arms |work=Connecticut Post |date=December 17, 2012 |access-date=December 18, 2012 |archive-date=January 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120122607/http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Dylan-Hockley-died-in-Anne-Marie-Murphy-s-arms-4122828.php |url-status=live}}</ref> Soto and four children were found dead in the classroom. Soto was near the north wall of the room with a set of keys nearby.<ref name="nytimes.com" />{{rp|14}} One child was taken to the hospital, but was pronounced dead.<ref name="nytimes.com" />{{rp|14}} Six surviving children from the class and a school bus driver took refuge at a nearby home.<ref name="foxnewsinsider">{{cite news |url=http://foxnewsinsider.com/tag/man-shelters-sandy-hook-students/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124094359/http://foxnewsinsider.com/tag/man-shelters-sandy-hook-students/|archive-date=January 24, 2013 |url-status=live|title=Newtown Resident Gene Rosen Speaks About Sheltering Six Students Who Escaped the Shooting |work=Fox News |date=December 18, 2012 |access-date=December 19, 2012}}</ref> According to the official report released by the state's attorney, nine children ran from Soto's classroom, and police found two hiding in a class bathroom.<ref name="nytimes.com" />{{rp|14}} Five of Soto's students were killed.<ref name="oeMDS">{{cite news |last=Stelzer |first=Brigitte |url=https://nypost.com/2012/12/23/newtown-massacre-victims-and-survivors-pictured-in-victoria-sotos-class-photo/ |title=Newtown massacre victims (and survivors) pictured in Victoria Soto's class photo |newspaper=New York Post |date=December 23, 2012 |access-date=September 29, 2013 |archive-date=October 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003181314/http://nypost.com/2012/12/23/newtown-massacre-victims-and-survivors-pictured-in-victoria-sotos-class-photo/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
===Survivors' eyewitness accounts=== First-grade teacher Kaitlin Roig, 29 years old, hid 15 students in a bathroom and barricaded the door, telling them to be completely quiet to remain safe.<ref name="ctnews">{{cite news|url=http://blog.ctnews.com/newtownshooting/2012/12/14/hero-teacher-rushed-students-to-bathroom-to-keep-students-safe/|title='Hero teacher' rushed students to bathroom to keep students safe|date=December 14, 2012|newspaper=Connecticut News|first=Tom|last=Cleary|access-date=December 15, 2012|archive-date=December 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216042904/http://blog.ctnews.com/newtownshooting/2012/12/14/hero-teacher-rushed-students-to-bathroom-to-keep-students-safe/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Roig-Debellis |first1=Kaitlin |last2=Fisher |first2=Robin Gaby |title=Choosing Hope: How I Moved Forward from Life's Darkest Hour |date=2016 |publisher=[[G. P. Putnam's Sons]]/[[Penguin Random House]] |isbn=978-0-425-28231-1 |page=87 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6dz4DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA87 |quote=Where can we hide? There's only one place. The bathroom ... How in God's name will I get all sixteen of us in there? |access-date=May 11, 2023 |archive-date=May 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511034300/https://books.google.com/books?id=6dz4DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA87 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is believed that Lanza bypassed her classroom, which was the first classroom on the left side of the hallway. Following a lockdown drill weeks earlier, Roig had failed to remove a piece of black construction paper covering the small window in her classroom door. Lanza may have assumed that Roig's classroom was empty because the door was closed and the window was covered.<ref name="Hartford Courant" />
School library staff Yvonne Cech and Maryann Jacob tried to hide 18 children in a part of the library the school used for lockdown in practice drills. When they discovered that one door would not lock, they had the children crawl into a storage room, where Cech barricaded the door with a filing cabinet.<ref name="nytimes1">{{cite news |last=Barron |first=James |title=Children Were All Shot Multiple Times With a Semiautomatic, Officials Say |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 15, 2012 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/16/nyregion/gunman-kills-20-children-at-school-in-connecticut-28-dead-in-all.html |access-date=December 17, 2012 |archive-date=December 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216184847/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/16/nyregion/gunman-kills-20-children-at-school-in-connecticut-28-dead-in-all.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nytimes6" /><ref name="Newtown school massacre victims identified">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20744701|title=Newtown school massacre victims identified|work=BBC News|date=December 16, 2012|access-date=December 16, 2012|archive-date=December 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216000523/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20744701|url-status=live}}</ref>
Two third-grade students, chosen as classroom helpers, were walking down the hallway to the office to deliver the morning attendance sheet as the shooting began. Teacher Abbey Clements pulled both children into her classroom, where they hid.<ref name="nydailynews7">{{cite news |first=Andre |last=Nikitchyuk |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/father-surviving-sandy-hook-student-admits-turning-blind-eye-gun-violence-longer-option-article-1.1222370?localLinksEnabled=false |title=BREAKING THE SILENCE! Father of surviving Sandy Hook student admits turning a blind eye to gun violence can no longer be an option |work=Daily News |location=New York |date=December 17, 2012 |access-date=December 18, 2012 |archive-date=March 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302202825/http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/father-surviving-sandy-hook-student-admits-turning-blind-eye-gun-violence-longer-option-article-1.1222370?localLinksEnabled=false |url-status=live}}</ref>
Laura Feinstein, a reading specialist at the school, gathered two students from outside her classroom and hid with them under desks after they heard gunshots.<ref name="Tales of Sandy Hook heroism, young and old">{{cite news|last=Winter|first=Michael|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/12/14/newtown-connecticut-sandy-hook-school-shooting-heroism/1770555/|title=Tales of Sandy Hook heroism, young and old|work=[[USA Today]]|date=December 14, 2012|access-date=December 26, 2012|archive-date=December 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121224094016/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/12/14/newtown-connecticut-sandy-hook-school-shooting-heroism/1770555/|url-status=live}}</ref> Feinstein called the school office and tried to call 911, but could not connect due to lack of reception on her cell phone. She hid with the children for approximately 40 minutes, at which point law enforcement came to lead them out of the room.<ref name="'Absolutely heartbreaking': Sandy Hook teacher's terrifying experience">{{cite news|url=http://www.wtop.com/1272/3157532/Teacher-Shots-and-shots-and-shots|title='Absolutely heartbreaking': Sandy Hook teacher's terrifying experience|work=WTOP|access-date=December 16, 2012|archive-date=December 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219050516/http://www.wtop.com/1272/3157532/Teacher-Shots-and-shots-and-shots|url-status=live}}</ref>
When police interviewed survivors, a teacher recalled hearing Lanza curse several times, as well as telling them to, "Look at me!", "Come over here!", and "Look at them!"<ref name="Michael P. Mayko and John Pirro" />
===Shooter's suicide=== The police heard the final shot at 9:40:03{{nbsp}}a.m.<ref name="oakpresstimeline">{{cite news|last=Scinto|first=Rich|title=Sandy Hook Elementary: Newtown, Connecticut shooting timeline|url=http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2012/12/15/news/nation_and_world/doc50cd1eec00eb9242897410.txt|access-date=December 17, 2012|newspaper=[[The Oakland Press]]|date=December 15, 2012|archive-date=December 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121221111722/http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2012/12/15/news/nation_and_world/doc50cd1eec00eb9242897410.txt|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="NbcNewsUSCfE">{{cite news | url=http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/19/16019514-call-for-everything-police-scanner-recording-reveals-early-moments-of-newtown-tragedy | title='Call for everything': Police scanner recording reveals early moments of Newtown tragedy | date=December 19, 2012 | access-date=December 19, 2012 |work=NBC News | first=Tracy | last=Connor | archive-date=December 19, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219214054/http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/19/16019514-call-for-everything-police-scanner-recording-reveals-early-moments-of-newtown-tragedy | url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="CTPost March 28, 2013">{{cite news|url=http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Access-to-weapons-made-tragedy-possible-4392681.php|title=Access to weapons made tragedy possible|date=March 28, 2013|newspaper=Connecticut Post|access-date=April 3, 2013|archive-date=June 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130624145607/http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Access-to-weapons-made-tragedy-possible-4392681.php|url-status=live}}</ref> They believed that it was Lanza shooting himself in the lower rear portion of his head with the [[Glock 20SF]] in classroom 10.<ref name="ct.gov">{{cite web|title=Sandy Hook Shooting, detailed report. Contains documents and further evidence from the case|url=http://www.ct.gov/csao/lib/csao/compressed-sandy-hook-report.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131125213507/http://www.ct.gov/csao/lib/csao/compressed-sandy-hook-report.pdf|archive-date=November 25, 2013|access-date=December 7, 2013}}</ref> Lanza's body was found wearing a pale green pocket vest over a black polo shirt over a black T-shirt, along with black sneakers, black fingerless gloves, black socks, and a black canvas belt.<ref name="ct.gov" /><ref name="final_report" /> Other objects found in the vicinity of Lanza included a black [[boonie hat]] and thin frame sunglasses. The Glock was found, apparently jammed, near Lanza, and the rifle was found several feet away from him.<ref name="ct.gov" /> A 9mm [[SIG Sauer P226]], which had not been fired during the incident, was also found on Lanza.<ref name="whatwouldhave"/>
== Victims == Lanza shot all but two of his victims multiple times.<ref name="cIDnP" /><ref name="7o4jF">{{cite news|last=Zeveloff|first=Naomi|date=December 5, 2013|title=A Newtown Clarification|newspaper=The Jewish Daily Forward|url=http://m.forward.com/blogs/forward-thinking/188774/a-newtown-clarification/|access-date=December 12, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140107061107/http://m.forward.com/blogs/forward-thinking/188774/a-newtown-clarification/|archive-date=January 7, 2014}}</ref> Most of the shooting took place in two first-grade classrooms near the entrance of the school.<ref name="shooting">{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2012/12/us/sandy-hook-timeline/?hpt=hp_c2|work=CNN|title=Sandy Hook shooting: What happened?|access-date=January 8, 2013|archive-date=January 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116024918/http://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2012/12/us/sandy-hook-timeline/?hpt=hp_c2|url-status=live}}</ref> The students among the victims totaled eight boys and twelve girls, all either six or seven years old,<ref name="Children in Connecticut rampage were six, seven; shot multiple times">{{cite news |title=Children in Connecticut rampage were six, seven; shot multiple times |work=Reuters |date=December 15, 2012 |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-usa-shooting-connecticut-idUKBRE8BD0Z220121215 |access-date=December 15, 2012 |archive-date=December 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215102219/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/12/15/uk-usa-shooting-connecticut-idUKBRE8BD0Z220121215 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and the six adults were all women who worked at the school. Eighteen children were pronounced dead at the school and two were pronounced dead at [[Danbury Hospital]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Susman |first=Tina |last2=Quinones |first2=Sam |date=2012-12-15 |title=Bodies of shooting victims are removed from elementary school |url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-xpm-2012-dec-15-la-na-nn-sandy-hook-school-shooting-bodies-20121215-story.html |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |language=en-US |archive-date=November 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241111151759/https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-xpm-2012-dec-15-la-na-nn-sandy-hook-school-shooting-bodies-20121215-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> All six adults died at the school.<ref name=":0" /> Bullets were also found in at least three cars parked outside the school, leading police to believe that he fired at a teacher who was standing near a window.<ref name="Hartford Courant" /><ref name="clothing_2">{{cite web |last1=Altimari |first1=Dave |last2=Lender |first2=Jon |date=January 6, 2013 |title=Sandy Hook Shooter Adam Lanza Wore Earplugs |url=http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/newtown-sandy-hook-school-shooting/hc-sandyhook-lanza-earplugs-20130106,0,2370630.story |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130111012148/http://articles.courant.com/2013-01-06/news/hc-sandyhook-lanza-earplugs-20130106_1_yogananda-street-newtown-school-police-cars |archive-date=January 11, 2013 |access-date=January 7, 2013 |work=Hartford Courant}}</ref> {{quote box | title = List of victims | source = Sources:<ref name="abcvictims">{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/connecticut-elementary-school-shooting-victims-hero-teacher-principal/story?id=17982784 |title=Connecticut Elementary School Shooting Victims: 'Hero' Teacher, Principal, 20 Kids |newspaper=ABC News |date=December 14, 2012 |access-date=December 18, 2012 |archive-date=December 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218071842/http://abcnews.go.com/US/connecticut-elementary-school-shooting-victims-hero-teacher-principal/story?id=17982784 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="courant1">{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-shooting-connecticut-factbox-idUSBRE8BE0DD20121215 |title=Factbox: Identities of Connecticut shooting victims |work=Reuters |date=December 15, 2012 |access-date=December 17, 2012 |archive-date=March 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328190217/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-shooting-connecticut-factbox-idUSBRE8BE0DD20121215 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="cbslocal1">{{cite news |title=CT State Police Release Names Of Victims In School Shooting Massacre |work=CBS News |date=December 15, 2012 |url=http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/12/15/ct-state-police-release-names-of-victims-in-school-shooting-massacre/ |access-date=December 15, 2012 |archive-date=December 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218082644/http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/12/15/ct-state-police-release-names-of-victims-in-school-shooting-massacre/ |url-status=live}}</ref> | align = center | width = 40% | quote = {{Plainlist|1= '''Killed:''' * <u>Perpetrator's mother:</u> ** Nancy Lanza, 52 (shot at home)<ref name="EwXZf">{{cite news |url=https://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Sandy-Hook-victims-families-struggle-with-12417381.php |title=Sandy Hook victims' families struggle with feelings about Nancy Lanza |first=Rob |last=Ryser |date=December 10, 2017 |access-date=September 22, 2018 |newspaper=[[The News-Times]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114013538/http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Sandy-Hook-victims-families-struggle-with-12417381.php |archive-date=January 14, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> * <u>School personnel:</u> ** Rachel D'Avino, 29, behavior therapist<ref name="Victim Rachel D'Avino">{{cite news |url=http://www.westhartfordnews.com/articles/2012/12/19/news/doc50cf551bee764427938314.txt |title=Victim Rachel D'Avino, killed days before marriage proposal, had ties to UHart and USJ |last=Poulisse |first=Adam |date=December 19, 2012 |work=Berkshire Eagle |access-date=December 20, 2012 |archive-date=July 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723232913/http://www.westhartfordnews.com/articles/2012/12/19/news/doc50cf551bee764427938314.txt |url-status=live}}</ref> ** Dawn Hochsprung, 47, principal ** Anne Marie Murphy, 52, special education teacher<ref name="Connecticut shooting: Services for Katonah native Anne Marie Murphy set">{{cite web|url=http://newyork.newsday.com/news/nation/connecticut-shooting-services-for-katonah-native-anne-marie-murphy-set-1.4339113|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219013848/http://newyork.newsday.com/news/nation/connecticut-shooting-services-for-katonah-native-anne-marie-murphy-set-1.4339113|archive-date=December 19, 2012 |title=Connecticut shooting: Services for Katonah native Anne Marie Murphy set |work=Newsday |date=December 16, 2012 |access-date=December 17, 2012}}</ref> ** Lauren Rousseau, 30, teacher ** Mary Sherlach, 56, school psychologist ** [[Victoria Leigh Soto]], 27, teacher * <u>Students:</u> ** Charlotte Bacon, 6<ref name="SWZ0B">{{cite news|title=Sandy Hook Parents: How We Honor Our Daughter's Memory|first=JoAnn|last=Bacon|url=https://time.com/4175760/charlotte-bacon-sandy-hook/|work=Time Magazine|date=January 12, 2016|access-date=August 30, 2017|archive-date=August 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819155257/http://time.com/4175760/charlotte-bacon-sandy-hook/|url-status=live}}</ref> ** Daniel Barden, 7 ** Olivia Engel, 6 ** Josephine Gay, 7 ** Dylan Hockley, 6 ** Madeleine Hsu, 6 ** Catherine Hubbard, 6 ** Chase Kowalski, 7 ** Jesse Lewis, 6 ** Ana Márquez-Greene, 6 ** James Mattioli, 6 ** Grace McDonnell, 7 ** Emilie Parker, 6 ** Jack Pinto, 6 ** Noah Pozner, 6 ** Caroline Previdi, 6<ref name="gk1mo">{{cite news |title=Caroline Previdi Foundation |url=http://www.carolineprevidifoundation.org/ |access-date=August 30, 2017 |archive-date=August 31, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831174111/http://www.carolineprevidifoundation.org/ |url-status=live}}</ref> ** Jessica Rekos, 6 ** Avielle Richman, 6 ** Benjamin Wheeler, 6 ** Allison Wyatt, 6
'''Wounded:''' * Natalie Hammond, 40, lead teacher * Deborah Pisani<ref name="pG7Su">{{cite news|title=Families Of Sandy Hook Victims Sue Nancy Lanza Estate|first=Dave|last=Altimari|url=http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-sandy-hook-lanza-lawsuit-20150313-story.html|work=Hartford Courant|date=March 14, 2015|access-date=June 30, 2016|archive-date=August 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807083402/http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-sandy-hook-lanza-lawsuit-20150313-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> }} }}
