26 Dead In Connecticut Elementary School Massacre

December 15, 2012

As many as 26 people — most of them young children — were killed Friday in a mass shooting at an elementary school in  Newtown, Connecticut.

Connecticut State Police lieutenant J. Paul Vance told reporters the fatalities included students and staff, and that the gunman involved also was dead. The officer did not give a complete report on casualties, saying the priority for authorities at the scene was to notify the children’s parents and other relatives.

An official from the governor’s office says Governor Dan Malloy was “horrified” by the tragedy and rushed to meet with the children’s family members.

President Barack Obama called authorities in Connecticut to express his sadness, and pledged to help with federal resources.

The shooting took place Friday morning at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

Photos and video images from the scene showed children being rushed out of the school, but it took several hours before the full scope of the tragedy to become known.
The White House said President Obama spoke with the FBI director about the case, and was receiving frequent briefings.

​​A tearful President Barack Obama expressed “overwhelming grief” for the victims of the shooting rampage and called on Americans to set aside politics and “take meaningful action” to prevent more tragedies of this kind.

“Our hearts are broken today,” Obama said, his voice breaking at times during a nationally televised appearance in the White House briefing room.

[VOA] Photos courtesy Melanie Stengel/New Haven Register.

Comments

46 Responses to “26 Dead In Connecticut Elementary School Massacre”

  1. La Donna Jones-Hart on December 18th, 2012 6:13 am

    “All this crap started happening after ( your) government decided that we the people didn’t need GOD ALMIGHTY in our schools.” from Ben above

    With that said you don’t hear of our court houses, congress, white house, airports and any law enforcement sheriff or police dept. being shot up why cause it is protected by guns. If everyone carried guns it would even the shooting field and crazy shooters would think twice.

    As a side note you folks had a responsible gun owner,and retired National Guard, as a music teacher (Mr. Lambert) of over 20 years teaching and fired him for a concealed locked up gun. I can’t speak for him but I bet ya he would have taken a shot at a crazed shooter that entered his school. In my book we don’t need anymore laws to control us, the Police/law can’t enforce what is now “The Laws”.

    May God be with those in their hour of need.

  2. David Huie Green on December 17th, 2012 11:12 am

    REGARDING:
    “If society was not so gung ho on picking up a weapon to solve their issues”

    Society isn’t gung ho about picking up a weapon to solve issues.

    Some individuals will use weapons to hurt others.

    You will never be able to stop that. You can only hope to stop the individuals if they act but you will not do it by disarming those who do not break laws.

    David for better people

  3. Duke of Wawbeek on December 17th, 2012 10:15 am

    We need to get behind our US Senators Feinstien, Boxer, Blumenthal, Levin, Lautenburg, Shumer and Joe Liberman also our members in the house and remove these killing machines from America. Mr Boehner you should be spearheading our effort. People do not need to have access to these guns. That is why we pay taxes for police and military protection in this country.

  4. marie on December 17th, 2012 6:12 am

    This had nothing to do with parents not knowing where their children were, They were in school. If society was not so gung ho on picking up a weapon to solve their issues these days it would be a better place for all. If you need a gun to survive okay have one, but keep it where criminals can not get to them. Where do you think they come from when in the criminals hands, someones house they broke into, or the weapon is already in the home. This is not the soceity I grew up in. All people talk about these days is who they can shoot if provoked,

  5. Kay on December 16th, 2012 7:19 pm

    The same type of attack happened in China on the same day. No children were killed. Both attackers were mentally ill. The difference? The attacker in China used a knife because he couldn’t get a gun.

  6. David Huie Green on December 16th, 2012 3:39 pm

    REGARDING:
    “Dude–couldn’t you wait on jumping your personal political cause and have a thought for the people suffering tonight?”

    He was hoping fewer would have to suffer in the future. He proposed what he thought would help protect them. Others proposed other solutions. Most of them wouldn’t work because a killer doesn’t look at the strong points, he looks at the weak points and there are always weak points.

    If there is anybody reading this who had a child in the school in Connecticut, You have my sympathy and well wishes.

    David for better people

  7. Mikey on December 16th, 2012 12:36 am

    These sorts of killings are not problems that can be legislated away. These are issues of morals and show the erosion of the fabric of our society.

