CT School shooting UPDATE: Shooter identified as 20-year-old Adam Lanza

UPDATE 4:00 PM: It's been confirmed that 20-year-old Adam Lanza was the shooter and that  24-year-old Ryan Lanza, who was originally named as the suspect, is his older brother and now in police custody. 

The shooter behind the horrifying mass shootings that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut earlier this morning has been identified at last. The shooting resulted in 27 fatalities including that of the shooter and 6 other adults, as well as 20 children.

Lanza was killed during the rampage, which is now one of the deadliest in history. It  has been confirmed that he died in an apparent suicide after going on the deadly rampage. Authorities say that the gunman was wearing dark clothing, a mask, a bulletproof vest, and was carrying multiple guns. Reportedly, Lanza's mother, Nancy Lanza, was a teacher at the school and a victim of the shooting. Children in her classroom were also among the reported fatalities. 

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 Lanza entered the school at around 9:40 in the morning. Investigators say that he fired his weapons at least 100 times. 

There are no words that can capture the horror of Lanza's crime and no motive-- whether one is revealed or not--will ever be able to justify his unbelievable actions. I, like everyone else following the story, find it impossible to wrap my mind around this senseless act of violence against anyone, particularly innocent young children.

I only hope that the number of fatalities does not increase and that police continue to stay vigilant, particularly if the other person taken into custody is revealed to be a second gunman. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims' loved ones and the entire community.

Image via Chicago Tribune