==Police response== {| id="HSV2" class="wikitable" style="float:right; border:#78bf73; margin-left:.75em;" |- !colspan=2 | First response timeline<ref name="nytimes.com" /> |- ! Time !! Event |- |style="background:#FFFAF4"| 09:35{{nbsp}}a.m. ||style="background:#FFFAF4;"| Lanza is believed to first enter SHES. |- |style="background:#FFFAF4"| 09:35:39{{nbsp}}a.m. ||style="background:#FFFAF4;"| First 911 call to Newtown Police is received. |- |style="background:#FFFAF4"| 09:36:06{{nbsp}}a.m.||style="background:#FFFAF4;"| 911 dispatcher broadcasts shooting at SHES. |- |style="background:#FFFAF4"| 09:37:38{{nbsp}}a.m. ||style="background:#FFFAF4;"| Connecticut State Police dispatched to SHES. |- |style="background:#FFFAF4"| 09:39:00{{nbsp}}a.m. ||style="background:#FFFAF4;"| First Newtown police arrives behind SHES. |- |style="background:#FFFAF4"| 09:39:13{{nbsp}}a.m. ||style="background:#FFFAF4;"| Two more Newtown officers arrive at SHES. |- |style="background:#FFFAF4"| 09:40:03{{nbsp}}a.m. ||style="background:#FFFAF4;"| Last shot heard. Believed to be Lanza's suicide. |- |style="background:#FFFAF4"| 09:42:39{{nbsp}}a.m. ||style="background:#FFFAF4;"| Newtown police reports Lanza's car license plate. |- |style="background:#FFFAF4"| 09:44:47{{nbsp}}a.m. ||style="background:#FFFAF4;"| Newtown police officers enter SHES. |- |style="background:#FFFAF4"| 09:46:23{{nbsp}}a.m. ||style="background:#FFFAF4;"| Connecticut State Police arrive at SHES. |- |style="background:#FFFAF4"| 09:46:48{{nbsp}}a.m. ||style="background:#FFFAF4;"| Connecticut State Police enter SHES. |}
The first call to 911 was around 9:35{{nbsp}}a.m. Newtown 911 police dispatch first broadcast that there was a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School (SHES) at 9:36{{nbsp}}a.m., about 30 seconds after they received the first call.<ref name="register">{{cite news |title=Newtown school shooting: Transcript of police, fire radio dispatch |work=[[New Haven Register]] |location=New Haven, Connecticut |date=December 14, 2012 |url=http://nhregister.com/articles/2012/12/14/news/doc50cc0897adc1a203744261.txt?viewmode=2 |access-date=December 17, 2012}}</ref> [[Connecticut State Police]] (CSP) were dispatched at 9:37{{nbsp}}a.m.<ref name="afp">{{cite news|last=Emmert |first=Don |url=http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/national-news/45564-conn-elementary-school-shooting-20-children-seven-adults-killed |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218084950/http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/national-news/45564-conn-elementary-school-shooting-20-children-seven-adults-killed |archive-date=December 18, 2012 |title=Conn. Elementary School Shooting: 20 Children, Seven Adults Killed |work=Mason County Daily News |access-date=December 18, 2012 | agency = Agence France-Presse}}</ref> Newtown police arrived at the school street at 9:39{{nbsp}}a.m., approximately three-and-a-half minutes after the 911 call, and Connecticut State Police arrived at the school street at 9:46{{nbsp}}a.m. Newtown police first entered the school at 9:45{{nbsp}}a.m., approximately nine minutes after the first 911 call and approximately ten minutes after the shooting started. This was approximately five minutes after the last shot was heard.<ref name="nytimes.com" /> No shots were fired by the police.<ref name="NbcNewsUSCfE" /><ref name="no_shots">{{cite web|date=December 14, 2012|title=Twenty children dead in mass shooting at Connecticut elementary school|url=http://www.macleans.ca/2012/12/14/18-children-dead-in-connecticut-school-shooting/|access-date=December 28, 2012|work=Maclean's|archive-date=December 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227183914/http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/12/14/18-children-dead-in-connecticut-school-shooting/|url-status=live}}</ref>
The Newtown police and Connecticut State Police mobilized local [[police dog]], [[SWAT|police tactical units]], a [[Bomb disposal|bomb squad]], and a state police helicopter.<ref name="courant">{{cite news |url=http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-newtown-sandy-hook-school-shooting-20121214,0,3124907,full.story |title=28 Dead, Including 20 Children, After Sandy Hook School Shooting in Newtown |newspaper=Hartford Courant |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215232042/http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-newtown-sandy-hook-school-shooting-20121214,0,3124907,full.story |archive-date=December 15, 2012}}</ref> Police locked down the school and began evacuating the survivors room by room, escorting groups of students and adults away from the school. They swept the school for other shooters at least four times.
At approximately 10:00{{nbsp}}a.m., Danbury Hospital sent extra medical personnel in expectation of having to treat numerous victims. Three wounded patients were evacuated to the hospital, where two children were later declared dead.<ref name="Danbury Hospital Prepared For School Shooting Massive Casualties, Got Few">{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/14/danbury-hospital-school-shooting_n_2304756.html |title=Danbury Hospital Prepared For School Shooting Massive Casualties, Got Few |work=Huffington Post |date=December 14, 2012 |access-date=December 16, 2012 |first1=Joe |last1=Van Brussel |first2=Matt |last2=Sledge |archive-date=December 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218102956/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/14/danbury-hospital-school-shooting_n_2304756.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The other was an unidentified adult.<ref name="Police: Second person injured in Connecticut school shooting survived" />
The [[Office of Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York|New York City medical examiner]] dispatched a portable morgue to assist the authorities.<ref name="nytimes" /> The victims' bodies were removed from the school and formally identified during the night after the shooting.<ref name="satpressconf">{{cite news |last=Quillen |first=Matt |url=http://www.nbc12.com/story/20346133/reports-28-dead-20-children-in-ct-elementary-school-shooting |title=20 children, suspect's mother dead in CT elementary school shooting |work=NBC12 |date=December 15, 2012 |access-date=December 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314155634/http://www.nbc12.com/story/20346133/reports-28-dead-20-children-in-ct-elementary-school-shooting |archive-date=March 14, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="cbsnews">{{cite news |title=Sandy Hook victims identified, bodies removed from school overnight |work=CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sandy-hook-victims-identified-bodies-removed-from-school-overnight/ |access-date=December 15, 2012 |archive-date=December 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215135031/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57559381/sandy-hook-victims-identified-bodies-removed-from-school-overnight/ |url-status=live}}</ref> A [[State police|state trooper]] was assigned to each victim's family to protect their privacy and provide them with information.
On December 4, 2013, six 911 calls relating to the shooting were made public.<ref name="VA5f7">{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/hc-sandyhook-911-calls-released-20131204,0,2995043.story|work=Hartford Courant|title=On The Six Newtown 911 Calls, Terror And Pleas For Help|date=December 4, 2013|access-date=January 4, 2014|first1=Dave|last1=Altimari|first2=Jenny|last2=Wilson|archive-date=January 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104065312/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/hc-sandyhook-911-calls-released-20131204,0,2995043.story|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Investigation <span class="anchor" id="Investigation"></span>== <!-- HIDDEN TEXT: [[Ryan Lanza]] redirects to this section. If you change the section header text, please leave the anchor text (the <span> id) in place. See [[Template:Anchor/doc]] for more details. Thank you. -->
===School site=== Authorities determined that Lanza reloaded frequently during the shootings, sometimes firing only 15 rounds from a 30-round magazine.<ref name="clothing_2" /> Investigators did not find a suicide note or any messages referring to the planning of the attack.<ref name="final_report" /><ref name="telegraph">{{cite news |last=Sherwell |first=Philip |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9749157/Connecticut-school-shooting-Adam-Lanza-rigged-rifle-for-maximum-damage.html |title=Connecticut school shooting: Adam Lanza rigged rifle for maximum damage |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=December 16, 2012 |access-date=December 17, 2012 |archive-date=December 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121217080418/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9749157/Connecticut-school-shooting-Adam-Lanza-rigged-rifle-for-maximum-damage.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Janet Robinson, superintendent of Newtown schools, said she had not found any connection between Lanza's mother and the school, in contrast to initial media reports that said Lanza's mother had worked there.<ref name="nytimes1" /><ref name="Media too quick to fill in the gaps in story of school shooting in Newtown, Conn.">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/media-too-quick-to-fill-in-the-gaps-in-story-of-school-shooting-in-newtown-conn/2012/12/18/368ae690-4959-11e2-ad54-580638ede391_story.html |first=Paul |last=Farhi |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=Media too quick to fill in the gaps in story of school shooting in Newtown, Conn. |date=December 19, 2012 |access-date=September 11, 2017 |archive-date=November 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108043458/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/media-too-quick-to-fill-in-the-gaps-in-story-of-school-shooting-in-newtown-conn/2012/12/18/368ae690-4959-11e2-ad54-580638ede391_story.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Police also investigated whether Lanza was the person who had been in an altercation with four staff members at Sandy Hook School the day before the massacre. It was presumed that he killed two of the four staff members involved in the altercation (the principal and the psychologist) and wounded the third (the lead teacher) in the attack; the fourth staff member was not at the school that day.<ref name="Newtown gunman had 'altercation' with school staff day before massacre">{{cite news |title=Newtown gunman had 'altercation' with school staff day before massacre|url=http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/15/15926718-newtown-gunman-forced-his-way-into-school-police-say?lite|work=NBC News|access-date=December 15, 2012|archive-date=January 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117211405/http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/15/15926718-newtown-gunman-forced-his-way-into-school-police-say?lite|url-status=live}}</ref> The state police said they did not know of any reports about any altercations at the school.<ref name="Liveblog">{{cite news|url=http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/12/15/children-and-adults-gunned-down-in-connecticut-school-massacre/?hpt=hp_t1|title=Live blog: Kids slain at Connecticut school were 6, 7|work=CNN|date=December 15, 2012|access-date=February 18, 2018|archive-date=February 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218150522/http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/12/15/children-and-adults-gunned-down-in-connecticut-school-massacre/?hpt=hp_t1|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Police sources initially reported that Lanza's brother Ryan Lanza, then aged 24,<ref name="0K4uY">{{cite news |last1=Ross |first1=Brian |last2=Cuomo |first2=Chris |last3=Esposito |first3=Richard |author2-link=Chris Cuomo|title=Connecticut Shooter Adam Lanza: 'Obviously Not Well' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/connecticut-shooter-adam-lanza/story?id=17975673 |access-date=September 28, 2020 |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=December 14, 2012 |archive-date=October 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025120443/https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/connecticut-shooter-adam-lanza/story?id=17975673 |url-status=live}}</ref> was the perpetrator.<ref name="tPYut">{{cite news |last1=Shontell |first1=Alyson |title=What It Was Like Being Ryan Lanza's Facebook Friend When The World Thought He Was A Killer |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/what-it-was-like-to-be-ryan-lanzas-facebook-friend-when-the-world-thought-he-was-a-killer-2012-12 |access-date=September 27, 2020 |work=[[Business Insider]] |date=December 17, 2012 |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212141321/https://www.businessinsider.com/what-it-was-like-to-be-ryan-lanzas-facebook-friend-when-the-world-thought-he-was-a-killer-2012-12 |url-status=live}}</ref> This was probably because Adam was carrying Ryan's identification, Ryan told ''[[The Jersey Journal]]''.<ref name="Rumors">{{cite web|last1=Grant|first1=Jason|last2=Frassinelli|first2=Mike|title=Rumors fly in Hoboken about brother of suspected Connecticut school shooter|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/12/confusion_reigns_at_hoboken_bu.html|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20121217214529/http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/12/confusion_reigns_at_hoboken_bu.html|archive-date=December 17, 2012|work=The Star Ledger|date=December 15, 2012|access-date=December 22, 2012}}</ref> Ryan, who lived in [[Hoboken, New Jersey]], and was at his job in [[New York City]] at the time of the shooting, voluntarily submitted to questioning by [[New Jersey State Police]], Connecticut State Police, and the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]].<ref name="uZGrZ">{{cite news |last1=Boburg |first1=Shawn |last2=Ensslin |first2=John |last3=Cowen |first3=Richard |title=Sandy Hook shooter's brother questioned in Hoboken after shootings |url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/tri-state-area/2017/12/12/archive-sandy-hook-shooteadam-lanzas-brother-questioned-hoboken-after-sandy-hook-elementary-shooting/928372001/ |access-date=September 28, 2020 |work=North Jersey |date=December 15, 2012 |archive-date=August 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810061253/https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/tri-state-area/2017/12/12/archive-sandy-hook-shooteadam-lanzas-brother-questioned-hoboken-after-sandy-hook-elementary-shooting/928372001/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="PoE0M">{{cite news |last1=From the [[Associated Press]] |title=Police make contact with Lanza's 'missing' girlfriend and friend; Mother found dead in home |url=https://www.knkx.org/post/police-make-contact-lanzas-missing-girlfriend-and-friend-mother-found-dead-home |access-date=September 28, 2020 |work=[[KNKX]] |date=December 15, 2012 |archive-date=January 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131141846/https://www.knkx.org/post/police-make-contact-lanzas-missing-girlfriend-and-friend-mother-found-dead-home |url-status=live}}</ref> Police said he was not considered a suspect, and he was not taken into custody.<ref name="foxnews20121214_Gunman_dead" /><ref name="KSDK">{{cite news|first=Pete |last=Yost|title=Conn. school shooting: Adam Lanza ID's as shooter|date=December 14, 2012|url=http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/352246/3/Conn-school-shooting-suspect-is-24-younger-brother-held |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103210137/http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/352246/3/Conn-school-shooting-suspect-is-24-younger-brother-held |archive-date=January 3, 2013 |work=[[KSDK]] |access-date=December 14, 2012}}</ref><ref name="NPRYost12-15-12">{{cite news|last1=Yost |first1=Pete |last2=Keyser |first2=Jason |title=Correction: Conn school shooting-suspect story |agency=Associated Press |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=167291334 |date=December 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215102959/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=167291334 |archive-date=December 15, 2012}}</ref> Ryan said he had not been in touch with Adam since 2010; when asked why, Ryan said his brother was "sick", "[doesn't] talk to anyone", and that Ryan "didn't know him anymore."<ref name="brother">{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/AP9bddda1ae22149f5aaa30fe0fc173f1f |title=Brother of Conn. gunman wrongly cited as shooter |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |agency=Associated Press |date=December 14, 2012 |access-date=December 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218041641/http://online.wsj.com/article/AP9bddda1ae22149f5aaa30fe0fc173f1f.html |archive-date=December 18, 2012}}</ref><ref name="huffpost1">{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/14/media-adam-lanza-newtown-connecticut-shooter-ryan-lanza_n_2302864.html|title=Media Initially Identify Adam Lanza, Newtown Shooting Suspect, As Ryan Lanza, His Brother|newspaper=[[Huffington Post]]|date=December 14, 2012|access-date=December 14, 2012|first=Rebecca|last=Shapiro|archive-date=December 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215050332/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/14/media-adam-lanza-newtown-connecticut-shooter-ryan-lanza_n_2302864.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="te5J3">{{cite news |last1=Engel |first1=Pamela |title=New Details Revealed About Ryan Lanza's Interrogation After The Sandy Hook Massacre |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ryan-lanzas-interrogation-in-matthew-lysiak-book-2013-12 |access-date=October 8, 2020 |work=[[Business Insider]] |date=December 7, 2015 |archive-date=October 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010021201/https://www.businessinsider.com/ryan-lanzas-interrogation-in-matthew-lysiak-book-2013-12 |url-status=live}}</ref> Connecticut State Police indicated their concern about misinformation being posted on social media sites and threatened prosecution of anyone involved with such activities.<ref name="Lt. Paul Vance: Misinformation Is Being Posted on Social Media Sites">{{cite news |title=Lt. Paul Vance: Misinformation Is Being Posted on Social Media Sites |work=Fox News Insider |date=December 16, 2012 |url= http://foxnewsinsider.com/2012/12/16/lt-paul-vance-misinformation-is-being-posted-on-social-media-sites/ |archive-url= https://archive.today/20130123125741/http://foxnewsinsider.com/2012/12/16/lt-paul-vance-misinformation-is-being-posted-on-social-media-sites/ |archive-date= January 23, 2013 |access-date=December 16, 2012}}</ref> Ryan was also mistakenly reported to have mourned his mother and brother on social media and to have been interviewed by the ''[[New York Post]]''.<ref name="information1">{{cite news |last1=Finn |first1=Peter |title=Lanza's brother denies giving Facebook interview to New York Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/lanzas-brother-denies-giving-facebook-interview-to-new-york-post/2012/12/23/692125de-4d54-11e2-8b49-64675006147f_story.html |access-date=September 25, 2020 |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |date=December 23, 2012 |archive-date=June 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619022743/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/lanzas-brother-denies-giving-facebook-interview-to-new-york-post/2012/12/23/692125de-4d54-11e2-8b49-64675006147f_story.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="y6AC9">{{cite news |title=Ryan Lanza mourns the loss of his mother, Nancy, and brother, Adam Lanza |url=https://www.news.com.au/world/ryan-lanza-mourns-the-loss-of-his-mother-nancy-and-brother-adam-lanza/news-story/64a863aa900c902999d116de79f58483 |access-date=September 25, 2020 |work=[[News.com.au]] |date=December 24, 2012 |archive-date=December 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217070645/https://www.news.com.au/world/ryan-lanza-mourns-the-loss-of-his-mother-nancy-and-brother-adam-lanza/news-story/64a863aa900c902999d116de79f58483 |url-status=live}}</ref> A spokesperson for the Lanza family later said an impostor gave the interview.<ref name="information1" /><ref name="mRNDN">{{cite news |last1=Stableford |first1=Dylan |title=Someone pretending to be Ryan Lanza gives Facebook interview to the New York Post |url=https://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/ryan-lanza-facebook-181924426.html |access-date=September 25, 2020 |work=[[Yahoo! News]] |date=December 23, 2012 |archive-date=December 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217064416/https://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/ryan-lanza-facebook-181924426.html |url-status=live}}</ref> [[File:This AR-15 was found in classroom 10 after the shooting.jpg|thumb|The Bushmaster XM15 rifle, along with three magazines, on the floor of Classroom 10. Two of them are taped together "[[jungle style]]" in the upper left corner.]] A large quantity of unused ammunition was recovered inside the school along with three [[semi-automatic firearm]]s found with Lanza: a [[.223 Remington|.223-caliber]] Bushmaster XM15-E2S rifle, a [[10mm Auto|10mm]] Glock 20SF handgun, and a 9mm SIG Sauer P226 handgun.<ref name="CTSP-20130118" /> Outside the school, a [[Gauge (firearms)|12-gauge]] [[Izhmash]] [[Saiga-12]]<!--When written in Cyrillic but mistakenly interpreted (read) as English, Saiga appears as "Canta", hence the source citation discrepancy.--> [[semi-automatic shotgun]] was found in the car Lanza had driven to the school, a black 2010 [[Honda Civic (eighth generation)|Honda Civic]].<ref name="CTSP-20130118" /><ref name="Newtown shooter's guns: What we know" />
