# Shooting at CT Elementary School **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 14, 2012, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044 "2012-12-14T17:55:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/201 "2012-12-15T18:45:56Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > None of that stuff is useful to the public. We’re interested in it, and I don’t have a problem with that interest or the fact that it gets media coverage, but it’s in no way useful. It might be useful to police or school districts, but that’s a small minority of the people watching and reading about this. I dunno, maybe it feels better to know than to not know. The scariest monsters are always unseen, conjured up by your imagination. If we knew what he was up to, why he did it, etc. then maybe we would have some control over people like this in the future. Not knowing is terrifying. It means that at any time, anyone around us can do this and most of us can’t really handle that well ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/202 "2012-12-15T18:46:35Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Because useful information might be gleaned from it. Was the shooter wandering around randomly? Was the shooter headed toward a particular location? Or toward a particular person? Did the shooter target specific individuals, or was there something in common among the victims? Etc. It might be that other information ultimately makes this analysis redundant, but they don’t know that when they start investigating. nothing you posted required the dead bodies remain there. After reference pictures are taken then their bodies should be released. I don’t see a great deal of time involved in this part of the investigation. They literally have all the time in the world to study the blood splatter marks and anything else that fills in the blank spaces of the investigation. It’s pretty clear who killed them and where. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_I\_Am](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@Sam\_I\_Am](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_I_Am)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/203 "2012-12-15T20:18:10Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I agree. I’m watching it the morning after and they still don’t have it right. One reporter asked when the children’s bodies will be removed. they should have known that (off air) when it occurred which was quite some time prior to the question posed live. I was distressed that the bodies had not been removed yet because of their mis-information. > > That’s actually almost another thread topic. why is it necessary that we know the exact trajectory of each and every shot and the precise accounting of events. > > It would be nice to know how he gained access. It would be nice to know which steps to save people worked and which didn’t. But there’s a limit to what we need to know versus the anguish of parents waiting for the release of their child’s body. I disagree. I will not take fault with them taking their time to ensure they have gleaned all the information they can. It is protocol, and I am sure it is important for a variety of reasons. For one, what if in a tragedy like this they realized part-way through the investigation that there was a second shooter, still alive. That precise accounting would be what got him off the streets. I can’t imagine the cops delay releasing the bodies unnecessarily; I can’t imagine they enjoy working around the bodies of dead kindergarteners. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/204 "2012-12-15T20:38:47Z")
The Medical Examiner (I think that’s his title) is just giving a press conference. All the children’s autopsies have been completed, and the poor man sounds like he is hanging on by a thread. He did seven of them himself ☹ Tough day. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/205 "2012-12-15T20:48:46Z")
> [@computergeek](#): > > Paramount delayed the Pittsburgh premiere of the Tom Cruise movie “Jack Reacher” out of respect for the CT victims. The Syfy channel postponed the showing of a “Haven” episode that showed violence in a school setting. SNL and various talk shows indicated they were going on as usual because I guess they were asked if they were. Now, Fox has pulled Sunday’s original episodes of “Family Guy” and “American Dad” for repeats and replaced a repeat of “The Cleveland Show” with a different repeat. Fox didn’t give a reason but The Futon Critic speculated that the particular episodes had sensitive content. > I totally understand pulling episodes that might be sensitive to people in light of the shooting, but I don’t get even considering pulling comedy shows and talk shows or postponing the premiere of a movie in a completely different state (even if it is about a sniper killing innocent people). That’s being oversensitive. I remember way back when Pope John Paul II had that attempt on his life. That evening the network would have been showing the movie “Foul Play” in which part of the plot is an attempt on the life of a Pope. They pulled it and showed another movie instead. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/206 "2012-12-15T21:00:49Z")
