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| Newtown shootings: shock and disbelief in a town brought together by horror | Newtown shootings: shock and disbelief in a town brought together by horror |
| (21 days later) | |
| It should not have happened in Newtown. At least, that was the theory right up to the moment on Friday morning when bursts of gunfire shattered the atmosphere of this wealthy, idyllic suburb nestled among the hills and woods of western Connecticut. | It should not have happened in Newtown. At least, that was the theory right up to the moment on Friday morning when bursts of gunfire shattered the atmosphere of this wealthy, idyllic suburb nestled among the hills and woods of western Connecticut. |
| Even for Americans long habituated to mass shootings, Newtown seems a shocking location for one of the worst school massacres in the country's history – and especially one whose victims were so horrifyingly young. | Even for Americans long habituated to mass shootings, Newtown seems a shocking location for one of the worst school massacres in the country's history – and especially one whose victims were so horrifyingly young. |
| It is in the state's commuter belt, packed with large, tidy family homes for people who drive to jobs in cities such as Stamford, Hartford or even distant New York. Newtown sprawls through former farmland in a series of distinct neighbourhoods that include Sandy Hook – whose elementary school is now burned into the nation's conscience. | It is in the state's commuter belt, packed with large, tidy family homes for people who drive to jobs in cities such as Stamford, Hartford or even distant New York. Newtown sprawls through former farmland in a series of distinct neighbourhoods that include Sandy Hook – whose elementary school is now burned into the nation's conscience. |
| In 2005, CNN Money was considering naming Newtown as one of the best places to live in America. It even boasts some famous residents, including Suzanne Collins, author of the best-selling Hunger Games series. But it is mostly a quietly prosperous town, unused to much in the way of attention. Last year's big news was that Newtown and its 27,000 citizens were featured in the New York Times real estate section which reported glowingly on the community's surviving rural charms. "Enjoy the horses; skip the urban circus," the newspaper casually advised readers. | In 2005, CNN Money was considering naming Newtown as one of the best places to live in America. It even boasts some famous residents, including Suzanne Collins, author of the best-selling Hunger Games series. But it is mostly a quietly prosperous town, unused to much in the way of attention. Last year's big news was that Newtown and its 27,000 citizens were featured in the New York Times real estate section which reported glowingly on the community's surviving rural charms. "Enjoy the horses; skip the urban circus," the newspaper casually advised readers. |
| Sandy Hook got a special mention in the article, of the type lapped up by New Yorkers dreaming of escape to a more peaceful life. The feature enthused about the area's steak and seafood restaurant, its art galleries, and the waters of the Pootatuck River. | Sandy Hook got a special mention in the article, of the type lapped up by New Yorkers dreaming of escape to a more peaceful life. The feature enthused about the area's steak and seafood restaurant, its art galleries, and the waters of the Pootatuck River. |
| No one can be thinking about any of that now. | No one can be thinking about any of that now. |
| In an empty Treadwell Park, half a mile through a thick wood from the stricken school, Frank Magliocco, 53, who has lived in Sandy Hook for seven years, was out walking with his daughter Linda, 21. "As a parent, knowing something like that happened in this kind of a town, it's just shock," Magliocco said. | In an empty Treadwell Park, half a mile through a thick wood from the stricken school, Frank Magliocco, 53, who has lived in Sandy Hook for seven years, was out walking with his daughter Linda, 21. "As a parent, knowing something like that happened in this kind of a town, it's just shock," Magliocco said. |
| He had taken the morning off to drive his daughter home from college for the holidays. She confessed she "broke down" when she heard the news that would inevitably make her town infamous throughout the world. | He had taken the morning off to drive his daughter home from college for the holidays. She confessed she "broke down" when she heard the news that would inevitably make her town infamous throughout the world. |
| In a small community like this, almost everyone is touched by such a tragedy. Linda Magliocco said her best friend had gone to Sandy Hook elementary and was close to some of the staff. "She's kind of a mess thinking one of her teachers might have passed away." | In a small community like this, almost everyone is touched by such a tragedy. Linda Magliocco said her best friend had gone to Sandy Hook elementary and was close to some of the staff. "She's kind of a mess thinking one of her teachers might have passed away." |
| As details started to emerge about the Newtown victims, the news that Dawn Hochsprung, Sandy Hook elementary's principal, was among the dead was particularly poignant – prompting an outpouring of emotion from friends and parents of pupils. Dawn Czaplicki, who had known Hochsprung since their own high school days, remembered her as "a mature and very smart young lady full of life [who] always had a smile on her face that could only warm your heart". | As details started to emerge about the Newtown victims, the news that Dawn Hochsprung, Sandy Hook elementary's principal, was among the dead was particularly poignant – prompting an outpouring of emotion from friends and parents of pupils. Dawn Czaplicki, who had known Hochsprung since their own high school days, remembered her as "a mature and very smart young lady full of life [who] always had a smile on her face that could only warm your heart". |
| In the two years that she led the school, Hochsprung, 47, had emphasised its community role. Memos to parents were addressed to the "Sandy Hook family". She believed in fun at school, introducing Wacky Wednesdays, when children wore clothes that didn't match. She would often dress up herself, and bring her pet poodle to school. | In the two years that she led the school, Hochsprung, 47, had emphasised its community role. Memos to parents were addressed to the "Sandy Hook family". She believed in fun at school, introducing Wacky Wednesdays, when children wore clothes that didn't match. She would often dress up herself, and bring her pet poodle to school. |