On March 28, 2013, court documents released from the investigation showed that the shooting had occurred in the space of less than five minutes with 156 shots fired. This comprised 154 shots from the rifle and two shots from the 10mm pistol. Lanza fired one shot from the Glock in the hallway and killed himself with another shot from the pistol to the head.<ref name="documents" /><ref name="JiFzN">{{cite news |url=https://www.courant.com/2013/10/19/details-emerge-on-sandy-hook-shooting-items-found-in-lanza-rooms-2/ |title=Details Emerge On Sandy Hook Shooting |work=Hartford Courant |date=October 19, 2013 |access-date=December 7, 2013 |archive-date=November 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129135049/http://articles.courant.com/2013-10-19/news/hc-sandy-hook-shooting-details-20131018_1_nancy-lanza-adam-lanza-20-first-graders |url-status=live}}</ref>
===Lanza's house=== Shortly after the shooting, police announced that Lanza used the rifle to kill the victims at the school.<ref name="Newtown Shooter Used a Rifle Popular Among Gunowners">{{cite news |title=Newtown Shooter Used a Rifle Popular Among Gunowners |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/17/us/lanza-used-a-popular-ar-15-style-rifle-in-newtown.html?pagewanted=all |work=The New York Times |access-date=December 16, 2012 |first=Erica |last=Goode |date=December 16, 2012 |archive-date=December 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121217112805/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/17/us/lanza-used-a-popular-ar-15-style-rifle-in-newtown.html?pagewanted=all |url-status=live}}</ref> At a press conference on December 15, Dr. H. Wayne Carver II, the Chief Medical Examiner of Connecticut, was asked about the wounds, and replied "All the ones that I know of at this point were caused by the long weapon."<ref name="nytimes1" /><ref name="9JI4o">{{cite news|author=Willingham, A.J.|date=December 15, 2012|title=All wounds caused by 'long weapon'|work=HLN |url=http://www.hlntv.com/video/2012/12/15/shandy-hook-shooting-medical-examiner-information-deaths|access-date=February 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121217204518/http://www.hlntv.com/video/2012/12/15/shandy-hook-shooting-medical-examiner-information-deaths|archive-date=December 17, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Liveblog" /> When asked if the children suffered before dying, Carver replied by stating that "If so, not for very long."<ref name="aR02V">{{cite web|url=http://newtown.patch.com/articles/police-no-motive-emerging-in-newtown-school-shooting|title=Medical Examiner: Newtown Shooting Victims Suffered 'Devastating Set of Injuries'|work=Newtown.patch.com|date=December 15, 2012|access-date=April 12, 2013|archive-date=March 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130324115200/http://newtown.patch.com/articles/police-no-motive-emerging-in-newtown-school-shooting|url-status=live}}</ref> Carver, whose office autopsied the victims and who personally performed seven, said the injuries were "devastating" and that parents identified their children from photographs to spare them the sight. All the child victims were first-graders, and all were killed with the Bushmaster XM15. Carver said the bullets used were "designed in such a fashion the energy is deposited in the tissue so the bullet stays in."<ref name="nytimes1" /><ref name="Children in Connecticut rampage were six, seven; shot multiple times" />
Investigators evaluated Lanza's body, looking for evidence of drugs or medication through [[toxicology]] tests.<ref name="cnn 20121218 investigation">{{cite news | url = http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/18/us/connecticut-school-shooting/index.html | title = Families hold funerals as school resumes for some Newtown students |work= CNN | date = December 18, 2012 | access-date = December 18, 2012 | first1 = Susan | last1 = Candiotti | first2 = Dana | last2 = Ford | archive-date = December 18, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121218100038/http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/18/us/connecticut-school-shooting/index.html | url-status = live}}</ref> Unusually for an investigation of this type, [[DNA testing]] of Lanza was utilized.<ref name="bloomberg dna testing">{{cite news | url = https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-20/dna-of-newtown-gunman-unlikely-to-yield-clues-of-violence.html | title = DNA of Newtown Gunman Unlikely to Yield Clues of Violence |work= [[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]] | date = December 20, 2012 | access-date = December 27, 2012 | first = John | last = Lauerman | archive-date = December 23, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121223062608/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-20/dna-of-newtown-gunman-unlikely-to-yield-clues-of-violence.html | url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="ebXSP">{{cite news|first=Rose|last=Eveleth|author-link=Rose Eveleth|title=Adam Lanza's DNA Will Tell Us Nothing|url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/adam-lanzas-dna-will-tell-us-nothing-51471/|access-date=April 19, 2015|work=Smithsonian.com|date=December 31, 2012|archive-date=April 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427143524/http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/adam-lanzas-dna-will-tell-us-nothing-51471/|url-status=live}}</ref> The results of the toxicology report were published in October 2013, and stated that no alcohol or drugs were found in his system.<ref name="hRxOt">{{cite web|last=Altimari|first=Dave|title=Full Report Confirms No Drugs, Alcohol In Lanza's System|url=https://www.courant.com/2013/10/29/full-report-confirms-no-drugs-alcohol-in-lanzas-system/|date=October 29, 2013|work=[[Hartford Courant]]|access-date=June 23, 2014|archive-date=July 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709052232/http://articles.courant.com/2013-10-29/news/hc-sandy-hook-lanza-toxicology-20131029_1_peter-lanza-adam-lanza-toxicology-report|url-status=live}}</ref> Lanza's autopsy showed no tumors or gross deformities in his brain.<ref name="DJQaz">{{cite news|title=Adam Lanza, shooter in Sandy Hook Elementary massacre, found to have no brain deformities: medical examiner|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/lanza-brain-appears-normal-conn-doctor-article-1.1238602|access-date=March 14, 2013|newspaper=Daily News|location=New York|date=January 11, 2013|agency=Associated Press|archive-date=February 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224011905/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/lanza-brain-appears-normal-conn-doctor-article-1.1238602|url-status=live}}</ref>
Lanza removed the [[Hard disk drive|hard drive]] from his computer and intentionally damaged it before the shooting, creating a challenge for investigators to [[Data recovery|recover data]].<ref name="hard drive">{{cite news|title=Reports: Lanza smashed computer hard drive|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/12/17/newtown-sandy-hook-adam-lanza-computer-destroyed/1776253/|date=December 17, 2012|work=[[USA Today]]|access-date=December 18, 2012|archive-date=December 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218072737/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/12/17/newtown-sandy-hook-adam-lanza-computer-destroyed/1776253/|url-status=live}}</ref> As of the final report's publication, recovering data from the damaged drive had proven unsuccessful.<ref name="final_report" /> Police believe that Lanza extensively researched earlier mass shootings, as they had found that Lanza had videos relating to the [[Columbine High School massacre]] and other shootings downloaded onto another hard drive, along with two videos of suicide by gunshot.<ref name="nbc_investigation">{{cite news |url=http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/12/27/21736461-police-release-full-newtown-massacre-report-with-photos-and-video?lite |title=Police release full Newtown massacre report, with photos and video – Investigations |work=NBC News |date=December 27, 2013 |access-date=January 14, 2014 |archive-date=December 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230002144/http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/12/27/21736461-police-release-full-newtown-massacre-report-with-photos-and-video?lite |url-status=live}}</ref>
Details of the investigation were reported by law enforcement officials at a meeting of the International Association of Police Chiefs and Colonels held during the week of March 11, 2013. An article published in the ''[[New York Daily News]]'' on March 17, 2013, provided purported details of this report by an anonymous law enforcement veteran who had attended the meeting.<ref name="nydn spreadsheet">{{cite news | url = http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/lupica-lanza-plotted-massacre-years-article-1.1291408?print | title = Lupica: Morbid find suggests murder-obsessed gunman Adam Lanza plotted Newtown, Conn.'s Sandy Hook massacre for years | first = Mike | last = Lupica | date = March 17, 2013 | access-date = March 19, 2013 | work = [[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] | archive-date = March 21, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130321110028/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/lupica-lanza-plotted-massacre-years-article-1.1291408?print | url-status = live}}</ref> The source stated that the investigation had found that Lanza had created a 7-by-4-foot sized spreadsheet listing around 500 mass murderers (which later turned out to be around 400<ref name="wiki" />), which was considered to have taken years of work and to have been used by Lanza as a "score sheet."<ref name="nydn spreadsheet" /> On March 18, 2013, Lt. Paul Vance of the Connecticut State Police responded that the information from this meeting was "law enforcement sensitive information" and considered the release to be a leak.<ref name="leak vance">{{cite news | url = http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Sandy-Hook-Shooter-Kept-Spreadsheet-on-Mass-Killings-Report-198829761.html | title = Sandy Hook Shooter Kept Spreadsheet on Mass Killings: Report | first = LeAnne | last = Gendreau | date = March 18, 2013 | access-date = March 19, 2013 |work=[[WVIT]] | archive-date = April 23, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130423091916/http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Sandy-Hook-Shooter-Kept-Spreadsheet-on-Mass-Killings-Report-198829761.html | url-status = live}}</ref>
The March 28 documents also provided details on items found at Lanza's home, including three [[Katana|samurai swords]], a newspaper article about the [[Northern Illinois University shooting]], and a [[National Rifle Association]] certificate.<ref name="documents">{{cite news | url = http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/03/28/inside-newtown-shooter-adam-lanzas-home/ | title = Inside Newtown shooter Adam Lanza's home | date = March 28, 2013 | access-date = March 28, 2013 |work=[[MSNBC]] | archive-date = April 1, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130401171925/http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/03/28/inside-newtown-shooter-adam-lanzas-home/ | url-status = live}}</ref> The NRA denied that Lanza or Nancy Lanza were members, and reporters noted that the NRA site provides training certificate completion templates for courses offered by NRA Certified Instructors.<ref name="NRAMembers">{{cite web | url = https://www.politico.com/story/2013/03/adam-lanza-mom-nra-certificates-89426.html | title = Adam Lanza, mom had NRA Certificates | date = March 28, 2013 | access-date = March 28, 2013 | work = [[Huffington Post]] | archive-date = March 31, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130331012407/http://www.politico.com/story/2013/03/adam-lanza-mom-nra-certificates-89426.html | url-status = live}}</ref> A [[gun safe]] was found in a bedroom and investigators found more than 1,400 rounds of ammunition and other firearms.<ref name="mzU2D">{{cite news|title=Documents: New details on Newtown school massacre|url=http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2013/03/us/newtown-search-warrants/index.html?hpt=hp_t2|work=CNN|date=March 28, 2013|access-date=March 28, 2013|archive-date=March 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328224815/http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2013/03/us/newtown-search-warrants/index.html?hpt=hp_t2|url-status=live}}</ref> At home, Lanza had access to three more firearms: a [[Henry rifle|.45 Henry]] rifle, a [[M1917 Enfield|.30 Enfield]] rifle, and a [[Marlin Firearms|.22 Marlin]] rifle.<ref name="Connecticut school victims were shot multiple times">{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/15/us/connecticut-school-shooting/index.html |title=Connecticut school victims were shot multiple times |work=CNN |access-date=December 16, 2012 |date=December 16, 2012 |archive-date=December 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216004836/http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/15/us/connecticut-school-shooting/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="cnn1">{{cite news |last1=Candiotti |first1=Susan |last2=Yan |first2=Holly |title=Connecticut school shooting: Latest developments |work=CNN |date=December 16, 2012 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/16/us/connecticut-school-shooting/index.html |access-date=December 16, 2012 |quote=Carver, who performed autopsies on seven of the victims, said the wounds he knew about were caused by a "long weapon" and that the rifle was the primary weapon used. |archive-date=December 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216211656/http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/16/us/connecticut-school-shooting/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Little for Investigators to Trace">{{cite news|title=Sandy Hook Shooter Lanza Left Little For Investigators To Trace|url=https://www.courant.com/2012/12/19/sandy-hook-shooter-lanza-left-little-for-investigators-to-trace-2/|access-date=January 9, 2013|newspaper=Hartford Courant|date=December 19, 2012|first1=Dave|last1=Altimari|first2=Edmund|last2=Mahony|first3=Jon|last3=Lender|archive-date=January 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106204542/http://articles.courant.com/2012-12-19/news/hc-lanza-ghost-20121219_1_home-computer-investigators-video-games|url-status=live}}</ref> These were legally owned by Lanza's mother.<ref name="NBC News Dec 14">{{cite news|title=Elementary school massacre: 27 dead, including 20 kids, in Connecticut|url=http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/15/15907407-elementary-school-massacre-20-children-among-28-killed-in-connecticut-slaughter|work=NBC News|access-date=December 14, 2012|first1=Pete|last1=Williams|first2=Miguel|last2=Llanos|first3=Tracy|last3=Connor|date=December 14, 2012|archive-date=January 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117211329/http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/15/15907407-elementary-school-massacre-20-children-among-28-killed-in-connecticut-slaughter|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nydailynews">{{cite news |first1=Matthew |last1=Lysiak |first2=Denis |last2=Slattery |first3=Rich |last3=Schapiro |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/adam-lanza-20-deeply-disturbed-kid-article-1.1220752 |title=Sandy Hook mass murderer Adam Lanza, 20, 'deeply disturbed kid' |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |location=New York |date=December 14, 2012 |access-date=December 14, 2012 |archive-date=December 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216082943/http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/adam-lanza-20-deeply-disturbed-kid-article-1.1220752 |url-status=live}}</ref> According to ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', authorities also found a photograph of Lanza holding a gun to his head at his home following his death.<ref name="Don't Blame">{{cite magazine | url = https://time.com/19957/adam-lanzas-violence-wasnt-typical-of-aspergers/ | title = Don't Blame Adam Lanza's Violence on Asperger's | first = Alice | last = Park | date = March 11, 2014 | access-date = March 12, 2014 | magazine = Time | archive-date = March 11, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140311235314/http://time.com/19957/adam-lanzas-violence-wasnt-typical-of-aspergers/ | url-status = live}}</ref>
According to ''The New York Times'', law enforcement officials commented that Lanza would spend most of his time in his basement doing solitary activities. According to the same officials, it also appeared that Lanza "may have taken target practice in the basement."<ref name="EZO0T">{{cite news|title=Newtown Killer's Obsessions, in Chilling Detail|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/29/nyregion/search-warrants-reveal-items-seized-at-adam-lanzas-home.html|work=The New York Times|date=March 28, 2013|access-date=May 1, 2013|first1=N. R.|last1=Kleinfield|first2=Ray|last2=Rivera|first3=Serge F.|last3=Kovaleski|archive-date=April 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130407052126/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/29/nyregion/search-warrants-reveal-items-seized-at-adam-lanzas-home.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The ''Hartford Courant'' reported that Lanza had edited Wikipedia articles related to mass shootings with the username Kaynbred.<ref name="wiki">{{cite news|title=Sandy Hook shooter Adam Lanza's spreadsheet detailing centuries of mass violence served as a road map to murder|url=https://www.courant.com/2018/12/09/sandy-hook-shooter-adam-lanzas-spreadsheet-detailing-centuries-of-mass-violence-served-as-a-road-map-to-murder/|work=The Hartford Courant|date=December 9, 2018|access-date=September 27, 2023|first=Dave|last=Altimari|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831083541/https://www.courant.com/2018/12/09/sandy-hook-shooter-adam-lanzas-spreadsheet-detailing-centuries-of-mass-violence-served-as-a-road-map-to-murder/ |archive-date=August 31, 2023 }}</ref>