  8. tina on December 15th, 2012 10:41 pm

    SCOTT LASITER …..GREAT IDEA……NOW TO PUT IT IN PLACE

  9. new to Century on December 15th, 2012 9:46 pm

    A child prayed….”God please be with all the students in all the schools so nobody else will ever get hurt in school again.”

    God answered…..”I wish I could but, I am not allowed in schools any more.”

    This whole thing makes me sad.

  10. kathy on December 15th, 2012 7:01 pm

    I believe every teacher should be armed, thats what this world has come to .they may shoot one person but at list a teacher can protect our childern .and others . I ‘am sadden to here about this and , pray for the familys and polices officers. that had to see this . know one should go threw that . God Bless.

  11. 429SCJ on December 15th, 2012 6:34 pm

    @Molino Jim. If you ever have the opportunity to serve in the Military or Law Enforcement, you will learn from your instructors that those large capacity magazines are a force multiplier, allowing one soilder to deliver sustained fire against a larger force. That is why they are advantagous to own.

    Why do you think we are having these type of incidents today as opposed to 30, 40 years ago, inspite of more gun legislation? What has changed in regard to the population? What is causing this behavior?

  12. scared on December 15th, 2012 6:14 pm

    I’m getting my daughter a bullet proof vest for Christmas. Maybe next year, they’ll have a bigger selection of prints for girls.

  13. Lorraine on December 15th, 2012 2:57 pm

    This is so sad I’ve been crying since yesterday. I feel for the parents, my prayers go out to the families who lost their children and loved ones in this horrific massacre.

  14. molino jim on December 15th, 2012 10:50 am

    A truly sad day. Pray for the children and families, the officers and the first responders who were first on the scene to help them get pass this also. But I fail to understand how prayer in school would have stopped this or the shooting at the mall or at churches or the movies or public meeting and on and on. I do not believe in gun control and have weapons and a ccw. But I fail to understand the need for a combat type weapon (AK-45, AR-15 and such) and hand guns with extended magazines that can hold up to 20 plus rounds. If you can not gain target acquisition and fire with control and resolve the problem with a double tap I do not want to be near you when you start shooting. A couple of years ago I was at a gun show/shoot were there were all sorts of weapon. You could “rent” the weapons and fire them. One person had a tripod mounted Vulcan cannon. Another person was showing how to make a home made flame thrower. The people “renting” and watching are the type we all should worry about. As to having all sorts of controls at schools and other public locations you forget about the fussing about being checked at airports— are you ready to give up all freedoms?

  15. jane on December 15th, 2012 5:30 am

    This breaks my heart to see this happen to children. My prayers go out to the families who lost their dear children and to all who survived this sad event.

  16. M.H. on December 15th, 2012 5:28 am

    My heart goes out to those affected by this horrible ordeal. Anyone on this forum who would go straight into a politcal rant “pro” or “anti” is at the least insensitive and at worst heartless. I do not consider this to be an isolated incident. It is in fact a growing trend. Make no mistake the prince of the air is doing his best to make this world as miserable and heartless as possible. This will take the gun debate to a whole new level. I personally do not think you can heal a sick soceity by taking away our guns. At the same time I do not feel it should be so easy to get a rapid fire weapon capable of the amount of damage done yesterday. God bless those angels who are now sitting with Him and Heaven and God help the rest of us.

  17. MotherOfThreeWhosHeartHurts on December 15th, 2012 4:00 am

    This breaks my heart, I have a 5 year old, 2 year old and a 1 year old and all I can think about is this tragic stuff happening at my sons school and me being one of those parents that didn’t get to see their sweet innocents babys faces. And to the last that commented earlier “SHO-NUFF,” u are about the most cold hearted heartless female in the world… Yeah it’s tragic, but for you to say that our schools have enough protection and that there were not enough police officers that could have prevented this from happening, well obviously our schools don’t have enough protection cause if they did we wouldn’t be having all these school massacres and our loved ones wouldn’t be dying… My heart hurts and to the families that lost a little innocent sweet baby, I cannot even tel you how sorry Iam and my deepest sympathy to you all…

  18. 429SCJ on December 15th, 2012 3:33 am

    @Amen Ben. I don’t remember how officials dealt with these tragedies when I was in elementary school as I do not remember them happening. People had unfettered access to firearms, but they for whatever reasons did not choose to commit horrible acts such as these. The guns did not change, people changed. What changed people.
    Why after all these laws and programs to make society better, people have only become worse, instead of better? What happend to the people? Return our liberties, GET THE ANTICHRIST GOVERNMENT AND ACLU, OUT OF OUR LIVES.

