Dozens were shot at a Connecticut elementary school this morning leaving at least 26 dead, including 20 children, said Connecticut state police. According to multiple reports, the shooter has been identified by officials as Adam Lanza, 20. Earlier reports indicated his brother Ryan Lanza as the shooter.
The shooting took place at approximately 9:40 a.m. when a man walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School and opened fire near the school’s main office, according to reports. The shooter is dead, said Lieutenant Paul Vance of Connecticut State Police at a press briefing.
According to reports, Lanza’s mother, who worked in the school, is among those killed. Reports also indicate that his father and brother have also been found dead.
CBS2 reported that a SWAT team is at the suspected shooter’s New Jersey home. A second suspect is in police custody, according to CBS News.
Police evacuated children and faculty out of the school that runs from kindergarten to fourth grade to a staging area where kids were reunited with their parents. Vance said the public is currently at no risk.
The dozens of injured were taken to Danbury Hospital, which remains on lock down.
An emotional President Barack Obama addressed the nation at 3:15 p.m. saying the country has seen too many of these tragedies the past few years.
“I know there is not a parent in America that does not feel the overwhelming grief that I do,” the president said. “They had their entire lives ahead of them. Birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own.”
Obama said something must be done to stop further tragedies from taking place.
“We’re going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics,” he said.