===Final reports=== ==== State Attorney's report ==== The final report of the State Attorney summarizing the investigation into the shooting was published on November 25, 2013. It concluded that Lanza had acted alone, and that the case was closed. The report noted that "[Lanza] had a familiarity with and access to firearms and ammunition and an obsession with mass murders, in particular the April 1999 shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado." The report did not identify a specific motive for the shooting, stating, "The evidence clearly shows that the shooter planned his actions, including the taking of his own life, but there is no clear indication why he did so, or why he targeted Sandy Hook elementary school."<ref name="jpMUY">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/25/sandy-hook-shooter-adam-lanza-report |title=Sandy Hook report – shooter Adam Lanza was obsessed with mass murder |work=The Guardian |date=November 25, 2013 |access-date=November 26, 2013 |archive-date=November 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126101418/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/25/sandy-hook-shooter-adam-lanza-report |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="K0zkH">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25097127 |title=Newtown gunman Adam Lanza had 'obsession' with Columbine |work=BBC News |date=November 26, 2013 |access-date=November 28, 2013 |archive-date=November 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131128164920/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25097127 |url-status=live}}</ref>
On the question of Lanza's state of mind, the report noted "significant mental health issues that affected his ability to live a normal life and to interact with others, even those to whom he should have been close{{nbsp}}... What contribution this made to the shootings, if any, is unknown as those mental health professionals who saw him did not see anything that would have predicted his future behavior." The report found no evidence that Lanza had taken drugs or medication that would have affected his behavior, and observed, "'Why did the shooter murder twenty-seven people, including twenty children?' Unfortunately, that question may never be answered conclusively, despite the collection of extensive background information on the shooter through a multitude of interviews and other sources."<ref name="final_report" /><ref name="Vktfi">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/sandy-hook-killer-adam-lanza-acted-alone-and-had-an-obsession-with-mass-killings-such-as-columbine-says-report-8963342.html |title=Sandy Hook massacre: Adam Lanza acted alone and had an obsession with mass killings |work=The Independent |date=November 26, 2013 |access-date=November 28, 2013 |location=London |archive-date=November 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131128001204/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/sandy-hook-killer-adam-lanza-acted-alone-and-had-an-obsession-with-mass-killings-such-as-columbine-says-report-8963342.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
On December 27, 2013, police released thousands of pages of documents pertaining to the investigation. In accordance with law, the names of victims and witnesses were redacted or withheld. The summary report included information about items found on Lanza's computer equipment, including writings and material about previous mass shootings.<ref name="hNUJY">{{cite news|title=Police Release Documents On Newtown Massacre|url=http://articles.courant.com/2013-12-28/news/hc-sandy-hook-state-police-report-20131227_1_adam-lanza-nancy-lanza-yogananda-street|work=[[Hartford Courant]]|access-date=September 2, 2014|date=December 27, 2013|archive-date=September 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903124829/http://articles.courant.com/2013-12-28/news/hc-sandy-hook-state-police-report-20131227_1_adam-lanza-nancy-lanza-yogananda-street|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="v59Un">{{cite news |title=No Motive In Newtown Report, But Many Details About Lanza|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/11/25/247219204/no-motive-in-newtown-report-but-many-details-about-lanza|first=Bill|last=Chappell|work=[[NPR]]|access-date=January 29, 2015|date=November 25, 2013|archive-date=February 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215141556/http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/11/25/247219204/no-motive-in-newtown-report-but-many-details-about-lanza|url-status=live}}</ref> A former teacher of Lanza's noted that he exhibited antisocial behavior, rarely interacted with other students, and was obsessed with writing "about battles, destruction and war."<ref name="NtCpd">{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|title=Police file on Newtown yields chilling portrait|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/police-file-on-newtown-yields-chilling-portrait-of-shooter-and-more-details-of-rampage/2013/12/27/2d09a548-6f4b-11e3-b405-7e360f7e9fd2_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=December 28, 2013|date=December 27, 2013|archive-date=December 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151213090100/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/police-file-on-newtown-yields-chilling-portrait-of-shooter-and-more-details-of-rampage/2013/12/27/2d09a548-6f4b-11e3-b405-7e360f7e9fd2_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
====Report of the Office of the Child Advocate==== The Report of the Office of the Child Advocate concluded: "There was not one thing that was necessarily the tipping point driving Lanza to commit the Sandy Hook shooting. Rather there was a cascade of events, many self-imposed, that included: loss of school; absence of work; disruption of the relationship with his one friend; virtually no personal contact with family; virtually total and increasing isolation; fear of losing his home and of a change in his relationship with Mrs. Lanza, his only caretaker and connection; worsening OCD; depression and anxiety; profound and possibly worsening anorexia; and an increasing obsession with mass murder occurring in the total absence of any engagement with the outside world. Adam increasingly lived in an alternate universe in which ruminations about mass shootings were his central preoccupation."{{sfn|Office of the Child Advocate|2014|p=104}}
The authors also noted that despite multiple developmental and mental health problems, Lanza had not received adequate mental health treatment. They wrote: "It is fair to surmise that, had Lanza's mental illness been adequately treated in the last years of his life, one predisposing factor to the tragedy of Sandy Hook might have been mitigated."{{sfn|Office of the Child Advocate|2014|p=107}}
The report also tentatively disagreed with the conclusions of the State Attorney about why Lanza targeted Sandy Hook. They noted that "According to the FBI, shooters are likely to target places or people that are familiar to them{{nbsp}}... The elementary school may have been targeted because he could overpower people, a dynamic that is very important for mass shooters as they do not want to be thwarted."{{sfn|Office of the Child Advocate|2014|p=104}}
==Perpetrator== {{main|Adam Lanza}} Adam Peter Lanza (April 22, 1992 – December 14, 2012) was born in [[Exeter, New Hampshire]], and grew up in Newtown, Connecticut, where he was raised primarily by his mother following his parents' divorce in 2008. From an early age, he was diagnosed with a number of developmental and neurodivergent conditions, including [[Asperger syndrome]], [[sensory processing disorder]], and [[obsessive-compulsive disorder]]. He was described by those who knew him as highly intelligent but profoundly withdrawn. He struggled throughout his childhood and adolescence with social interaction and emotional regulation.
As a teenager, Lanza became increasingly isolated and stopped attending school.<ref>{{cite web|title=Report: 'Missed opportunities' to stop Sandy Hook killer|url=https://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Report-Missed-opportunities-to-stop-Sandy-Hook-5910579.php/?amp=1}}</ref> His anxiety led to him being placed on homebound status, where he received instruction at home rather than attending classes. His mother declined treatments recommended by the [[Yale Child Study Center]], preferring to accommodate his preferences rather than forcing him to adapt to social environments and improving his mental health.<ref>{{cite web|title=Schools helped Adam Lanza's mom 'appease' him, new report into Sandy Hook tragedy finds|url=https://abc7ny.com/post/schools-helped-adam-lanzas-mom-appease-him-new-report-finds-/405310/?amp=1}}</ref> Lanza developed an intense preoccupation with mass violence, compiling extensive research on prior shootings and maintaining spreadsheets documenting past attacks. Lanza withdrew from social contact almost entirely in the years before the shooting. Lanza had access to an arsenal of legally purchased firearms belonging to his mother, who was an avid gun enthusiast. Severe mental illness, social isolation, and access to weapons were all identified as contributing factors to the shooting by Connecticut state authorities and the Office of the Child Advocate.<ref>{{cite web|title=Adam Lanza's Mother Was a Gun Enthusiast, Friends Say|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/16/nyregion/friends-of-gunmans-mother-his-first-victim-recall-her-as-generous.html/?amp=1}}</ref>
== Legal proceedings == === Nancy Lanza's estate === In January 2015, the families of two of the first-graders who died in the shooting filed a lawsuit against the city of Newtown and the Newtown Board of Education alleging inadequate security at the school.<ref name="2015Lawsuit2Federal">{{cite news|last1=Richinick|first1=Michele|date=January 22, 2015|title=Gun manufacturer moves Sandy Hook lawsuit to federal court|work=MSNBC|url=http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/gun-manufacturer-moves-sandy-hook-lawsuit-federal-court|url-status=live|access-date=May 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518105236/http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/gun-manufacturer-moves-sandy-hook-lawsuit-federal-court|archive-date=May 18, 2015}}</ref> On May 7, 2018, judgement was published on the side of the defendants, concluding in part that "the court has decided that the plaintiffs' claims against the defendants are barred by governmental immunity".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://casetext.com/case/lewis-v-newton-board-of-education|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927181936/https://casetext.com/case/lewis-v-newton-board-of-education|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 27, 2023|title=Lewis v. Newton Board of Education, CV156075650S | Casetext Search + Citator|website=casetext.com}}</ref> In March 2015, it was announced that parents of children and teachers killed in the shooting had filed lawsuits against the estate of Nancy Lanza. The suits were based on a claim that she did not properly secure her firearms, which allowed her son, a person with mental health issues, to gain access to them. The attorneys representing the families said Lanza was believed to have had homeowner's insurance on her home worth more than $1 million and they were seeking compensation based on that.<ref name="2015lawsuits">{{cite news|last1=Polansky|first1=Rob|date=March 13, 2015|title=Nine Sandy Hook families sue Lanza estate|work=Eyewitness News 3|agency=WFSB|url=http://www.wfsb.com/story/28472592/nine-sandy-hook-families-sue-lanza-estate|url-status=live|access-date=March 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314193455/http://www.wfsb.com/story/28472592/nine-sandy-hook-families-sue-lanza-estate|archive-date=March 14, 2015}}</ref> The case was settled in December 2015, with 16 plaintiffs sharing a $1.5 million payment from Nancy's estate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/12/23/us/connecticut-sandy-hook-settlement/index.html|title=Sandy Hook families to share $1.5M from estate of shooter's mother|first=Sarah|last=Jorgensen|date=December 23, 2015|website=CNN|access-date=June 15, 2024|archive-date=June 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615111249/https://www.cnn.com/2015/12/23/us/connecticut-sandy-hook-settlement/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== James Fetzer === On October 16, 2019, a jury awarded [[Leonard Pozner]] {{US$|450000|2019|long=no}} for defamation by [[James Fetzer]], who had co-written the book ''Nobody Died at Sandy Hook''. The book claimed that Pozner had fabricated the death certificate of his son Noah, a six-year-old victim of the shooting. Fetzer said he would appeal the decision.<ref name="KYHy2">{{cite news|date=October 16, 2019|title=Sandy Hook shooting: Parent awarded $450,000 for defamation|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-50074652|url-status=live|access-date=October 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016211612/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-50074652|archive-date=October 16, 2019}}</ref> Fetzer petitioned for an appeal, which was denied, to which he petitioned for a rehearing, which was also denied.<ref>{{cite web|title=James Fetzer, Petitioner v. Leonard Pozner|website=Supreme Court of the United States|url=https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/21-7916.html|access-date=January 4, 2024|archive-date=February 10, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210051139/https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=%2Fdocket%2Fdocketfiles%2Fhtml%2Fpublic%2F21-7916.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Remington === On December 15, 2014, nine families of the 26 victims of the shooting filed a class-action lawsuit in Connecticut against Bushmaster, [[Remington Arms]], Camfour, a distributor of firearms, and the now-closed East Windsor store, Riverview Sales, where the gunman's rifle was purchased, seeking "unspecified" damages,<ref name="bbc_lawsuit">{{cite news|date=December 15, 2014|title=Sandy Hook victims' families file lawsuit against gun maker|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-30484531|url-status=live|access-date=December 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215201000/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-30484531|archive-date=December 15, 2014}}</ref> claiming an exemption from the 2005 Federal [[Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act]] (PLCAA) that would normally disallow such a suit as lacking [[standing (law)|standing]].<ref name="s5Mas">{{cite web|last1=Terrill|first1=Daniel|title=Remington tries for dismissal in Sandy Hook, Bushmaster case|url=http://www.guns.com/2016/02/22/remington-lawyers-try-for-dismissal-in-sandy-hook-bushmaster-case/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223105046/http://www.guns.com/2016/02/22/remington-lawyers-try-for-dismissal-in-sandy-hook-bushmaster-case/|archive-date=February 23, 2016|access-date=February 23, 2016|website=Guns.com |date=February 22, 2016 }}</ref><ref name="obbieatlantic">{{cite magazine|last1=Obbie|first1=Mark|date=February 17, 2016|title=Will a Gun Manufacturer Be Held Liable for Sandy Hook?|magazine=The Atlantic |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/02/bushmaster-sandy-hook-liability/463245/|url-status=live|access-date=February 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160221135238/http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/02/bushmaster-sandy-hook-liability/463245/|archive-date=February 21, 2016}}</ref> The plaintiffs allege that the XM15-E2S is suitable only for military and policing applications and that Bushmaster inappropriately marketed it to civilians.<ref name="obbieatlantic" /> In January 2015, Bushmaster's attorneys petitioned to have the suit moved to federal court because, although the shooting took place in Connecticut, it is located in North Carolina.<ref name="2015Lawsuit2Federal" /> In February 2015, the victims' families' attorneys made a motion to move the suit back to state court.<ref name="2015MovebacktoCT">{{cite news|last1=Stewart|first1=Doug|date=February 17, 2015|title=Sandy Hook families push to move Bushmaster lawsuit back to state court|work=FOX CT |url=http://foxct.com/2015/02/17/sandy-hook-families-push-to-move-bushmaster-lawsuit-back-to-state-court/|url-status=live|access-date=May 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506090343/http://foxct.com/2015/02/17/sandy-hook-families-push-to-move-bushmaster-lawsuit-back-to-state-court/|archive-date=May 6, 2015}}</ref> On April 14, 2016, a Connecticut court denied the defendants' motion to summarily dismiss the case.<ref name="JUekg">{{cite news|last1=Gorman|first1=Michele|date=April 14, 2016|title=Sandy Hook Lawsuit: Judge Rules Against Gun Companies|work=Newsweek|url=http://www.newsweek.com/connecticut-judge-dismisses-gun-manufacturers-motion-dismiss-447918|url-status=live|access-date=April 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415190357/http://www.newsweek.com/connecticut-judge-dismisses-gun-manufacturers-motion-dismiss-447918|archive-date=April 15, 2016}}</ref> Lawyers for the defense filed a second motion for dismissal a month later.<ref name="CNN">{{cite news|last1=Fantz|first1=Ashley|date=June 20, 2016|title=Gun makers urge judge to toss Sandy Hook lawsuit|work=CNN |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/06/20/health/sandy-hook-newtown-gun-lawsuit/|url-status=live|access-date=April 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612165720/https://edition.cnn.com/2016/06/20/health/sandy-hook-newtown-gun-lawsuit/|archive-date=June 12, 2018}}</ref> On October 14, 2016, the defendants' motion to dismiss the lawsuit was granted. The judge ruled the complaint was not valid per federal and Connecticut laws.<ref name="dismissalNYDailyNews">{{cite news|last1=Brennan|first1=Christopher|date=October 14, 2016|title=Conn. judge dismisses Sandy Hook families' lawsuit against gunmaker|work=Daily News|location=New York|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/judge-dismisses-sandy-hook-families-lawsuit-gunmaker-article-1.2831108|url-status=live|access-date=October 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014205049/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/judge-dismisses-sandy-hook-families-lawsuit-gunmaker-article-1.2831108|archive-date=October 14, 2016}}</ref><ref name="thrownout">{{cite news|last1=Mason|first1=Melvin|date=October 14, 2016|title=Sandy Hook families' lawsuit thrown out |newspaper=Stratford Star|url=http://www.stratfordstar.com/58379/sandy-hook-families-lawsuit-thrown-out/|url-status=live|access-date=October 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018190351/http://www.stratfordstar.com/58379/sandy-hook-families-lawsuit-thrown-out/|archive-date=October 18, 2016|quote=In her 54-page ruling, Bellis said the allegations "do not fit within the common-law tort of negligence entrustment under well established Connecticut law, nor do they come within the PLCAA [Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act]'s definition of negligent entrustment."}}</ref><ref name="Memorandum of Decision">{{cite web|date=October 14, 2016|title=Memorandum of Decision|url=https://civilinquiry.jud.ct.gov/DocumentInquiry/DocumentInquiry.aspx?DocumentNo=11214676|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230192349/http://civilinquiry.jud.ct.gov/DocumentInquiry/DocumentInquiry.aspx?DocumentNo=11214676|archive-date=December 30, 2016|access-date=October 17, 2016}}</ref><ref name="TiPO8">{{Cite news|date=October 14, 2016|title=Connecticut Judge Dismisses Sandy Hook Families' Suit Against Gunmaker|newspaper=The New York Times|agency=Reuters|url=https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2016/10/14/us/14reuters-connecticut-shooting.html|access-date=October 15, 2016|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
