Newtown School Killer's Mother's Family: We Share Your Grief
NEWTOWN, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The family of Newtown, Conn., elementary school gunman Adam Lanza's mother released a statement Sunday extending their condolences to those killed in the shooting.
The Champion family released the following statement, identifying themselves as the family of Nancy Lanza, rather than the family of Adam Lanza:
"The family of Nancy Lanza shares the grief of a community and the nation as we struggle to comprehend the tremendous loss that we all share. Our hearts and prayers are with those who share in this loss; their families, teachers, staff and students of the Sandy Hook Elementary School, the first responders and to all others touched by this tragedy. On behalf of Nancy's mother and siblings, we reach out to the community of Newtown and express our heartfelt sorrow for this incomprehensible and profound loss of innocence that has affected so many."
Adam Lanza shot and killed his mother Friday morning before driving her car to the school and opening fire on two classrooms. He killed 20 children and six adults before turning the gun on himself.
Nancy Lanza was shot four times in the head and found in her bed wearing pajamas, said a state official who was not authorized to disclose details of the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Connecticut State Police Lt. Paul Vance said Sunday afternoon that Nancy Lanza's death had been ruled a homicide, and Adam Lanza's a suicide.
Marsha Lanza, of the far northwest Chicago suburb of Crystal Lake, said she was close with Adam Lanza's mother and sent her a Facebook message Friday morning asking how she was doing. Nancy Lanza never responded.
Marsha Lanza described Nancy Lanza as a good mother and kind-hearted.
If her son had needed counseling, "Nancy wasn't one to deny reality," she told The Associated Press late Friday.
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