    My prayers and sympathies for the victims and famalies. I cannot imagine such heartbreak.

  19. SHO-NUFF on December 15th, 2012 1:04 am

    I think we have plenty of protection at schools now.
    This was an isolated , but tragic incident. No number of resource Officers could of prevented this tragic event.
    When I went to School it was common to see Guns, both rifles and shotguns in gun racks in trucks on campus. We used to hunt after school, and I am talking about inter city schools in 1982!

    The PROBLEM is parents today have know idea of what there own kids are doing. The Parents are too busy working, both of them, trying to keep up with the Jones.

    I made a meager income at the time, but my wife quit working after our first child, and continued to stay home until our third child reached high school age. We did with a lot less than most of our friends, but it was a sacrifice well worth her being home with the kids.
    I never have worried about any of my Children doing something like this, but I guess it can happen regardless of how well they are raised.

    Times have not changed at all, people have changed………….

  20. kevin enfinger on December 15th, 2012 12:55 am

    i agree with sctt lets put our tax dollars were it counts

  21. Rex on December 14th, 2012 11:16 pm

    Dear God,
    Please give us a sign that we are heading down the wrong path with all the tactical weapons available to most anyone today. I own a few myself, but I have them to protect myself and my loved ones. I pray that you put me in the right place to prevent this before someone steals them from me and I can stop such carnage. At the very least give me the wisdom to know your will.

  22. Lisa on December 14th, 2012 10:26 pm

    @ Scott Lassiter I think that is a wonderful idea. So many of our schools do not have adequate protection. I know of too many schools where anyone can walk in and go unnoticed. Very scary.

  23. Bob hudson on December 14th, 2012 9:59 pm

    May God comfort all those who are suffering to night. It is 9.57 pm, I am so sorry. Pray .

  24. SCOTT LASSITER on December 14th, 2012 9:41 pm

    I just want to do something before Escambia County Alabama or Escambia County Florida ends up on national news. No body can even enter a prison, put anybody can walk right into a school. Makes no common sense.

  25. SCOTT LASSITER on December 14th, 2012 9:31 pm

    One more thing, Myself and some other L.E.O.’s and Correctional Officers I spoke to,, will be willing to provide this service free of charge. We would appricte a little gas money from the county though.

  26. Willene and Preston Bryan on December 14th, 2012 9:23 pm

    Prayers for all the families and children that they may feel the comfort of our Dear Lord in this time of grief.

  27. SCOTT LASSITER on December 14th, 2012 9:19 pm

    would also like to say, I have a large number of people ( Law enforcement and corrections) who volunteer to do this at half thyeir regular pay. Web care about our children.

  28. SCOTT LASSITER on December 14th, 2012 9:14 pm

    I would like to know if ya’ll think it would be whorth it to have armed security ( Not just one lone resource officer) at every school?

    I want to start a non-profit organization to protect our children. I would like to start a non-profit organization to hire off(armed) duty law enforcenent and correctional to povide security at schools. I would love positive and negative comments.

  29. ben on December 14th, 2012 8:05 pm

    All this crap started happening after ( your) government decided that we the people didn’t need GOD ALMIGHTY in our schools.

  30. Jeff Etheridge on December 14th, 2012 8:04 pm

    “Wm on December 14th, 2012 6:07 pm If only an armed teacher had been present — mabe this could have a different outcome. “Gun Free” zones are killing fields, nothing more.

    Just to show that guns aren’t the problem – shortly before this incident – a “nut job” in China slashed 22 children and 1 adult with a knife! There will be nut jobs and evil in the world — no matter what.”

    Dude–couldn’t you wait on jumping your personal political cause and have a thought for the people suffering tonight?

