Tuesday Marks 9 Years Since Mass Shooting At Sandy Hook Elementary School
NEWTOWN, Conn. (CBSNewYork) -- Tuesday marks nine years since a gunman armed with a semi-automatic rifle opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
Twenty-six people were killed, including 20 children between the ages of six and seven years old, along with six adults.
The tragedy that occurred on this day 9 years ago is one of the worst in Connecticut history, but in its aftermath, we witnessed an outpouring of love, humanity, and kindness from all over the entire world, spreading a message of hope that we must proactively work to protect.
— Governor Ned Lamont (@GovNedLamont) December 14, 2021
Gunman Adam Lanza, 20, killed himself as police converged on the school.
PHOTOS: Remembering Newtown Shooting Victims
The school was demolished 10 months after the shooting.
In a video, President Joe Biden said the nation owes the families more than our prayers, we owe them action.
"Every one of those families relives the news they got that day. Twenty precious first graders, six heroic educators, a lone gunman and an unconscionable act of violence. Everything changed that morning for you, and the nation was shocked," he said.
Nine years ago today, we lost 20 precious first-graders and six heroic educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School. As a nation, we owe the families of Newtown — and all the other victims of gun violence — more than our prayers. We owe them action. pic.twitter.com/rfLywlcZUa
— President Biden (@POTUS) December 14, 2021
The president said it was frustrating that Congress has not passed legislation to reduce gun violence.
Authorities say Lanza used his mother's semi-automatic rifle in the shooting.
Newtown public schools held classes remotely Tuesday, and Gov. Ned Lamont ordered flags across the state to be flown at half staff.