The families appealed to the [[Connecticut Supreme Court]]. In March 2019, the court decided in a 4–3 vote to reverse parts of the trial court's rulings and remand the case back to Bridgeport Superior Court for additional hearings. It ruled<ref name="VTtxr">{{cite web|last=Altimari|first=Dave|date=March 17, 2019|title=Supreme Court ruling in Sandy Hook case could reveal gun manufacturer's confidential marketing strategy for semiautomaic firearms|url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-sandy-hook-gun-case-folo-20190317-hq77kvcvrzczze2bno74ousz64-story.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926191226/https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-sandy-hook-gun-case-folo-20190317-hq77kvcvrzczze2bno74ousz64-story.html|archive-date=September 26, 2019|access-date=March 18, 2019|website=The Hartford Courant}}</ref> that the families' appeal to the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act, demonstrating that the gun manufacturers had used advertising that presented the weapons in an "unfair, unethical, or dangerous manner", with Remington seeking to "expand the market for [its] assault weapons through advertising campaigns that encouraged consumers{{nbsp}}... to launch offensive assaults against their perceived enemies", was not prohibited by PLCAA, and thus that the plaintiffs had sufficient standing to argue their case at trial court. It also ruled that the plaintiffs can subpoena internal documents on how gun companies have marketed the AR-15.<ref name="slate csc reverse">{{cite web| author-link = Mark Joseph Stern | last = Stern |first=Mark Joseph|date=March 14, 2019|title=Connecticut Supreme Court Issues Stunning Decision Allowing Sandy Hook Families to Sue Gun Manufacturer|url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/03/sandy-hook-connecticut-supreme-court-guns-nra-remington.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190315054112/https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/03/sandy-hook-connecticut-supreme-court-guns-nra-remington.html|archive-date=March 15, 2019|access-date=March 14, 2019|work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]}}</ref> Remington asked the [[Supreme Court of the United States]] to review the state court ruling, but in November 2019 the Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal, allowing the families' suit to proceed.<ref name="DhAAP">{{cite news|last=de Vogue|first=Ariane|date=November 12, 2019|title=Supreme Court allows Sandy Hook families to sue Remington|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/12/business/remington-sandy-hook-supreme-court/index.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112160109/https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/12/business/remington-sandy-hook-supreme-court/index.html|archive-date=November 12, 2019|access-date=November 12, 2019|work=CNN}}</ref>
On July 26, 2021, a judge refused to dismiss the lawsuit. In court documents the next day, Remington offered $33 million to be shared by the nine families.<ref name="Romo">{{cite news|last=Romo|first=Vanessa|date=July 28, 2021|title=Gun-Maker Offers Sandy Hook Families $33 Million. Here's What They May Be Considering|work=[[NPR]]|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/07/28/1022035192/gun-maker-offers-sandy-hook-families-33-million-heres-what-they-may-be-consideri|access-date=July 29, 2021|archive-date=July 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729105303/https://www.npr.org/2021/07/28/1022035192/gun-maker-offers-sandy-hook-families-33-million-heres-what-they-may-be-consideri|url-status=live}}</ref> On February 15, 2022, Remington agreed to settle for $73 million,<ref>{{cite web|last=Murdock|first=Sebastian|date=February 15, 2022|title=Sandy Hook Families Win $73 Million In Lawsuit Against Remington Arms|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/remington-arms-settles-liability-claims-in-lawsuit-against-sandy-hook-families_n_620bc87fe4b083bd1cc4f7f6|access-date=February 15, 2022|website=HuffPost|language=en|archive-date=February 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215181107/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/remington-arms-settles-liability-claims-in-lawsuit-against-sandy-hook-families_n_620bc87fe4b083bd1cc4f7f6|url-status=live}}</ref> according to the families' attorney, Josh Koskoff.<ref>{{Cite news|date=February 16, 2022|title=Families of Sandy Hook victims settle with Remington|page=1|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-60312237|access-date=February 16, 2022|archive-date=February 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216000704/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-60312237|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Alex Jones === {{Main|Alex Jones#Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting}} {{See also|The Truth vs. Alex Jones{{!}}''The Truth vs. Alex Jones''|Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting conspiracy theories}} On April 17, 2018, radio host and conspiracy theorist [[Alex Jones]] was sued for defamation by three parents whose children were killed in the shooting. Prior to this, Jones said that the Sandy Hook shooting was "completely fake" and a "giant hoax" perpetrated by opponents of the [[Second Amendment to the United States Constitution|Second Amendment]].<ref name="Xo5i6">{{Cite news|last=Haag|first=Matthew|date=April 17, 2018|title=Sandy Hook Parents Sue Alex Jones for Defamation|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/17/business/media/alex-jones-sandy-hook.html|url-status=live|access-date=April 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417235404/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/17/business/media/alex-jones-sandy-hook.html|archive-date=April 17, 2018|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Jones claims he later believed the shooting was real.<ref name="VZiLy">{{cite news |title=The Latest: Host Alex Jones responds to Sandy Hook lawsuits|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/newswires/news/business/latest-host-alex-jones-responds-sandy-hook-lawsuits-article-1.3939927|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623221938/http://www.nydailynews.com/newswires/news/business/latest-host-alex-jones-responds-sandy-hook-lawsuits-article-1.3939927|archive-date=June 23, 2018|access-date=June 23, 2018|work=NY Daily News}}</ref> On May 23, 2018, six more families sued Jones for his claims.<ref name="2s9FJ">{{cite news |last1=Zadrozny|first1=Brandy|author-link1=Brandy Zadrozny|title=Six more families sue Alex Jones over Sandy Hook conspiracy claims|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/six-more-families-sue-alex-jones-over-sandy-hook-conspiracy-n876881|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622180853/https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/six-more-families-sue-alex-jones-over-sandy-hook-conspiracy-n876881|archive-date=June 22, 2018|access-date=June 23, 2018|work=NBC News}}</ref> Jones was found to be in [[contempt of court]] by a Texas judge before the trial started, for failing to produce witnesses and materials relevant to the procedures. Consequently, Jones and ''[[Infowars]]'' were fined a total of $126,000 in October and December 2019.<ref name="Qk9O6">{{Cite news|date=December 31, 2019|title=Alex Jones ordered to pay $100,000 in Sandy Hook defamation case|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50960730|url-status=live|access-date=December 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231214243/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50960730|archive-date=December 31, 2019}}</ref>
In October 2021, Jones was ordered to pay damages and was criticized by a judge for failing to hand over documents requested by the courts.<ref>{{cite news|author=Timothy Bella|date=October 1, 2021|title=Alex Jones must pay damages to Sandy Hook families after calling shooting a 'giant hoax,' judge rules|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/alex-jones-must-pay-damages-to-sandy-hook-families-after-calling-shooting-a-giant-hoax-judge-rules/ar-AAP2pPN?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=October 2, 2021|archive-date=October 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001151333/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/alex-jones-must-pay-damages-to-sandy-hook-families-after-calling-shooting-a-giant-hoax-judge-rules/ar-AAP2pPN?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/alex-jones-held-liable-in-sandy-hook-defamation-cases-11633107365|title=Alex Jones Held Liable in Sandy Hook Defamation Cases|first=Jennifer|last=Calfas|newspaper=WSJ|date=October 1, 2021|via=www.wsj.com|access-date=October 2, 2021|archive-date=October 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009222145/https://www.wsj.com/articles/alex-jones-held-liable-in-sandy-hook-defamation-cases-11633107365|url-status=live}}</ref> Jones declared [[bankruptcy]] in April 2022 as a result of the defamation lawsuits caused by his claims that the shooting was a hoax.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alex-jones-bankruptcy-filing-infowars-defamation-suits-sandy-hook/|title=Alex Jones' Infowars files for bankruptcy in wake of defamation suits over his assertions that the Sandy Hook massacre was a hoax|website=www.cbsnews.com|date=April 18, 2022|access-date=April 18, 2022|archive-date=April 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418175556/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alex-jones-bankruptcy-filing-infowars-defamation-suits-sandy-hook/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/18/us/alex-jones-infowars-bankruptcy.html|title=Alex Jones's Infowars Files for Bankruptcy|first=Derrick Bryson|last=Taylor|work=The New York Times|date=April 18, 2022|via=NYTimes.com|access-date=April 18, 2022|archive-date=April 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418175016/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/18/us/alex-jones-infowars-bankruptcy.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On August 4, 2022, Jones was ordered to pay $4.1 million compensatory damages to Sandy Hook parents and, on August 5, 2022, he was ordered to pay a further $45.2 million in punitive damages.<ref>{{cite news |author=Dylan Stableford |url=https://news.yahoo.com/alex-jones-sandy-hook-defamation-trial-verdict-infowars-214026160.html |title=Alex Jones must pay $4.1 million to Sandy Hook parents, jury finds |work=Yahoo! News |date=August 4, 2022 |access-date=August 5, 2022 |archive-date=August 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809071844/https://news.yahoo.com/alex-jones-sandy-hook-defamation-trial-verdict-infowars-214026160.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Samee |first=Safia |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/alex-jones-must-pay-41-million-parents-sandy-hook-school-massacre-vict-rcna41493 |title=Alex Jones must pay at least $4.1 million to parents of a Sandy Hook school massacre victim in defamation case, jury rules |work=NBC News |date= |access-date=August 5, 2022 |archive-date=August 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811201858/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/alex-jones-must-pay-41-million-parents-sandy-hook-school-massacre-vict-rcna41493 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Massie |first1=Graeme |title=Alex Jones ordered to pay additional $45.2m in punitive damages by Texas jury |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/alex-jones-jury-sandy-hook-b2139336.html |work=The Independent |date=August 5, 2022 |language=en |access-date=August 5, 2022 |archive-date=August 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810222308/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/alex-jones-jury-sandy-hook-b2139336.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A separate case filed in Connecticut reached a verdict on October 12, 2022, and ordered Jones to pay an additional $965 million in damages to the families of Sandy Hook victims.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/jury-begins-third-day-deliberations-alex-jones-sandy-hook-defamation-trial-2022-10-12/|title=Alex Jones must pay Sandy Hook families nearly $1 billion for hoax claims, jury says|work=Reuters|first=Jack|last=Queen|date=October 12, 2022|access-date=October 12, 2022|archive-date=January 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105203939/https://www.reuters.com/legal/jury-begins-third-day-deliberations-alex-jones-sandy-hook-defamation-trial-2022-10-12/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="AP2024">{{Cite news |date=November 14, 2024 |title=Satire publication The Onion buys Alex Jones' Infowars at auction with Sandy Hook families' backing |url=https://apnews.com/article/onion-buys-infowars-alex-jones-6496f198d141c991087dcd937b3588e9 |access-date=November 14, 2024 |work=AP News |language=en |archive-date=November 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241114162428/https://apnews.com/article/onion-buys-infowars-alex-jones-6496f198d141c991087dcd937b3588e9 |url-status=live }}</ref>
On November 14, 2024, ''Infowars'' and its associated brands were sold to ''[[The Onion]]'' at auction after a special deal was reached with the victim's families, allowing ''The Onion'' to become the top bidder above a company affiliated with Jones.<ref name="AP2024" /> However, in December 2024, a U.S. bankruptcy judge blocked the sale, ruling that the bankruptcy auction had failed to encourage the best possible bids.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Knauth |first1=Dietrich |date=December 11, 2024 |title=The Onion's purchase of Alex Jones' Infowars stopped by US judge |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/onions-purchase-alex-jones-infowars-stopped-by-us-judge-2024-12-11/ |access-date=April 10, 2025 |archive-date=July 23, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250723232932/https://www.reuters.com/legal/onions-purchase-alex-jones-infowars-stopped-by-us-judge-2024-12-11/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In February 2025, Judge Christopher Lopez also denied a new auction for the site.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Tovia |date=February 5, 2025 |title=Judge denies Sandy Hook families' deal for a new auction of Alex Jones' Infowars |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/02/05/g-s1-46738/infowars-alex-jones-onion-bankruptcy-judge-sandy-hook |access-date=April 10, 2025 }}</ref>
On May 1, 2026, the ''Infowars'' website went offline after nobody paid the state-appointed receiver to rent the studio and website.<ref>{{cite web | last=Spangler | first=Todd | title=Infowars Site Goes Offline Amid The Onion's Legal Battle to Secure Control of Right-Wing Outlet | website=Variety | date=2026-05-01 | url=https://variety.com/2026/digital/news/infowars-offline-the-onion-legal-battle-alex-jones-1236735350/ | access-date=2026-05-02 | archive-date=May 2, 2026 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260502005628/https://variety.com/2026/digital/news/infowars-offline-the-onion-legal-battle-alex-jones-1236735350/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Merlan | first=Anna | title=The Onion's plan to take over Infowars is once again in jeopardy | website=Mother Jones | date=2026-04-30 | url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/04/onion-infowars-takeover/ | access-date=2026-05-02 | archive-date=May 2, 2026 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260502044231/https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/04/onion-infowars-takeover/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
== Aftermath == The school was closed indefinitely following the shooting, partially because it remained a crime scene.<ref name="Sandy Hook Elementary School Closed Indefinitely">{{cite news|last=James|first=Will|date=December 17, 2012|title=Sandy Hook Elementary School Closed Indefinitely|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323723104578185280304627400|url-status=live|access-date=December 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310184758/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323723104578185280304627400|archive-date=March 10, 2015}}</ref> Sandy Hook students returned to classes on January 3, 2013, at [[Monroe, Connecticut#Education|Chalk Hill Middle School]] in nearby [[Monroe, Connecticut|Monroe]] at the town's invitation. Chalk Hill at the time was an unused facility, refurbished after the shooting, with desks and equipment brought in from Sandy Hook Elementary. The Chalk Hill school was temporarily renamed "Sandy Hook".<ref name="reuters chalk hill">{{cite news|date=December 16, 2012|title=Connecticut survivors to attend school in neighboring town|work=[[Reuters]]|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-shooting-connecticut-school-idUSBRE8BF0B520121216|url-status=live|access-date=December 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216203631/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/16/us-usa-shooting-connecticut-school-idUSBRE8BF0B520121216|archive-date=December 16, 2012}}</ref><ref name="newstimes chalk hill">{{cite news|date=December 16, 2012|title=Sandy Hook students to move to Monroe school|work=The News-Times|url=http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Sandy-Hook-students-to-move-to-Monroe-school-4122271.php|url-status=live|access-date=December 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121220151509/http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Sandy-Hook-students-to-move-to-Monroe-school-4122271.php|archive-date=December 20, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Sandy Hook to Go Back to School">{{cite news|date=January 3, 2013|title=Newtown shooting: Sandy Hook students back to school|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20896341|url-status=live|access-date=January 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130103021005/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20896341|archive-date=January 3, 2013}}</ref> The [[University of Connecticut]] created a scholarship for the surviving children of the shootings.<ref name="UConn Scholarship">{{cite web|last=DeSantis|first=Nick|date=December 18, 2012|title=UConn Creates a Scholarship in Honor of School-Shooting Victims|url=http://chronicle.com/blogs/ticker/jp/uconn-creates-a-scholarship-in-honor-of-school-shooting-victims|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117081902/http://chronicle.com/blogs/ticker/jp/uconn-creates-a-scholarship-in-honor-of-school-shooting-victims|archive-date=January 17, 2013|access-date=December 19, 2012|work=[[The Chronicle of Higher Education]]}}</ref>
On January 31, the Newtown school board voted unanimously to ask for police officer presence in all of its elementary schools; previously other schools in the district had such protection, but Sandy Hook had not been one of those.<ref name="SchoolBoard">{{cite news|last=Zaretsky|first=Mark|date=January 31, 2013|title=Newtown board wants more cops in schools|work=New Haven Register|location=New Haven, Connecticut|url=http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2013/01/31/news/doc510b4f1251891266411083.txt|access-date=February 7, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216133129/http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2013/01/31/news/doc510b4f1251891266411083.txt|archive-date=February 16, 2013}}</ref>
