UPDATE 4:14PM: NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) — A law enforcement official briefed on the investigation of the Connecticut school massacre says the brother of the gunman has been “extremely cooperative” and is not under arrest.
The official tells The Associated Press that Ryan Lanza, of Hoboken, N.J., is still be being questioned but is not in custody and is not believed to have any connection to the school killings.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the investigation.
The official says Ryan Lanza’s computers and phone records were being searched but only “in an abundance of caution.” He says Ryan told authorities he had not been in touch with his brother in recent years.
UPDATE 3:45PM: NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) — The gunman in today’s shooting at a Connecticut elementary school has been identified by a law enforcement official as Adam Lanza, the son of a teacher at the school. Authorities say the gunman killed 26 people, including 20 children before committing suicide. The gunman’s mother is also presumed dead.
Authorities say today’s shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., took place in two rooms, but they are not giving details on exactly how it unfolded. Youngsters and their parents have described teachers locking doors and ordering children to huddle in the corner or hide in closets when shots echoed through the building.
UPDATE 1:41 PM: 18 children were pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting. 2 died later at area hospitals. 7 adults have died.
A relative of the shooter died from a gunshot wound at another location.
UPDATE 1:31 PM: Obama orders flags lowered to half-staff in mark of respect for victims of Connecticut shootings.
UPDATE: According to NBC News, the shooter has been identified as 24-year-old Ryan Lanza. Lanza’s mother was reportedly a teacher at the elementary school and was one of those killed in the shooting.
UPDATE 10:56 AM: An official with knowledge of a shooting at a Connecticut elementary school says 27 people are dead, including 18 children.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is still under way.
ORIGINAL: The Associated Press citing officials, says a gunman has been killed after a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.
The AP reports the anonymous official said the gunman was armed with two weapons.
The Danbury News-Times also reports sources say the Sandy Hook School principal was killed in the Newtown shooting.
Police have made no official statement yet on deaths or injuries. Police were expected to hold a news conference some time after 12:30 pm. to give official details about what happened.
Gov. Dannel Malloy was heading to the shooting scene. A spokesman said via Twitter “Gov. Malloy just concluded a conference call w/ federal officials offering to provide any assistance the state needs.”
SOURCE: Salina Post and Associated Press