Sandy Hook School Shooting

On December 14, 2012, 20-year-old Adam Lanza carried out a massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. He shot his way into the school, killing the principal and school psychologist who went to investigate. Lanza then entered two first-grade classrooms, where he murdered 15 students and two teachers in one room, and five students and two teachers in another, totaling 20 children (aged 6 and 7) and six school employees. He committed suicide as police closed in approximately ten minutes after gaining entry to the school. Earlier that morning, Lanza had also killed his mother at their shared home, using her weapons for the rampage. At the time, it was the second-deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.

Investigators determined that Adam Lanza acted alone but could not establish a definitive motive for his actions or why he targeted Sandy Hook. A report released in November 2013 by the Connecticut State’s Attorney indicated Lanza had significant mental health issues, though professionals who worked with him had not predicted his violent behavior. In the wake of the tragedy, President Barack Obama advocated for new gun-safety legislation, but his primary goal of expanded background checks was blocked by the U.S. Senate. The community of Newtown decided to demolish Sandy Hook Elementary School, which was razed in fall 2013, and a new school was subsequently built on the same site.