On May 10, a task force of 28 appointed members voted to demolish the existing Sandy Hook Elementary school and have a new school built in its place. The $57 million proposed project was sent to the Newtown Board of Education for approval, to be followed by a public ballot.<ref name="4i8EA">{{cite news|last=Kelly|first=Devin|date=May 11, 2013|title=Task force: Sandy Hook Elementary should be torn down, rebuilt|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-sandy-hook-elementary-newtown-rebuilt-20130511,0,1782767.story|url-status=live|access-date=May 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512042357/http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-sandy-hook-elementary-newtown-rebuilt-20130511,0,1782767.story|archive-date=May 12, 2013}}</ref><ref name="58VJa">{{cite news|last=Brumfield|first=Ben|date=May 11, 2013|title=Sandy Hook task force recommends demolition and rebuilding|work=CNN|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/11/us/connecticut-sandy-hook-demolish/index.html?hpt=hp_t2|url-status=live|access-date=May 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609001146/http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/11/us/connecticut-sandy-hook-demolish/index.html?hpt=hp_t2|archive-date=June 9, 2013}}</ref> In October 2013, Newtown residents voted 4,504–558 in favor of the proposed demolition and reconstruction, to be funded by $50 million in state money.<ref name="tPqzP">{{cite news|last=Chappell|first=Bill|date=October 6, 2013|title=The Votes Are In: Sandy Hook Elementary Will Be Torn Down|work=WBUR|url=http://www.wbur.org/npr/229797855/the-votes-are-in-sandy-hook-elementary-will-be-torn-down|url-status=live|access-date=October 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014165800/http://www.wbur.org/npr/229797855/the-votes-are-in-sandy-hook-elementary-will-be-torn-down|archive-date=October 14, 2013}}</ref> Demolition began on October 25<ref name="R7lm5">{{cite news|last1=Ford|first1=Bev|last2=Siemaszko|first2=Corky|date=October 25, 2013|title=Sandy Hook Elementary School razing begins in Newtown, Conn.|work=Daily News|location=New York|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/sandy-hook-elementary-school-destruction-begins-article-1.1496521|url-status=live|access-date=November 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126060805/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/sandy-hook-elementary-school-destruction-begins-article-1.1496521|archive-date=November 26, 2013}}</ref> and was completed in December 2013 at a cost of nearly US$1.4 million.<ref name="2013Demo">{{cite news|last1=Richinick|first1=Michele|date=January 2, 2014|title=Construction crews completely demolish former Sandy Hook Elementary School|agency=MSNBC|url=http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/sandy-hook-demolished-winterized|url-status=live|access-date=December 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221174834/http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/sandy-hook-demolished-winterized|archive-date=December 21, 2014}}</ref>
After the town [[Clerk (municipal official)|clerk's office]] was inundated with requests from the media,<ref name="limits">{{cite news|date=February 24, 2013|title=Connecticut mulls death certificate limits after Newtown massacre|work=Fox News |agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/connecticut-mulls-death-certificate-limits-after-newtown-massacre/|url-status=live|access-date=March 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130301032853/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/02/24/connecticut-mulls-death-certificate-limits-after-newtown-massacre/|archive-date=March 1, 2013}}</ref> [[Connecticut House of Representatives]] Republican [[Dan Carter (American politician)|Dan Carter]] introduced legislation that would restrict access to public information available under the [[Freedom of Information Act (United States)|Freedom of Information Act]].<ref name="limits" /> On June 5, both houses (Senate and House of Representatives) of the Connecticut state legislature passed a bill modifying the state's Freedom of Information Act in order to "prevent the release of crime-scene photos and video evidence from the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre and other Connecticut homicides, concerned such records would be spread on the Internet." The bill then went on to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's desk for his signature. The bill creates a new exemption to the state's Freedom of Information Act. The release of photographs, film, video, digital or other visual images depicting a homicide victim is prevented if such records "could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of the personal privacy of the victim or the victim's surviving family members."<ref name="a67QC">{{cite news|last=Haigh|first=Susan|title=Conn. lawmakers OK compromise Newtown privacy bill|agency=Associated Press|url=https://news.yahoo.com/conn-lawmakers-ok-compromise-newtown-privacy-bill-125054707.html|url-status=live|access-date=June 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605165922/http://news.yahoo.com/conn-lawmakers-ok-compromise-newtown-privacy-bill-125054707.html|archive-date=June 5, 2013}}</ref>
The [[Sandy Hook Promise Foundation]], a [[501(c)(3) nonprofit organization]], was formed to help survivors and families of the victims while also continuing the service of assisting others impacted by other shootings across the United States.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hockley |first=Nicole |title=My son never came home from Sandy Hook. My heart bleeds for Texas as I relive Dylan's murder. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2022/05/24/sandy-hook-mom-uvalde-texas-school-shootings/9914520002/?gnt-cfr=1 |access-date=June 9, 2022 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US |archive-date=June 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609183757/https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2022/05/24/sandy-hook-mom-uvalde-texas-school-shootings/9914520002/?gnt-cfr=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Responses== <!-- Please do not add every reaction here. See talk page if you have questions or need clarification. --> {{Main|Reactions to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting}}
===Government officials=== [[File:President Obama Makes a Statement on the Shooting in Newtown.ogv|thumb|upright=1.2|Obama's address in reaction to the shooting]] President [[Barack Obama]] gave a televised address on the day of the shootings: "We're going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics."<ref name="Statement by the President on the School Shooting in Newtown, CT">{{cite press release |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/photos-and-video/video/2012/12/14/president-obama-makes-statement-shooting-newtown-connecticut |title=Statement by the President on the School Shooting in Newtown, CT |website=White House Press Office |date=December 14, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716072113/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/photos-and-video/video/2012/12/14/president-obama-makes-statement-shooting-newtown-connecticut |archive-date=July 16, 2017}}</ref> Obama expressed "enormous sympathy for families that are affected".<ref name="WashingtonPost">{{cite news |title=Official with knowledge of Conn. school shooting: 27 dead, including 18 children |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/state-police-respond-to-report-of-school-shooting-in-newtown-conn-lockdown-in-place/2012/12/14/df59a9aa-4602-11e2-8c8f-fbebf7ccab4e_story.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121214184915/http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/state-police-respond-to-report-of-school-shooting-in-newtown-conn-lockdown-in-place/2012/12/14/df59a9aa-4602-11e2-8c8f-fbebf7ccab4e_story.html |archive-date= December 14, 2012 |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=December 14, 2012 }}</ref><ref name="Obama on Connecticut Shooting: We Need 'Meaningful Action'">{{cite web |first1=Sabrina |last1=Siddiqui |first2=Elise |last2=Foley |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/14/obama-connecticut-shooting_n_2303017.html |title=Obama on Connecticut Shooting: We Need 'Meaningful Action' |website=[[Huffington Post]] |date=December 14, 2012 |access-date=December 14, 2012 |archive-date=December 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215041833/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/14/obama-connecticut-shooting_n_2303017.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="An emotional Obama: 'They had their entire lives ahead of them'">{{cite news |first=Michael |last=O'Brien |url=http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/14/15911507-an-emotional-obama-they-had-their-entire-lives-ahead-of-them?lite |title=An emotional Obama: 'They had their entire lives ahead of them' |work=[[NBC News]] |date=December 14, 2012 |access-date=December 14, 2012 |archive-date=December 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215023115/http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/14/15911507-an-emotional-obama-they-had-their-entire-lives-ahead-of-them?lite |url-status=live}}</ref> He also ordered flags to be flown at half-staff at the [[White House]] and other U.S. federal government facilities worldwide in respect of the victims.<ref name="Whitehouse">{{cite press release |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2012/12/14/presidential-proclamation-honoring-victims-shooting-newtown-connecticut |website=White House Press Office |title=Presidential Proclamation{{nbsp}}– Honoring the Victims of the Shooting in Newtown, Connecticut |date=December 14, 2012 |access-date=December 17, 2012 |archive-date=January 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121214236/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2012/12/14/presidential-proclamation-honoring-victims-shooting-newtown-connecticut |url-status=live}}</ref> On December 16, Obama traveled to Newtown where he met with victims' families and spoke at an [[Interfaith worship spaces|interfaith]] vigil.<ref name="President Obama To Visit Newtown Sunday">{{cite web|last1=Courant |first1=Hartford |title=President Obama To Visit Newtown Sunday|url=http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-obama-newtown-shooting-20121215,0,611830.story|work=[[Hartford Courant]]|date=December 15, 2012|access-date=December 16, 2012|archive-date=December 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216070857/http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-obama-newtown-shooting-20121215,0,611830.story|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[Dannel Malloy]], the [[List of governors of Connecticut|governor of Connecticut]], addressed the media the evening of the shootings near a local church holding a vigil for the victims, urging the people of Connecticut to come together and help each other. Malloy said, "Evil visited this community today, and it is too early to speak of recovery, but each parent, each sibling, each member of the family has to understand that Connecticut, we are all in this together, we will do whatever we can to overcome this event, we will get through it."<ref name="Police: 20 children among 27 victims of Connecticut school shooting" /><ref name="Conn. Governor: 'evil visited this community'">{{cite news |url=http://on.aol.com/video/conn--governor--evil-visited-this-community-517599663 |title=Conn. Governor: 'evil visited this community' |work=[[AOL]] |agency=Associated Press |date=December 14, 2012 |access-date=December 15, 2012 |archive-date=December 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219011643/http://on.aol.com/video/conn--governor--evil-visited-this-community-517599663 |url-status=live}}</ref> Hundreds of mourners, including Malloy, attended vigils in various churches in Newtown.<ref name="Hundreds pack Conn. church for vigil after rampage">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hundreds-pack-conn-church-for-vigil-after-rampage/|title=Hundreds pack Conn. church for vigil after rampage|work=[[CBS News]]|agency=Associated Press|date=December 14, 2012|access-date=December 14, 2012|archive-date=December 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215022633/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57559366/hundreds-pack-conn-church-for-vigil-after-rampage/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Hundreds pack Conn. churches after rampage">{{cite news|last=Moore|first=Martha|title=Hundreds pack Conn. churches after rampage|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/12/14/connecticut-school-shooting-vigil/1770811/|work=USA Today|access-date=December 15, 2012|date=December 14, 2012|archive-date=December 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215024732/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/12/14/connecticut-school-shooting-vigil/1770811/|url-status=live}}</ref> On December 17, Malloy called for a statewide [[moment of silence]] and church bells to be tolled 26 times at 9:30{{nbsp}}a.m. on December 21, exactly one week after the school shooting.<ref name="Newtown shooting: funerals to be held for victims">{{cite news|title=Newtown shooting: funerals to be held for victims|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-news-blog/2012/dec/17/newtown-shootings-funerals-victims-live|work=The Guardian|access-date=December 17, 2012|location=London|first=Tom|last=McCarthy|date=December 17, 2012|archive-date=September 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130904101609/http://www.theguardian.com/world/us-news-blog/2012/dec/17/newtown-shootings-funerals-victims-live|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Sandy Hook Memorial 12-26.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|A makeshift memorial on Berkshire Road in Sandy Hook]] [[U.S. Secretary of Education]] [[Arne Duncan]] said: "our thanks go out to every teacher, staff member, and first responder who cared for, comforted, and protected children from harm, often at risk to themselves. We will do everything in our power to assist and support the healing and recovery of Newtown."<ref name="Turner">{{cite news|title=Children and adults gunned down in Connecticut school massacre|url=http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/12/14/shooting-reported-at-connecticut-elementary-school/|date=December 14, 2012|website=[[CNN]]|access-date=December 14, 2012|archive-date=December 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215114233/http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/12/14/shooting-reported-at-connecticut-elementary-school/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The day after the shootings, Lanza's father released a statement:
{{blockquote|Our hearts go out to the families and friends who lost loved ones and to all those who were injured. Our family is grieving along with all those who have been affected by this enormous tragedy. No words can truly express how heartbroken we are. We are in a state of disbelief and trying to find whatever answers we can. We too are asking why. We have cooperated fully with law enforcement and will continue to do so. Like so many of you, we are saddened, but struggling to make sense of what has transpired.<ref name="Peter Lanza Statement: Father Of Adam Lanza Says, 'We Too Are Asking Why'">{{cite news|title=Peter Lanza Statement: Father Of Adam Lanza Says, 'We Too Are Asking Why'|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/15/peter-lanza-statement-adam-lanza_n_2308744.html|access-date=December 16, 2012|website=[[Huffington Post]]|date=December 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216044247/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/15/peter-lanza-statement-adam-lanza_n_2308744.html|archive-date=December 16, 2012}}</ref>}}
Leaders from other countries and organizations throughout the world also offered their condolences through the weekend after the shooting.<ref name="World leaders">{{cite news|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gJ4Isu1EHajyiWXnsRl5W2OlBrbg?docId=CNG.523dbeea9e619eecf426809221d998af.131 |title=World leaders express shock over Connecticut shooting |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=December 15, 2012 |access-date=December 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131034047/https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gJ4Isu1EHajyiWXnsRl5W2OlBrbg?docId=CNG.523dbeea9e619eecf426809221d998af.131 |archive-date=January 31, 2013}}</ref>
President Obama posthumously honored the six adults with the 2012 [[Presidential Citizens Medal]] on February 15, 2013.<ref name="60PLS">{{cite news|title=Obama to honor 6 dead Sandy Hook teachers, administrators with Presidential Citizens Medal|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/02/05/obama-to-honor-6-dead-sandy-hook-teachers-administrators-with-presidential-citizens-medal/?wprss=rss_social-politics-rss&Post+generic=%3Ftid%3Dsm_twitter_washingtonpost|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=February 6, 2013|archive-date=July 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730174300/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/02/05/obama-to-honor-6-dead-sandy-hook-teachers-administrators-with-presidential-citizens-medal/?wprss=rss_social-politics-rss&Post+generic=%3Ftid%3Dsm_twitter_washingtonpost|url-status=live}}</ref> President Obama said "And then when Dawn Hochsprung, and Mary Sherlach, Vicki Soto, Lauren Rousseau, Rachel D'Avino, Anne Marie Murphy—when they showed up for work at Sandy Hook Elementary on December 14th of last year, they expected a day like any other—doing what was right for their kids; spent a chilly morning readying classrooms and welcoming young students—they had no idea that evil was about to strike. And when it did, they could have taken shelter by themselves. They could have focused on their own safety, on their own wellbeing. But they didn't. They gave their lives to protect the precious children in their care. They gave all they had for the most innocent and helpless among us. And that's what we honor today—the courageous heart, the selfless spirit, the inspiring actions of extraordinary Americans, extraordinary citizens."<ref name="sxZ8c">{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/15/remarks-president-presentation-2012-presidential-citizens-medals|title=Remarks by the President at Presentation of 2012 Presidential Citizens Medals|date=February 15, 2013|access-date=June 9, 2016|archive-date=January 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170127110814/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/15/remarks-president-presentation-2012-presidential-citizens-medals|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|url-status=live}}</ref>
<!-- STOP: Please consider discussing before expanding this language. -->[[Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting conspiracy theories|Sandy Hook conspiracy theories]] have become social phenomena, despite overwhelming contemporary coverage of the incident.<ref name="7h4xC">{{cite journal|title=Newtown Conspiracy Theories, Debunked|first=Dashiell|last=Bennett|date=December 18, 2012|journal=The Atlantic|url=http://www.thewire.com/national/2012/12/newtown-shooting-conspiracy-theories/60126/|access-date=November 12, 2014|archive-date=November 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112042722/http://www.thewire.com/national/2012/12/newtown-shooting-conspiracy-theories/60126/|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Gun control=== {{further|Gun control after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting}}
The shooting prompted renewed debate about [[gun control in the United States]], including proposals for making the [[National Instant Criminal Background Check System|background-check system]] universal, and for new federal and state [[Gun law in the United States|legislation]] banning the sale and manufacture of certain types of semi-automatic firearms and magazines with more than ten rounds of ammunition.<ref name="9NiVb">* {{cite news |title=Senator Unveils Bill to Limit Semiautomatic Arms |author=Steinhauer, Jennifer |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/25/us/politics/senator-unveils-bill-to-limit-semiautomatic-arms.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 24, 2013 |access-date=January 28, 2013 |archive-date=January 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128000327/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/25/us/politics/senator-unveils-bill-to-limit-semiautomatic-arms.html |url-status=live}} * {{cite news |title=State Police: All 26 Newtown victims shot with assault rifle |author=Vigdor, Neil |url=http://www.ctpost.com/newtownshooting/article/State-Police-All-26-Newtown-victims-shot-with-4222299.php |newspaper=Connecticut Post |date=January 24, 2013 |access-date=April 10, 2014 |archive-date=May 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509152855/http://www.ctpost.com/newtownshooting/article/State-Police-All-26-Newtown-victims-shot-with-4222299.php |url-status=live}}</ref>
