Cops Hoping To Gain Insight Into Newtown Killer's Mind By Speaking To Father
STAMFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork) – In the wake of the Newtown elementary school tragedy, police were anxious Friday night to find out what killer Adam Lanza's father knows about what might have been going on in his son's mind.
Law enforcement authorities spent a large part of the day at Peter Lanza's home in Stamford, CBS 2's Dave Carlin reported.
"Everyone on this street is devastated," neighbor Mary Battinelli said.
PHOTOS: Sandy Hook Elementary School Massacre
Police believe Peter Lanza's home may yield clues into the unthinkable and appalling crime perpetuated by his 20-year-old son -- the massacre of 27 people inside Sandy Hook Elementary School and the killing of his own mother inside her nearby home.
Peter Lanza, 54, lives on Bartina Street with his second wife. It is unclear what if anything the father of the nation's latest most notorious criminal has told investigators.
Neighbors said they did not recall seeing the son around his father's house.
"This boy's dad, who knows what's going on in his mind? You know, he didn't do it, his son did it," Battinelli said.
"I saw her this morning and him I haven't seen him … no I didn't see, I don't see him," another woman said, referring to Peter Lanza and his wife.
Earlier in the day officers knocked on the doors in the front and back of the house, but no one answered. Detectives said they have a warrant and expect to gather up items from the house.
Neighbors said they were initially alarmed, but are now just sad about what has happened
"My heart is broken, that's what it is. To see my street like this, that doesn't matter. What matters is what happened," Battinelli said.
Ryan Lanza's Ordeal
The search for information quickly led investigators to the shooter's older brother in Hoboken, earlier Friday.
CBS 2 shot exclusive video of Ryan Lanza as the 24-year-old was brought out of his apartment and questioned by police, CBS 2's Sean Hennessey reported.
Outside the home of the shooter's brother, police stood guard Friday night while neighbors remained stunned at the family connection to all those deaths in Connecticut.
"It's so close to home. You see it on the TV. You don't think it's going to happen anywhere near you but it does. It brings it home," neighbor Michael Chipchase said.
"This is something I never expected," Yayoi Sawaba added.
Earlier, with the streets blocked off, police took Ryan Lanza out of a squad car in cuffs and brought him back into his apartment, not long after he had found out that he had lost both his brother and mother. Ryan Lanza was initially taken away by police, along with his roommates, for questioning.
"Those roommates were located. They're in our custody, so that we can talk to them, ease some of the pain that they have," Hoboken Police Capt. James Fitzsimmons said.
Police said Ryan Lanza was extremely cooperative and didn't have anything to do with the Connecticut carnage. He also told police he hadn't had contact with his younger brother in the past few years.
"I can only imagine losing family members so close to you in such a horrible situation. It sounds terrible," neighbor Kristen Gibson said.
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