| Any mass shooting – whether at a shopping mall, church or restaurant – strikes at a community's heart. But even among the awful litanies of death and injury that imbue these urban massacres with such pathos, what took place in Newtown still stands out. | Any mass shooting – whether at a shopping mall, church or restaurant – strikes at a community's heart. But even among the awful litanies of death and injury that imbue these urban massacres with such pathos, what took place in Newtown still stands out. |
| Rampaging through a school – let alone a primary – strikes where parents have placed the most precious parts of their lives. The shockingly young age of the dead has accentuated the horror of children being targeted for murder. | Rampaging through a school – let alone a primary – strikes where parents have placed the most precious parts of their lives. The shockingly young age of the dead has accentuated the horror of children being targeted for murder. |
| No wonder so many of the journalists crowding Newtown's streets have seemed shocked and subdued while reporting on air. Many have children of their own. "It is a terrible story to have to live through. It is a terrible story to have to cover," said a near-to-tears Soledad O'Brien of CNN as her voice broke repeatedly while on camera on Saturday morning. | No wonder so many of the journalists crowding Newtown's streets have seemed shocked and subdued while reporting on air. Many have children of their own. "It is a terrible story to have to live through. It is a terrible story to have to cover," said a near-to-tears Soledad O'Brien of CNN as her voice broke repeatedly while on camera on Saturday morning. |
| Some in Newtown must be thought of as fortunate. Howie Ziperstein is one. He has two children at Sandy Hook school who survived the tragedy. He works outside the town as a teacher in nearby Norwalk – and got the call from his wife that something had happened. "That 45-minute drive home felt like four hours," he said. | Some in Newtown must be thought of as fortunate. Howie Ziperstein is one. He has two children at Sandy Hook school who survived the tragedy. He works outside the town as a teacher in nearby Norwalk – and got the call from his wife that something had happened. "That 45-minute drive home felt like four hours," he said. |
| What Ziperstein's sons, aged seven and nine, endured was terrible. One was told by a teacher to hide in a corner of the gym before running to a firehouse outside. The other son was in a classroom where he watched his teacher lock the doors and barricade them with desks. When it was all over he was led to safety through scenes of carnage. | What Ziperstein's sons, aged seven and nine, endured was terrible. One was told by a teacher to hide in a corner of the gym before running to a firehouse outside. The other son was in a classroom where he watched his teacher lock the doors and barricade them with desks. When it was all over he was led to safety through scenes of carnage. |
| "There was a person with a gun lying on the ground, they had to walk around him. They were told to keep their eyes closed, but what kid if you tell them to do that actually keeps their eyes closed," Ziperstein said. As Newtown's residents absorbed what had happened to one of their town's best schools – Sandy Hook is a Connecticut Vanguard school recognised for its excellence – they gathered at that other mainstay of American life in smaller communities, churches. | "There was a person with a gun lying on the ground, they had to walk around him. They were told to keep their eyes closed, but what kid if you tell them to do that actually keeps their eyes closed," Ziperstein said. As Newtown's residents absorbed what had happened to one of their town's best schools – Sandy Hook is a Connecticut Vanguard school recognised for its excellence – they gathered at that other mainstay of American life in smaller communities, churches. |
| At Saint Rosa church hundreds of locals came together to mourn the dead and seek to understand the community's loss. So packed was the building that many people stayed outside, listening to the service through open windows. | At Saint Rosa church hundreds of locals came together to mourn the dead and seek to understand the community's loss. So packed was the building that many people stayed outside, listening to the service through open windows. |
| It would have been no consolation, but the massacre had brought the entire community together. Agron Selmani, 23, stood praying quietly outside the church. "I just wanted to come here and pray. I'm not a regular at this church at all. I'm not even Catholic, I'm a Muslim, but it doesn't matter right now," he said. | It would have been no consolation, but the massacre had brought the entire community together. Agron Selmani, 23, stood praying quietly outside the church. "I just wanted to come here and pray. I'm not a regular at this church at all. I'm not even Catholic, I'm a Muslim, but it doesn't matter right now," he said. |
| Selmani was with his cousin, Flamur Bauti, 26. "There's nothing you could say to the parents of these children," Bauti said. "And it happened at school — the one place where children are supposed to be safe. But they're not." | Selmani was with his cousin, Flamur Bauti, 26. "There's nothing you could say to the parents of these children," Bauti said. "And it happened at school — the one place where children are supposed to be safe. But they're not." |
| A group of other young people linked arms and formed a circle while singing Silent Night. Others held candles and looked on. Some just wept. | A group of other young people linked arms and formed a circle while singing Silent Night. Others held candles and looked on. Some just wept. |
| "It's awful. It's just one of the saddest things," said Suzanne Kelly. She was with her husband, Brian, and daughter Mattie, 16, who had attended Sandy Hook elementary as a youngster. The family said they were still waiting to hear whether any of Mattie's former teachers were among the victims. | "It's awful. It's just one of the saddest things," said Suzanne Kelly. She was with her husband, Brian, and daughter Mattie, 16, who had attended Sandy Hook elementary as a youngster. The family said they were still waiting to hear whether any of Mattie's former teachers were among the victims. |
| "It was really heartbreaking," Mattie Kelly said of hearing the news. "It was the least expected place for it to happen." | "It was really heartbreaking," Mattie Kelly said of hearing the news. "It was the least expected place for it to happen." |
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