Within hours of the shooting, a [[We the People (petitioning system)|We the People]] petition was started asking the White House to "immediately address the issue of gun control through the introduction of legislation in Congress",<ref name="Bruce121214">{{cite news |last=Bruce |first=Mary |date=December 14, 2012 |title=Petition Calls on White House to Address Gun Control |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/12/petition-calls-for-white-house-to-address-gun-control/ |type=blog |work=ABC News |access-date=June 28, 2020 |archive-date=August 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807014722/https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/12/petition-calls-for-white-house-to-address-gun-control/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Wing121217">{{cite news |last=Wing |first=Nick |date=December 17, 2012 |title=White House Gun Control Petition Becomes Site's Most Popular Ever |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/17/white-house-gun-control_n_2317189.html |work=Huffington Post |access-date=April 13, 2014 |archive-date=April 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414081551/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/17/white-house-gun-control_n_2317189.html |url-status=live}}</ref> and the gun control advocacy group the [[Brady Campaign|Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence]] reported that an avalanche of donations in the hours after the shooting caused its website to crash.<ref name="ghTzT">{{cite news |last=New |first=Catherine |date=December 14, 2012 |title=Anti-Gun Donations Surge After Connecticut Shooting |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/14/anti-gun-donations-surge-connecticut-shooting_n_2303632.html |work=The Huffington Post |access-date=June 16, 2014 |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714170609/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/14/anti-gun-donations-surge-connecticut-shooting_n_2303632.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Five days later, President Obama announced that he would make gun control a "central issue" of his second term,<ref name="Shear121220">{{cite news |last=Shear |first=Michael D. |date=December 20, 2012 |title=Obama Vows Fast Action in New Push for Gun Control |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/20/us/politics/obama-to-give-congress-plan-on-gun-control-within-weeks.html |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=June 16, 2014 |archive-date=January 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101142327/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/20/us/politics/obama-to-give-congress-plan-on-gun-control-within-weeks.html |url-status=live}}</ref> and he created a gun violence task force, to be headed by Vice President [[Joe Biden]].<ref name="Caldwell121219">{{cite news |last=Caldwell |first=Leigh Ann |date=December 19, 2012 |title=Obama sets up gun violence task force |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-sets-up-gun-violence-task-force/ |work=CBS News |access-date=June 16, 2014 |archive-date=November 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112041819/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57560044/obama-sets-up-gun-violence-task-force/ |url-status=live}}</ref> On January 16, 2013, Obama signed 23 [[executive order]]s and proposed 12 congressional actions regarding gun control.<ref name="MFkuU">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=January 16, 2013 |title=Obama announces 23 executive actions, asks Congress to pass gun laws |url=http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/16/obama-to-announce-gun-control-proposals-shortly/ |work=CNN |access-date=June 16, 2014 |archive-date=July 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719033224/http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/16/obama-to-announce-gun-control-proposals-shortly/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> His proposals included universal background checks on firearms purchases, an assault weapons ban, and a [[high-capacity magazine ban]] limiting capacity to 10 cartridges.<ref name="Obamatranscript">{{cite news |date=January 16, 2013 |title=President Obama's remarks on new gun control actions, Jan. 16, 2013 (Transcript) |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/president-obamas-remarks-on-new-gun-control-proposals-jan-16-2013-transcript/2013/01/16/528e7758-5ffc-11e2-b05a-605528f6b712_story.html |type=transcript |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=January 18, 2013 |archive-date=January 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117090212/http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/president-obamas-remarks-on-new-gun-control-proposals-jan-16-2013-transcript/2013/01/16/528e7758-5ffc-11e2-b05a-605528f6b712_story.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Olivier130116">{{cite news |last=Knox |first=Olivier |date=January 16, 2013 |title=Obama unveils sweeping plan to battle gun violence |url=https://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/obama-unveils-sweeping-plan-battle-gun-violence-165956859--politics.html |type=blog |work=Yahoo News |access-date=January 15, 2017 |archive-date=March 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321075946/http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/obama-unveils-sweeping-plan-battle-gun-violence-165956859--politics.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
On December 21, 2012, the National Rifle Association's [[Wayne LaPierre]] said gun-free school zones attract killers and that another gun ban would not protect Americans. He called on Congress to appropriate funds to hire armed police officers for every American school and announced that the NRA would create the National School Shield Emergency Response Program to help.<ref name="Sullivan121221">{{cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Sean |date=December 21, 2012 |title=Put armed guards in every school, NRA leader Wayne LaPierre says |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/put-armed-police-officers-in-every-school-nra-head-says/2012/12/21/9ac7d4ae-4b8b-11e2-9a42-d1ce6d0ed278_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=June 16, 2014 |archive-date=December 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121222131334/http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/put-armed-police-officers-in-every-school-nra-head-says/2012/12/21/9ac7d4ae-4b8b-11e2-9a42-d1ce6d0ed278_story.html |url-status=live}}</ref> After LaPierre's press conference, the Brady Campaign asked for donations to support its gun control advocacy and asked NRA members "who believe like we do, that we are better than this" to join its campaign.<ref name="ConnorIsikoff">{{cite news |last1=Connor |first1=Tracy |last2=Isikoff |first2=Michael |date=December 21, 2012 |title=Disbelief in some quarters after NRA calls for armed guards at every school, blames movies |url=http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/21/16069016-disbelief-in-some-quarters-after-nra-calls-for-armed-guards-at-every-school-blames-movies |work=NBC News |access-date=June 16, 2014 |archive-date=January 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122222013/http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/21/16069016-disbelief-in-some-quarters-after-nra-calls-for-armed-guards-at-every-school-blames-movies |url-status=live}}</ref> On January 8, 2013, former Congresswoman [[Gabby Giffords]], who was shot and injured in a [[2011 Tucson shooting|2011 shooting in Tucson]], launched the gun control group [[Americans for Responsible Solutions]] (later merged into [[Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence]]), with a specific aim of matching or exceeding the fundraising capabilities of the NRA and similar groups.<ref name="BBC130108">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=January 8, 2013 |title=Gabrielle Giffords launches gun control campaign |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20949405#TWEET509719 |work=BBC |access-date=June 16, 2014 |archive-date=September 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925142410/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20949405#TWEET509719 |url-status=live}}</ref>
On January 16, 2013, New York became the first U.S. state to act after the shooting when it enacted the Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement (SAFE) Act.<ref name="Seiler130116">{{cite news |last=Seiler |first=Casey |date=January 16, 2013 |title=New gun law offers reply to mass killings: State becomes the first in the nation to act after horror of Newtown, Conn. |url=http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/New-gun-law-offers-reply-to-mass-killings-4195504.php |newspaper=Times Union |location=Albany, New York|access-date=April 16, 2014 |archive-date=April 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417083902/http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/New-gun-law-offers-reply-to-mass-killings-4195504.php |url-status=live}}</ref> On April 3, 2013, the [[Connecticut General Assembly]] passed a 139-page<ref name="nydailynews_toughgun_2013" /> major gun-control bill with broad bipartisan support.<ref name="nydailynews_toughgun_2013" /> Governor Malloy signed the bill on the same day.<ref name="courant_Lender_2013">{{cite news |title=Governor Signs Historic Gun Bill |newspaper=Hartford Courant |url=https://www.courant.com/2013/04/04/governor-signs-historic-gun-bill/ |date=April 4, 2013 |first1=Jon |last1=Lender |first2=Daniela |last2=Altimari |first3=Jenny |last3=Wilson |access-date=February 22, 2018 |archive-date=February 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222230849/http://articles.courant.com/2013-04-04/news/hc-gun-vote-connecticut-0404-20130403_1_newtown-massacre-victims-20-first-graders-sweeping-gun-control-bill |url-status=live}}</ref> The bill requires [[universal background checks]] (background checks for all firearm purchases)<ref name="JK0VL">{{cite news |last1=Mungin |first1=Lateef |last2=Brady |first2=Brittany |date=April 4, 2013 |title=Connecticut governor signs sweeping gun measure |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/04/us/connecticut-gun-law-overhaul/ |work=CNN |access-date=April 10, 2014 |archive-date=April 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413132257/http://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/04/us/connecticut-gun-law-overhaul/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and a high-capacity magazine ban banning the sale or purchase of ammunition magazines capable of holding more than ten rounds of ammunition like those used in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.<ref name="sm70b">{{cite news |date=April 4, 2013 |title=Connecticut Governor Signs Gun Measures |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/05/nyregion/connecticut-lawmakers-pass-gun-limits.html |newspaper=New York Times |agency=Associated Press |access-date=April 10, 2014 |archive-date=November 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114004923/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/05/nyregion/connecticut-lawmakers-pass-gun-limits.html |url-status=live}}</ref> It also created the first registry in the United States for dangerous-weapon offenders, and added over 100 types of guns to the state's [[assault weapon]]s ban.<ref name="nydailynews_toughgun_2013">{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/connecticut-governor-signs-tough-gun-law-article-1.1307902 |title=Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy signs bill with gun-control laws among the toughest in nation |newspaper=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |date=April 4, 2013 |access-date=October 27, 2013 |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029231958/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/connecticut-governor-signs-tough-gun-law-article-1.1307902 |url-status=live}}</ref> Pro-gun groups had rallied outside the Capitol to protest prior to the signing<ref name="nydailynews_toughgun_2013" /> and challenged it in court. Federal judge [[Alfred Covello]] ruled to uphold the law in January 2014.<ref name="kkKHn">{{cite news |last=Pazniokas |first=Mark |date=January 30, 2014 |title=Federal judge upholds Sandy Hook gun law |url=http://ctmirror.org/federal-judge-upholds-sandy-hook-gun-law/ |newspaper=Connecticut Mirror |access-date=April 10, 2014 |archive-date=April 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413140413/http://ctmirror.org/federal-judge-upholds-sandy-hook-gun-law/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
On April 4, 2013, Maryland also enacted new restrictions to their existing gun laws.<ref name="sm70b" /><ref name="Jackson130405">{{cite news |last=Jackson |first=Alex |date=April 5, 2013 |title=Maryland lawmakers send landmark gun control bill to O'Malley's desk |url=http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/government/maryland-lawmakers-send-landmark-gun-control-bill-to-o-malley/article_0b697063-acf8-508e-adf9-b07ea4fb6c8d.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130407091109/http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/government/maryland-lawmakers-send-landmark-gun-control-bill-to-o-malley/article_0b697063-acf8-508e-adf9-b07ea4fb6c8d.html |archive-date=April 7, 2013 |location=Annapolis, Maryland |work=Capital Gazette |access-date=April 16, 2014}}</ref> However, ten other states passed laws that relaxed gun restrictions.<ref name="Hartmann130404">{{cite magazine |last=Hartmann |first=Margaret |date=April 4, 2013 |title=Post-Newtown, States Passed More Gun-Rights Laws, Not Restrictions |url=http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/04/post-newtown-states-loosen-gun-restrictions.html |magazine=New York Magazine |access-date=April 15, 2014 |archive-date=April 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416181105/http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/04/post-newtown-states-loosen-gun-restrictions.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
Legislation introduced in the first session of [[113th United States Congress|113th Congress]] included the [[Assault Weapons Ban of 2013]]<ref name="CSPAN130124">{{cite AV media |people=Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Rev. Gary Hall, Rep. [[Carolyn McCarthy]] |date=January 24, 2013 |title=Assault Weapons Ban Bill |medium=video |url=http://www.c-span.org/video/?310581-1/assault-weapons-ban-bill |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=National Cable Satellite Corporation |access-date=April 13, 2014 |display-authors=etal |archive-date=April 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414123201/http://www.c-span.org/video/?310581-1/assault-weapons-ban-bill |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Freedman130124">{{cite news |last=Freedman |first=Dan |date=January 24, 2013 |title=Feinstein offers new assault weapons ban |url=http://www.chron.com/default/article/Feinstein-offers-new-assault-weapons-ban-4221873.php |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |access-date=April 14, 2014 |archive-date=January 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101033010/http://www.chron.com/default/article/Feinstein-offers-new-assault-weapons-ban-4221873.php |url-status=live}}</ref> and the Manchin-Toomey Amendment to expand background checks on gun purchases.<ref name="OKeefe-Hamburger">{{cite news |last1=O'Keefe |first1=Ed |last2=Hamburger |first2=Tom |date=April 10, 2013 |title=Key senators reach deal on background checks for gun buyers |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/senate-aides-bipartisan-deal-reached-on-gun-background-checks/2013/04/10/fa4fe9a6-a1db-11e2-be47-b44febada3a8_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=June 16, 2014 |archive-date=July 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708201316/http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/senate-aides-bipartisan-deal-reached-on-gun-background-checks/2013/04/10/fa4fe9a6-a1db-11e2-be47-b44febada3a8_story.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Peterson130410">{{cite news |last=Peterson |first=Kristina |date=April 10, 2013 |title=Senate in Deal on Gun Checks |url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887324695104578414691696126744 |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |access-date=June 16, 2014 |archive-date=January 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131141820/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324695104578414691696126744 |url-status=live}}</ref> Both were defeated in the Senate on April 17, 2013.<ref name="Weisman130417">{{cite news |last=Weisman |first=Jonathan |date=April 17, 2013 |title=Senate Blocks Drive for Gun Control |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/18/us/politics/senate-obama-gun-control.html?pagewanted=all |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=June 16, 2014 |archive-date=January 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108135714/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/18/us/politics/senate-obama-gun-control.html?pagewanted=all |url-status=live}}</ref>
===Video games=== A renewed debate about the effects [[Violence and video games|violent video games]] have on young people began soon after the shooting, due to news reports suggesting Lanza frequently played violent video games.<ref name="3Orju">{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/20/opinion/ferguson-adam-lanza/ |work=CNN |title=Video games didn't cause Newtown rampage |last=Ferguson |first=Christopher J. |date=February 20, 2013 |access-date=November 11, 2013 |archive-date=November 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111230733/http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/20/opinion/ferguson-adam-lanza/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="gYZk7">{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/17/sandy-hook-blame-game_n_2318334.html |work=Huffington Post |title=Sandy Hook Blame Game: Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe |last=Lohr |first=David |date=December 17, 2012 |access-date=November 11, 2013 |archive-date=December 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205100005/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/17/sandy-hook-blame-game_n_2318334.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="yULSp">{{cite magazine |url=https://ideas.time.com/2012/12/20/sandy-hook-shooting-video-games-blamed-again/ |title=Sandy Hook Shooting: Video Games Blamed, Again |magazine=Time |last=Ferguson |first=Christopher J. |date=December 20, 2012 |access-date=November 11, 2013 |archive-date=November 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111231223/http://ideas.time.com/2012/12/20/sandy-hook-shooting-video-games-blamed-again/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Wayne LaPierre publicly blamed video games for the shooting, specifically targeting the free online game ''Kindergarten Killer'', created by Gary Short.<ref name="6Qy4f">{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/nra-blames-video-games-kindergarten-killer-sandy-hook-article-1.1225212 |work=Daily News |location=New York |title=NRA blames video games like 'Kindergarten Killer' for Sandy Hook slaughter |last=Beekman |first=Daniel |date=December 21, 2012 |access-date=November 11, 2013 |archive-date=November 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111233319/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/nra-blames-video-games-kindergarten-killer-sandy-hook-article-1.1225212 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Police found numerous<ref name="BZ5m7">The November 2013 final report names the following video game series as having entries in Lanza's larger overall collection: ''[[Left 4 Dead]]'', ''[[Metal Gear|Metal Gear Solid]]'', ''[[Dead Rising (video game)|Dead Rising]]'', ''[[Half-Life (video game)|Half Life]]'', ''[[Battlefield (video game series)|Battlefield]]'', ''[[Call of Duty]]'', ''[[Grand Theft Auto]]'', ''[[Shin Megami Tensei]]'', ''[[Dynasty Warriors]]'', ''[[Team Fortress]]'', and ''[[Doom (series)|Doom]]''.</ref> video games in the basement of Lanza's home, which was used as a gaming area. The final report into the shooting by the State Attorney, published in November 2013, noted that "[Lanza] played video games often, both solo at home and online. They could be described as both violent and non-violent. One person described the shooter as spending the majority of his time playing non-violent video games, with his favorite at one point being ''[[Super Mario|Super Mario Bros.]]''"<ref name="cnn.com"/>
