Sandy Hook Victims
Adam Lanza shot and killed 20 children and 6 staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut before killing himself. It remains one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history.
On December 14, 2012, twenty-year-old Adam Lanza first shot and killed his mother Nancy at their Newtown, Connecticut home. He then drove to Sandy Hook Elementary School armed with a Bushmaster XM-15 rifle and forced his way into the building.
In approximately five minutes, Lanza shot and killed 20 first-grade students, all aged six or seven, and six adult staff members who attempted to protect the children. He then killed himself as police arrived.
The massacre was one of the deadliest mass shootings in American history. It prompted a national debate about gun control, mental health services, and school security that continues to this day.
In the aftermath, conspiracy theorists, notably Alex Jones, falsely claimed the shooting was staged. Families of victims won defamation lawsuits against Jones totaling over $1.4 billion.
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