Tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, 27 Confirmed Dead in Elementary School Shooting

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Twenty-seven people lost their lives today in a tragic shooting at an Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Of those killed twenty sadly were small children ages 5 to 10.

The gunman was identified as Adam Lanza, 20, the son of a kindergarten teacher at the school. Lanza’s mother was one fatality, along with several children from her classroom. Lanza’s brother Ryan, 24, told officials that Adam has a history of mental illness.

Connecticut state police responded to a 911 call at 9:41 a.m. reporting shooting at the school. SWAT teams were sent to the school along with strong police presence and the entire district was put on immediate lockdown. Students were told to huddle in the corners of the room until they were evacuated. Authorities instructed students to close their eyes as they were led from the building in an attempt to shield them from the aftermath.

An emotional President Obama reacted to the news in a press conference saying, “Our hearts are broken today … the majority of those who died today were children. Beautiful little kids between the ages of five and ten years old.” After pausing to compose himself he continues, “They had their entire lives ahead of them — birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own.”

The lives taken today make the Newtown tragedy the second-worst shooting in U.S. history, following the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007, where 32 people lost their lives.

Our hearts go out to the victims and their families today.