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Newtown gunman Adam Lanza had 'obsession' with Columbine Newtown gunman Adam Lanza had 'obsession' with Columbine
(35 minutes later)
The gunman who killed 26 people at a Connecticut school last year had "an obsession" with the 1999 Columbine massacre, an official report has found.The gunman who killed 26 people at a Connecticut school last year had "an obsession" with the 1999 Columbine massacre, an official report has found.
Police said there was evidence Adam Lanza, 20, had planned the shooting, which took fewer than 11 minutes.Police said there was evidence Adam Lanza, 20, had planned the shooting, which took fewer than 11 minutes.
But they could not establish why he opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown on 14 December 2012, before turning the gun on himself.But they could not establish why he opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown on 14 December 2012, before turning the gun on himself.
Lanza acted alone and the case is now closed, state police said.Lanza acted alone and the case is now closed, state police said.
While investigators noted Lanza's obsession with mass shootings, they said there was not enough evidence to pinpoint a motive. The report said of Lanza: "He had a familiarity with and access to firearms and ammunition and an obsession with mass murders, in particular the April 1999 shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado."
Twelve students and a teacher were killed when two teenagers opened fire in a planned attack at Columbine.
'Fascination with shootings''Fascination with shootings'
The report also noted Lanza's "significant mental health issues" - he was diagnosed in 2005 with Asperger syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder not linked to violence - but said "what contribution this made to the shootings, if any, is unknown". Before gunning down 20 children and six adults with a semi-automatic rifle at Sandy Hook, the attacker shot dead his own mother at the family home.
Stephen Sedensky, the prosecutor who drafted the report, also noted of Lanza: "Despite a fascination with mass shootings and firearms, he displayed no aggressive or threatening tendencies."
Before gunning down 20 children and six adults with a semi-automatic rifle at Sandy Hook, the attacker shot dead his own mother, Nancy Lanza, at the family home.
"The obvious question that remains is: 'Why did the shooter murder twenty-seven people, including twenty children?' Unfortunately, that question may never be answered conclusively," Monday's 44-page report said."The obvious question that remains is: 'Why did the shooter murder twenty-seven people, including twenty children?' Unfortunately, that question may never be answered conclusively," Monday's 44-page report said.
It represents just part of the evidence collected by Connecticut State Police. It noted Lanza's "significant mental health issues", but said "what contribution this made to the shootings, if any, is unknown".
A state law passed earlier this year said some evidence, including certain images or video of the victims, would never be made public. Stephen Sedensky, the prosecutor who drafted the findings, also noted that Lanza "displayed no aggressive or threatening tendencies".
The report said of Lanza: "He had a familiarity with and access to firearms and ammunition and an obsession with mass murders, in particular the April 1999 shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado." Some people who knew the gunman said he had a dry sense of humour and an appreciation for nature, according to the investigation.
Mr Sedensky noted: "Some recalled that the shooter had been bullied; but others - including many teachers - saw nothing of the sort."
Mass murders spreadsheetMass murders spreadsheet
Twelve students and a teacher were killed in April 1999 when two teenagers opened fire in a planned attack at Columbine. Lanza, who would not allow anyone to enter his bedroom, kept a spreadsheet of mass murders listing information about each shooting, according to the report.
Other documents at Lanza's home included a spreadsheet with mass murders listing information about each shooting, two videos showing suicide by gunshot and photocopied newspaper articles dating back as far as 1891 relating to the shooting of schoolchildren. He also had two videos showing suicide by gunshot and photocopied newspaper articles, dating back as far as 1891, relating to the shooting of schoolchildren.
Other findings by the report include:
The report also outlined the timeline of events that morning.The report also outlined the timeline of events that morning.
The shooting began shortly after 09:30 when Lanza forced his way into the locked school by shooting through a glass window near the front doors.The shooting began shortly after 09:30 when Lanza forced his way into the locked school by shooting through a glass window near the front doors.
The first call to emergency services came at 09:35 and the last shot, believed to be Lanza firing a handgun at himself, came at 09:40. Most of the deceased were killed in two classrooms.The first call to emergency services came at 09:35 and the last shot, believed to be Lanza firing a handgun at himself, came at 09:40. Most of the deceased were killed in two classrooms.
"In fewer than 11 minutes twenty first-grade pupils and six adults had lost their lives," the report said."In fewer than 11 minutes twenty first-grade pupils and six adults had lost their lives," the report said.
Donna Soto, the mother of Victoria Soto, one of the teachers killed by Lanza, said in a statement that it was still not clear why her daughter and the others died.Donna Soto, the mother of Victoria Soto, one of the teachers killed by Lanza, said in a statement that it was still not clear why her daughter and the others died.
"Yes, we have read the report, no, we cannot make sense of why it happened," she said. "We don't know if anyone ever will. "We don't know if we will ever be whole again," she said, "we don't know if we will go a day without pain, we don't know if anything will ever make sense again."
"We don't know if we will ever be whole again, we don't know if we will go a day without pain, we don't know if anything will ever make sense again." The Newtown shooting prompted a renewed US campaign for stricter firearms controls.
Yale lockdown While no legislation was passed at a national level, some states - including Connecticut and Colorado - imposed tougher gun laws; other states loosened such restrictions.
The Newtown shooting prompted soul-searching in the US, as well as a debate about the mental health system, and a renewed campaign for stricter firearms controls.
While no legislation was passed on a national level in the wake of the incident, some states - including Connecticut and Colorado - imposed tougher gun laws; other states loosened such restrictions.
The shooting also put schools on a state of heightened security, in a country where campus lockdowns are an almost daily occurrence.
In the latest such incident on Monday, Yale University was put on alert amid a report that an armed man had been sighted. Police said later no suspect had been found and it may have been a hoax.