School Shooter Has NJ Ties, Mother Found Dead: NBC

Police say shooter killed 27, including 20 kids, at school & at least 1 other at family's Conn. home

The young gunman in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Connecticut has ties to New Jersey, according to NBC News, which is also reporting that his mother -- a teacher at the school -- died as did 20 kids.

The shooter was originally identified by federal officials as 24-year-old Ryan Lanza of Hoboken, N.J., but law enforcement sources later told NBC News that Lanza's brother, 20-year-old Adam, was actually the shooter. The confusion was the result of Adam being in possession of his older brother’s ID at the time of the shooting.

Ryan Lanza was reportedly cooperating with police after being questioned in Hoboken. Police say he had no idea about his brother's intentions. He told investigators that his brother had a history of mental health problems, sources told NBC News.

Sources told NBC10 that a computer was taken from Ryan Lanza's apartment as part of the investigation.

Adam Lanza, 20, opened fire first at the Sandy Hook Elementary School's office, then in his mother's kindergarten class, authorities told NBC News. The Associated Press has identified Adam's mother as Nancy Lanza.

The shooter reportedly shot himself. Police believe Lanza is also believed to have shot his mother in the face at their Newtown home. The shooter then allegedly drove his mother's car to the school, police sources told NBC News.

The shooter's father was found alive and well, NBC News reported.

"Evil visited this community today," said Conn. Gov. Dannel Malloy at an evening press conference.

Twenty-seven people at the school died -- 20 students and seven adults, including the gunman -- and the woman found dead in the house. One person was also injured

The shooter came into the kindergarten to 4th grade school around 9:30 a.m. in Newtown, Conn. with two 9-mm handguns -- a Glock and a Sig Sauer -- and fired off "hundreds of rounds," according to witnesses. There were conflicting reports about whether he had more firearms on him but NBC10 News did learn he had at least one other gun -- a rifle -- in the car.

NBC10 News learned that the guns may be registered to his mother. You must be 21 to own a gun in Connecticut.

He was reportedly dressed all in black. He reportedly first started shooting at the principal's office and then proceeded two classrooms including his mother's kindergarten classroom, NBC News reported.

Police in Connecticut wouldn't officially identify any victims until Saturday at the earliest. But, one of the adults killed included school psychologist Mary Sherlach, 56, according to the West Deptford Patch.

Sherlach was Patch freelancer and Deptford resident Eric Schwartz's mother-in-law, according to Patch.

Conn. State Police Lt. Paul Vance says a 9-1-1 call shortly after 9:30 a.m. alerted police to the incident. Police say they entered the school and secured the scene. Police say they identified every student from the school that was at school at the time of the shooting or at home sick.

President Barack Obama held back tears as he spoke about the shootings. "Our hearts are broken," Obama said.

The President ordered flags at the White House and around America to be lowered to half-staff in memory of the victims until sunset Dec. 18. 

Pa. Gov. Tom Corbett called for all flags in the Keystone State to be flown at half-staff as well.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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