The report described his liking for ''[[Dance Dance Revolution]]'', which he played frequently for long stretches of time at a movie theater in [[Danbury, Connecticut|Danbury]] which had a commercial version of the game, and also owned a console version of at home.<ref name="final_report" /> ''Dance Dance Revolution'' is a non-violent exercising game where "the user is required to move their feet rhythmically in response to video cues".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Howitt |first1=Dan |title=Sandy Hook Elementary |date=May 31, 2022 |isbn=978-0-692-53889-0 |page=309 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n4hsEAAAQBAJ |access-date=July 17, 2024 |archive-date=December 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225053900/https://books.google.com/books?id=n4hsEAAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the Report by the Office of the Child Advocate, Lanza would play the game for hours on end using it as a distraction from his inner turmoil. The report said "he would whip himself into a frenzy, a behavior consistent, possibly, with a need to contain anxiety-producing impulses and thoughts. There were days when he would not do anything else but ''Dance Dance Revolution''."{{sfn|Office of the Child Advocate|2014|p=98}}
The final report by the State Attorney did not make a link between video games and the motive for the shooting.<ref name="final_report">{{cite web|date=November 25, 2013|title=Sandy Hook Final Report. Office of the State's Attorney, Judicial District of Danbury. Stephen J. Sedensky III, State's Attorney|url=http://www.ct.gov/csao/lib/csao/Sandy_Hook_Final_Report.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131125212413/http://www.ct.gov/csao/lib/csao/Sandy_Hook_Final_Report.pdf|archive-date=November 25, 2013|access-date=November 28, 2013|work=ct.gov}}</ref><ref name="cnn.com"/> However, the Report of the Child Advocate said "video game and internet addiction appear to be 'highly comorbid with several other psychiatric disorders' including [[Anxiety disorder|anxiety]], [[Depression (mood)|depression]], and [[obsessive compulsive]] challenges".{{sfn|Office of the Child Advocate|2014|p=101}}
== Legacy == Many organizations were created due to the massacre that work to promote an end to school shootings, with some, such as [[Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement]], [[Sandy Hook Promise]], and Safe and Sound Schools organized and led by parents of victims, while others, such as [[Moms Demand Action]], were created by outsiders outraged by the shooting.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bonner|first=Jeanne|date=December 14, 2021|title=26 playgrounds honor the students and the teachers killed at Sandy Hook|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/14/us/sandy-hook-anniversary-families-playgrounds/index.html|access-date=December 28, 2021|website=CNN|archive-date=June 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614233311/https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/14/us/sandy-hook-anniversary-families-playgrounds/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As of 2022, the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting is the [[List of school shootings in the United States by death toll#List|deadliest K-12 school shooting in US history]].<ref name="winter-2022">{{Cite magazine |last=Winter |first=Jessica |date=2022-05-25 |title=Seeing America, Again, in the Uvalde Elementary-School Shooting |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/seeing-america-again-in-the-texas-elementary-school-shooting |access-date=2025-08-20 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X |archive-date=May 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527194747/https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/seeing-america-again-in-the-texas-elementary-school-shooting |url-status=live}}</ref>
===Effect on the community=== [[File:Newtown Shooting Roses.JPG|thumb|upright=1.2|Roses featuring images of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting]]
====2014==== In March 2014, the Newtown city officials announced the design for the new Sandy Hook Elementary School.<ref name="2014TimeNewSchool">{{cite magazine|last=Nicks|first=Denver|title=Sandy Hook Heals With New School Design After Shooting|url=https://time.com/33444/sandy-hook-shooting-newtown-connecticut-school-design/|magazine=Time|access-date=April 3, 2014|archive-date=April 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403030850/http://time.com/33444/sandy-hook-shooting-newtown-connecticut-school-design/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="2014HouseTornDown" /> The only remnant of the original school would be its flagpole.<ref name="2014TimeNewSchool" />
A few days later, the [[Newtown-Sandy Hook Community Foundation]] released results of a survey with over 1,600 respondents. Among other inquiries, the survey asked residents what should be done with the balance of the $11 million in donations that had been received since the incident in 2012.<ref name="2014HouseTornDown">{{cite news|last=Collins|first=Dave|title=Newtown residents want gunman's house torn down|url=https://news.yahoo.com/newtown-residents-want-gunmans-house-torn-down-104023565.html|agency=Associated Press|work=Yahoo! News|access-date=April 3, 2014|archive-date=April 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404095003/http://news.yahoo.com/newtown-residents-want-gunmans-house-torn-down-104023565.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The majority of responses said that money for mental health counseling and other family expenses should be the top priorities. A few responses suggested that some of the money should be used to purchase and tear down the shooter's family home in order to replace it with a park or wildlife sanctuary.<ref name="2014HouseTornDown" /> Jennifer Barahona, the foundation's executive director, was quoted as saying, "That's not something we're considering at this time. It's really outside of our scope."<ref name="2014HouseTornDown" />
On October 21, building site preparation work began on the new Sandy Hook Elementary School;<ref name="2014NewSchool">{{cite news|title=Site Work Begins For Construction Of New Sandy Hook School|url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/10/22/site-work-begins-for-construction-of-new-sandy-hook-school/|access-date=December 20, 2014|agency=CBS New York|date=October 22, 2014|archive-date=December 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221011628/http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/10/22/site-work-begins-for-construction-of-new-sandy-hook-school/|url-status=live}}</ref> project updates and progress were posted on a dedicated website.<ref name="2016website">{{cite web|title=The New Sandy Hook School|url=http://www.sandyhook2016.com:80/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101011855/http://www.sandyhook2016.com/|archive-date=November 1, 2017|website=Svigals + Partners|access-date=November 15, 2018}}</ref> Citing security and privacy reasons and respect for the families of victims, no [[Groundbreaking|groundbreaking ceremony]] was held.<ref name="2014NewSchool" /> Construction was scheduled to begin in March 2015 with the school expected to open by December 2016.<ref name="JDdBe">{{cite news|title=Demolition Of Old Sandy Hook Elementary Will Be Kept Private Contractors Ordered To Sign Confidentiality Agreements During Process|url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/10/15/demolition-of-old-sandy-hook-elementary-will-be-kept-private/|access-date=December 20, 2014|agency=Associated Press|work=CBS New York|date=October 15, 2013|archive-date=December 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221003246/http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/10/15/demolition-of-old-sandy-hook-elementary-will-be-kept-private/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In December, it was announced that the town of Newtown will acquire the property and home of Nancy Lanza at no cost.<ref name="2014LanzaHouse">{{cite news|last1=Altimari|first1=Dave|title=Newtown Acquires Lanza House|url=http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-newtown-adam-lanza-house-20141203-story.html|access-date=December 20, 2014|work=Hartford Courant|date=December 4, 2014|archive-date=January 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131141839/https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-newtown-adam-lanza-house-20141203-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The property at 36 Yogananda St. was part of the Lanza estate, to which surviving son Ryan Lanza is the sole heir. Lanza's attorney, Kenneth Gruder, arranged for the transfer through a series of transactions so that probate records would not show the city acquiring the property from the Lanza family. Gruder said the notoriety of the home had made it essentially unsalable.<ref name="2014LanzaHouse" /> The home was demolished in March 2015.<ref name="2015HouseTornDown">{{cite news|last=Katersky|first=Aaron|title=School Shooter Adam Lanza's Newtown House Is Demolished|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/school-shooter-adam-lanzas-newtown-house-demolished/story?id=29877154|agency=ABC News|work=ABC News|date=March 24, 2015|access-date=June 6, 2019|archive-date=April 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403210739/https://abcnews.go.com/US/school-shooter-adam-lanzas-newtown-house-demolished/story?id=29877154|url-status=live}}</ref>
====2015==== On January 21, 2015, Newtown Legislative Council voted unanimously to demolish the house where Nancy and Lanza lived, and to keep the land as open space.<ref name="xFcFN">{{cite news|first=Lindsey|last=Bever|title=Newtown votes to raze home of mass murderer Adam Lanza|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/01/22/newtown-votes-to-raze-home-of-mass-murderer-adam-lanza/|access-date=January 22, 2015|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=January 22, 2015|archive-date=January 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122214506/http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/01/22/newtown-votes-to-raze-home-of-mass-murderer-adam-lanza/|url-status=live}}</ref> The demolition was completed on March 24, 2015.<ref name="2015HouseTornDown" />
In February 2015, the family of one of the victims, Victoria Soto, applied for [[trademark]] protection for her name. The reason for this was to help prevent others from misusing Soto's name on social media and for the benefit of the memorial fund set up in her name. The victim's sister, Jillian, said fake social media accounts existed using her sister's name to promote conspiracy theories about the shooting.<ref name="2015SotoTrademark">{{cite news|title=Sandy Hook victim Victoria Soto to have name trademarked to prevent abuse|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/feb/11/sandy-hook-victim-victoria-soto-to-have-name-trademarked-to-prevent-abuse|access-date=May 12, 2015|agency=Associated Press|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=February 11, 2015|archive-date=May 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150507064330/http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/feb/11/sandy-hook-victim-victoria-soto-to-have-name-trademarked-to-prevent-abuse|url-status=live}}</ref>
====2016==== In July 2016, the new Sandy Hook Elementary School was unveiled and parents were shown around the building. The design of the new school incorporates numerous security features, including bulletproof glass exteriors, fencing around the perimeter of the building, and fortified safe rooms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/12/20/opinion/new-sandy-hook-school-offers-lesson-safety/|title=The new Sandy Hook school offers lesson on safety – The Boston Globe|website=BostonGlobe.com|access-date=December 28, 2023|archive-date=June 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614233432/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/12/20/opinion/new-sandy-hook-school-offers-lesson-safety/|url-status=live}}</ref> The new school is on the site of the building where the shooting took place, which was demolished and rebuilt with a state grant of around $50 million.<ref name="new_school">{{cite news|last=Furfaro|first=Hannah|title=For Sandy Hook, a New Start|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/for-sandy-hook-a-new-start-1469839641|access-date=July 30, 2016|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=July 29, 2016|archive-date=July 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731034315/http://www.wsj.com/articles/for-sandy-hook-a-new-start-1469839641|url-status=live}}</ref>
==== 2019 ==== In March 2019, Jeremy Richman, the father of victim Avielle Richman, was found dead of an apparent suicide. His wife said that he "succumbed to the grief that he could not escape."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shapiro |first=Emily |date=March 29, 2019 |title=After Sandy Hook dad's apparent suicide, wife says he 'succumbed to the grief that he could not escape' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/sandy-hook-dads-apparent-suicide-wife-succumbed-grief/story?id=62011198 |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=[[ABC News (United States)]] |language=en |archive-date=January 16, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250116141413/https://abcnews.go.com/US/sandy-hook-dads-apparent-suicide-wife-succumbed-grief/story?id=62011198 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==== 2024 ==== On June 12, 2024, around 60 students who had survived the shooting graduated from [[Newtown High School (Connecticut)|Newtown High School]]. At a ceremony to mark the event, Principal Kimberly Longobucco read out the names of those who died, followed by a moment of silence.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Kaye |first1=Randi |last2=Clifford |first2=Anne |last3=Clarke |first3=Rachel |date=June 12, 2024 |title='It's going to be heartbreaking:' Sandy Hook survivors get ready to graduate high school without the classmates they lost in 1st grade massacre |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/12/us/sandy-hook-survivors-graduate-high-school/index.html |access-date=June 13, 2024 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=June 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613145615/https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/12/us/sandy-hook-survivors-graduate-high-school/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 13, 2024 |title=Sandy Hook shooting survivors take part in emotional high school grad ceremony |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/sandy-hook-students-graduation-1.7233611 |access-date=June 13, 2024 |website=CBC |archive-date=June 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613142614/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/sandy-hook-students-graduation-1.7233611 |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Memorial == {{Main|Sandy Hook Memorial}}
[[File:Sandy Hook memorial.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Sandy Hook Memorial in the woods behind Sandy Hook Elementary School]] In 2013, the Newtown [[board of selectmen]] appointed the Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial Commission.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Jim |title=Construction To Begin At Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial August 23 |url=https://www.newtownbee.com/08122021/construction-to-begin-at-sandy-hook-permanent-memorial-august-23/ |access-date=November 17, 2022 |website=www.newtownbee.com |language=en-US |archive-date=November 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117235404/https://www.newtownbee.com/08122021/construction-to-begin-at-sandy-hook-permanent-memorial-august-23/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Out of 189 design submissions, the commission chose a design created by Dan Affleck and Ben Waldo of SWA Group. $3.7 million to construct the memorial was narrowly approved by Newtown voters in April 2021, and site work began in August 2021.<ref name=":02"/> Construction was completed in August 2022. The memorial opened to the public on November 13, 2022, after a private ceremony with the victims' families.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=November 17, 2022 |title=The sound of children playing told Newtown officials they had found a Sandy Hook memorial site |url=https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2022-11-17/the-sound-of-children-playing-told-newtown-officials-they-had-found-a-sand-hook-memorial-site |access-date=November 18, 2022 |website=Connecticut Public |language=en |archive-date=November 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118004239/https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2022-11-17/the-sound-of-children-playing-told-newtown-officials-they-had-found-a-sand-hook-memorial-site |url-status=live }}</ref> It features a stone basin engraved with the names of the victims, with a young [[sycamore]] tree at its center. A memorial mass is held every year at [[St. Rose of Lima Church (Newtown, Connecticut)|St. Rose of Lima Church]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Layne |first=Nathan |date=December 15, 2022 |title='We choose love': Ten years after Sandy Hook shooting, town reflects on loss |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/ten-years-after-sandy-hook-shooting-connecticut-town-spends-day-reflection-2022-12-14/ |access-date=December 15, 2022 |archive-date=December 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215201419/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/ten-years-after-sandy-hook-shooting-connecticut-town-spends-day-reflection-2022-12-14/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Connecticut|Schools|United States}} * [[Chenpeng Village Primary School stabbing]], a school stabbing on the same day which drew comparisons between the two attacks * [[List of attacks related to primary schools]] * [[List of school-related attacks]] * [[List of school shootings in the United States by death toll]] * [[List of school shootings in the United States (2000–present)]] * {{Section link|List of school massacres by death toll|Rampage killers}}
==References== {{reflist}} *{{cite web |last1=Office of the Child Advocate |title=Shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School |url=http://www.ct.gov/oca/lib/oca/sandyhook11212014.pdf |publisher=[[Connecticut|State of Connecticut]] |access-date=February 13, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141126233253/http://www.ct.gov/oca/lib/oca/sandyhook11212014.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 26, 2014 |date=November 21, 2014}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting}} * {{Wikiquote-inline}} * [http://newtown.sandyhook.schooldesk.net/ Sandy Hook Elementary School Official website] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20130110023741/http://newtown.sandyhook.schooldesk.net/ Archive]) * [https://web.archive.org/web/20150307115113/http://www.shac.ct.gov/SHAC_Final_Report_3-6-2015.pdf Final Report] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20121216113845/http://articles.courant.com/2012-12-14/news/hc-police-responding-to-incident-in-newtown-20121214_1_lanza-home-newtown-home-labor-day-parade 28 Dead, Including 20 Children, After Shooting Rampage At Sandy Hook School In Newtown] (via Wayback Machine) * [https://radiotapes.com/special-postings/#SandyHook CBS Radio breaking news coverage]
{{Newtown, Connecticut}} {{School shootings in the United States}} {{Mass shootings in the United States by deaths}} {{Mass shootings in the United States in the 2010s}} {{Authority control}}
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