As the nation mourns the tragic loss of 20 children and six adults fatally shot in a school shooting in Newtown, Conn. Friday, details about the suspected shooter, 20-year-old Adam Lanza are beginning to emerge, with police announcing they now have "very good evidence," the Chicago Tribune Reports.
"These 20 children were just beautiful, beautiful children," Monsignor Robert Weiss said. "These 20 children lit up this community better than all these Christmas lights we have. ... There are a lot brighter stars up there tonight because of these kids."
Friday Lanza reportedly shot his mother, Nancy Lanza, packed at least three of her guns, and then drove her car to the Connecticut K-4 elementary school, opening fire in two classrooms around 9:30 a.m., police said. Police are still searching for a motive; witnesses said the shooter didn't utter a word.
Investigators believe Lanza attended the school several years ago but appeared to have no recent connection to it, said a law enforcement official speaking on condition of anonymity.
According to at least one parent, Lanza's mother was a substitute teacher at the school. However, her name did not appear on a staff list, the Tribune reports. Officials say investigators haven't been able to establish a tangible connection between her and school.
Investigators questioned Lanza's older brother, 24-year-old Ryan Lanza, of Hoboken, N.J., for hours Friday and searched his computers and phone records, but he told law enforcement he had not been in touch with his brother since about 2010. Police say he is not a suspect in the case.
Officials speaking under the condition of anonymity say Lanza had to force his way into the school. Lanza is believed to have suffered from a personality disorder and lived with his mother, said an official.
When asked at a news conference whether Lanza had left behind any prescient indication of his actions in emails or other writings that might provide insight into his rampage, state police Lt. Paul Vance said investigators had found "very good evidence" and hoped it would answer questions about the gunman's motives. Vance refused to elaborate further.
Although, according to another law enforcement official, speaking on condition of anonymity, investigators haven't found the kind of note or manifesto they expect after such violent acts.
An old friend of Lanza's, Joshua Milas, who attended high school him and belonged to the school technology club with him, said Lanza was usually a happy person, but that he hadn't seen him in a few years.
"We would hang out, and he was a good kid. He was smart," Milas said. "He was probably one of the smartest kids I know. He was probably a genius."
Lanza's aunt was similarly shocked by the news, saying there wasn't anything that she thought indicated he would ever do something like this. She said he nephew had a good home, and kind, nurturing parents who would not have hesitated to help their son in any way if he needed it.
"Nancy wasn't one to deny reality," she said of the boy's mother to The Associated Press late Friday.
Marsha Lanza said her husband saw Adam as recently as June and recalled nothing out of the ordinary about him.
A woman who was attending a vigil Friday in Newtown said her son knew Lanza and remembered him for his "alternative style."
"He just said he was very thin, very remote and was one of the goths," she said.
Lanza has no criminal history, according to authorities.
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