Mass shooting leaves 27 dead, mostly students

By: Jose G. Landa©
Photo: Shannon Hicks/The Newtown Bee

America mourns once again at a school mass shooting tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut today, Friday, December 14, 2012, leaving 27 people dead, 20 young elementary students and seven adults. The peaceful school day at Sandy E. Hook Elementary was suddenly and violently interrupted as a lone gunman later identified as Adam Lanza walked into the school with two guns and proceeded to shoot  at anyone he saw or crossed his path causing pandemonium to break loose inside the school as teachers and students ran for their lives and seek shelter.

Law enforcement officials received a 911 emergency telephone call at 9:30 a.m. (EST) from the school regarding a gunman shooting and killing people inside the school. Upon arriving to the school, police searched for the gunman inside the school and later discovered the gunman on the ground with apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police found Lanza with two handguns and wearing a bulletproof vest.

Police have detained a second person for questioning to determine if that person assisted in any form or fashion Lanza in the massacre of innocent students and people.Law enforcement officials found the body of Lanza’s mother at their home when they went to investigate and look for evidence.

The horrific Sandy E. Hook Elementary School tragedy leaves a nation numb and in disbelief of the continuous and costly shootings afflicting American citizens’ abuse of easy to purchase and possession of deadly firearms, raising anew the controversial gun ban and/or restrictions on firearms debate versus the Second Amendment’s right to bear arms.

President Barack Obama expressed his and the nation’s deepest condolences to the families of the Sandy E. Hook Elementary School victims.

Statement by the President

3:15 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  This afternoon, I spoke with Governor Malloy and FBI Director Mueller.  I offered Governor Malloy my condolences on behalf of the nation, and made it clear he will have every single resource that he needs to investigate this heinous crime, care for the victims, counsel their families.

We’ve endured too many of these tragedies in the past few years.  And each time I learn the news I react not as a President, but as anybody else would — as a parent.  And that was especially true today.  I know there’s not a parent in America who doesn’t feel the same overwhelming grief that I do.

The majority of those who died today were children — beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old.  They had their entire lives ahead of them — birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own.  Among the fallen were also teachers — men and women who devoted their lives to helping our children fulfill their dreams.

So our hearts are broken today — for the parents and grandparents, sisters and brothers of these little children, and for the families of the adults who were lost.  Our hearts are broken for the parents of the survivors as well, for as blessed as they are to have their children home tonight, they know that their children’s innocence has been torn away from them too early, and there are no words that will ease their pain.

As a country, we have been through this too many times.  Whether it’s an elementary school in Newtown, or a shopping mall in Oregon, or a temple in Wisconsin, or a movie theater in Aurora, or a street corner in Chicago — these neighborhoods are our neighborhoods, and these children are our children.  And we’re going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics.

This evening, Michelle and I will do what I know every parent in America will do, which is hug our children a little tighter and we’ll tell them that we love them, and we’ll remind each other how deeply we love one another.  But there are families in Connecticut who cannot do that tonight.  And they need all of us right now.  In the hard days to come, that community needs us to be at our best as Americans.  And I will do everything in my power as President to help.

Because while nothing can fill the space of a lost child or loved one, all of us can extend a hand to those in need — to remind them that we are there for them, that we are praying for them, that the love they felt for those they lost endures not just in their memories but also in ours.

May God bless the memory of the victims and, in the words of Scripture, heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds.

END
3:20 P.M. EST