Tragedy in an Elementary school in Connecticut
Friday, March 29, 2024
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Dannel Malloy, Governor of Connecticut Expressed:

"Evil Visited our Community."  

One person was also injured, and police have been investigating a second crime scene in Newtown, where another victim was found dead - understood to be the gunman's mother. Dressed in black and wearing a bullet-proof vest, the gunman had several weapons. These included two handguns - a Glock and a Sig Sauer - and a .223-calibre rifle, reports said. The killings took place in two rooms within a single section of the school, police have said. One parent, Stephen Delgiadice, whose eight-year-old daughter was at Sandy Hook School on Friday but was not harmed, said the shooting was traumatic for the small town.

"It's alarming, especially in Newtown, Connecticut, which we always thought was the safest place in America," Mr Delgiadice said. At a memorial service in Newtown people crowded outside the doors of the church as Connecticut Governor addressed those gathered.  He called the attack a "tragedy of unspeakable terms", saying "you can never be prepared" for an event like this.  In Washington, about 200 people held a candlelight vigil for the victims outside the White House, whilst others protested there to call for gun controls.

"We Can't Tolerate This Anymore."

That's what President Barack Obama told those attending a memorial service Sunday in Newtown, Connecticut, two days after a man shot his way into Sandy Hook Elementary School and killed 26 people -- 20 of them children no older than 7, who would never go on a date, drive a car, marry or have kids of their own.

Obama offered his condolences, saying, "All across this land of ours, we have wept with you." He praised the residents of Newtown for having pulled together and "loved one another" with a spirit all could emulate. And he asked whether more could be done to prevent more parents, sisters and brothers, like those in this quiet New England town, from suffering similar heartaches. "Can we honestly say we're doing enough to keep our children -- all of them -- safe from harm?" Obama said, adding that "if we don't get that right, we don't get anything right." "If we're honest with ourselves, the answer is no."

Following is a List of Recent Deadly US Mass Shootings:

  • 1984: James Oliver Huberty shoots dead 21 people at a McDonald's in California
  • 1986: Postal worker Pat Sherrill kills 14 people at post office in Oklahoma
  • 1991: George Hennard kills 23 people at a cafeteria in Texas
  • 1999: Two students at Columbine high school kill 13 and injure 20, before killing themselves
  • 2007: A student kills 32 and injures dozens more at Virginia Tech university
  • 2009: 13 people are killed in a mass shooting at Fort Hood military base in Texas

Friday's shooting is the third major gun attack in the US in 2012. In July an attacker killed 12 people at a premiere of a Batman film in Aurora, Colorado. In August six people died at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin. In December, two people died in a shooting at a shopping mall in the state of Oregon.

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At the White House, an emotional President Barack Obama cited those incidents as he called for "meaningful action... regardless of politics".

"Our hearts are broken today, for the parents, grandparents, sisters and brothers of these children, and for the families of the adults who were lost."

Mr Obama offered condolences to the families of survivors too, saying "their children's innocence has been torn away from them too early, and there are no words that will ease their pain".  He wiped tears from his eyes as he spoke of the "overwhelming grief" at the loss of life. The American flags on Capitol Hill were lowered to half-mast in the wake of the attack.

Schools Locked Down:

Police arrived at the school soon after 09:40 local time (14:40 GMT) on Friday, answering reports that a gunman was in the school's main office and one person had "numerous gunshot wounds".

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Witnesses reported hearing scores of shots fired, with one suggesting there "must have been 100 rounds."  Parent Richard Wilford said his seven-year-old son Richie described a noise that "sounded like what he described as cans falling". Mr Wilford said his son's teacher locked the classroom door and told the children to huddle in a corner until the police arrived. The authorities said they mobilised "every possible asset" in their response to the shooting. Teams of officers, some with dogs, combed the school and evacuated the building.  Firefighters reportedly told children to close their eyes and run past the school's office as they left the building. Sandy Hook School - described by correspondents as a highly rated school has more than 600 students - spanning the ages five to 10.  Witness Mergim Bajraliu, 17, said he heard the gunshots ring out from his home and ran to the school looking for his nine-year-old sister, who was not hurt. He spoke of an emotional scene at the school as anguished parents rushed to find their children. "Everyone was just traumatized," he said.

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