    Seriously.

  31. Facetious Bob on December 14th, 2012 8:02 pm

    While my heart goes out to the victims of this tragedy, I wait for the anti-gun people to start their tirade. Then that little voice asks the question….what kind of music did this 20 year old demon listen to, and what kind of video games was he wrapped up in?

  32. keith on December 14th, 2012 7:26 pm

    It is sad to see our country in this shape.everyone sets back and does nothing.it starts wih putting god back in charge and get rid of the athiest groups that want to take every thing that teaches good morals away ..stand up america and be heard.pray for all the families

  33. Mike on December 14th, 2012 6:33 pm

    It keeps getting worse. Since Columbine, The victums get younger or more helpless and the shooters go further in trying to set a record. We should not make it easier for the next one. These nuts do not pay attention to gun laws or any other. I wish one of the teachers we depend on to protect our children had been armed. It is not good to have our children involved in gun fights, but it’s better than having them and thier protectors be helpless victims.

  34. Baby Girl on December 14th, 2012 6:11 pm

    Lauren…. I can just about assure you of this one thing…..there was prayer in that school today!!!!!! Even if it was afterwards!!! Unfortunately the folks may stop the practice of prayer in school,but in such trying times….they cannot stop folks from talking to the Almighty God,even if it has to be done in the heart alone…. Soooo sad….I work in a school and to think this could happen to children is heart wrenching!!!!!

  35. Wm on December 14th, 2012 6:07 pm

    If only an armed teacher had been present — mabe this could have a different outcome. “Gun Free” zones are killing fields, nothing more.

    Just to show that guns aren’t the problem – shortly before this incident – a “nut job” in China slashed 22 children and 1 adult with a knife! There will be nut jobs and evil in the world — no matter what.

    The only person who can protect you — is yourself! Practice situational awareness first, get proper training and the means to protect yourself second. Movie theaters, shopping malls, schools/colleges — all predominately “Gun Fee” zones…perfect targets for a nut job looking to go out taking as many with him as possible…

    Sad.

  36. Mary Keith on December 14th, 2012 5:21 pm

    This Is Just Heartbreakin To Hear About Thiss! These Families Are In My Prayers.

  37. Thinker on December 14th, 2012 4:51 pm

    We don’t have time for tears, let’s cry later. We need immediate ACTION to see that it CANNOT happen in THIS area. Armed guards, school doors locked so can only be opened from inside, metal detectors, MMPI (tests) for all students yearly, from Middle School up, as a preventative assessment tool. Mental Health funding increase and targeting of schools. Whatever it takes. These are my thought, add your own.

  38. Lauren on December 14th, 2012 4:47 pm

    This is a perfect example of why prayer needs to be in our schools.

  39. heartbroken on December 14th, 2012 4:03 pm

    Prayers for families, friends, and community. Also, prayers for us all, such a shame that we live in a world where someone can do this. I don’t even have words to express the deep feelings of sorrow I feel. God please be with us.

  40. ben on December 14th, 2012 3:59 pm

    Evil Devil ……that’s what caused this!!!!!! Yaw got a better explanation?

  41. Bob hudson on December 14th, 2012 3:50 pm

    My heart and prayers go out to all of those who have suffered this tragic event. There will always be evil that men do.

  42. Brooke on December 14th, 2012 3:43 pm

    I agree people are so far out of control its discusting….something needs to change in our world or it is going to come to an end! What the hell is going on in life to make it so bad that you have to massacre innocent children….or anybody else for that matter…my thoughts and prayers out out to all who were involved…may god bless and help put you at ease… :’(

  43. sam on December 14th, 2012 3:28 pm

    there are some really sick people out there today. watch out for your kids.

  44. tw on December 14th, 2012 3:24 pm

    Senseless…When you have to worry about sending your child to elementary school this country has really gotten bad. Not once did I think that once I sent my children off to school I would not be seeing them again. My heart and prayers goes out these families.

  45. Shannon on December 14th, 2012 3:21 pm

    This breaks my heart. Praying for the families.

  46. vanessa Donaldson on December 14th, 2012 3:13 pm

    PRAYERS TO ALL THE FAMILES