> [@computergeek](#): > > Paramount delayed the Pittsburgh premiere of the Tom Cruise movie “Jack Reacher” out of respect for the CT victims. The Syfy channel postponed the showing of a “Haven” episode that showed violence in a school setting. SNL and various talk shows indicated they were going on as usual because I guess they were asked if they were. Now, Fox has pulled Sunday’s original episodes of “Family Guy” and “American Dad” for repeats and replaced a repeat of “The Cleveland Show” with a different repeat. Fox didn’t give a reason but The Futon Critic speculated that the particular episodes had sensitive content. > I totally understand pulling episodes that might be sensitive to people in light of the shooting, but I don’t get even considering pulling comedy shows and talk shows or postponing the premiere of a movie in a completely different state (even if it is about a sniper killing innocent people). That’s being oversensitive. So what if its oversensitive. For one or two days caring more about potentially hurting people wins. This world coud use a touch more of people bending over backwards to be kind. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/207 "2012-12-15T21:03:22Z")
the m.e. mentioned that they had cleared the scene at 1ish am. it does need to be done carefully and with precision, even if there will be no court case. 15 hours is a really remarkable time. some time just one person will be at a crime scene for longer than that. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/208 "2012-12-15T21:03:22Z")
Seriously, the “stop being so sensitive to the people who are upset about all the kids who were gunned down yesterday!” argument is not getting a lot of traction with me today. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/209 "2012-12-15T21:23:17Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > BBC is reporting the shooter was apparently buzzed in This is now being contradicted. They’re saying he was not buzzed in and “forced his way in.” In the real world I suspect that means > [@MsWhatsit](#): > > the shooter just walked into the school not long after the start of the school day. It doesn’t sound like any force was necessary to get in. It sounds like he “forced” his way in only in the sense that he wasn’t supposed to be there. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/210 "2012-12-15T22:13:39Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > This is now being contradicted. They’re saying he was not buzzed in and “forced his way in.” In the real world I suspect that means > > It doesn’t sound like any force was necessary to get in. It sounds like he “forced” his way in only in the sense that he wasn’t supposed to be there. Actually, I just saw a story on… I think the NY Times, that indicated the shooter possibly broke his way in, which is where the broken glass came from that some of the victims described seeing. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/211 "2012-12-15T22:22:31Z")
> [@laina\_f](#): > > And what happened to the guy who was found in the woods nearby and taken into custody? It was originally reported that he was the younger brother of the perpetrator and was wearing camoflauge clothing. There was a press conference this morning and someone asked a question that couldn’t quite be heard, but the State Police rep responded with something like… yes, during the investigation anyone found in the surrounding woods would have been detained for questioning “even if they were just cutting wood.” In the same press conference he also stated that he forced his way in against the new security measures which makes me doubt he just walked in. Also one of the initial dispatcher tapes mentions reports that the front glass was shattered. They are also now reporting that the principal was killed as she was “lunging” at the shooter. ---
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/212 "2012-12-15T22:39:35Z")
My mom was watching a news conference with the coroner, and she was shocked and dismayed at the stupid questions the reporters were asking. One guy asked, “What were the victims wearing?” The corner looked at him with disbelief in his eyes and muttered something like “Little kids clothes.” WTF media? edit: They were also going over how may bullets each victim has in them, and the extent of their wounds. Why do we even want or need to know this? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/213 "2012-12-15T22:57:21Z")
I can’t ever remember such a story with so much early misinformation. [The coroner has now stated that all the victims were shot at close range with a rifle](http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/gunman-kills-mother-then-26-in-grade-school-rampage-in-connecticut/2012/12/15/9017a784-46b6-11e2-8061-253bccfc7532_story.html?hpid=z2), and the earlier info said he left his rifle in his car and used two handguns. Also, every victim was shot at least 3 times. ---
**Author:** ![computergeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e56c9b/32.png) [@computergeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/computergeek)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/214 "2012-12-15T23:27:20Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I can’t ever remember such a story with so much early misinformation. [The coroner has now stated that all the victims were shot at close range with a rifle](http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/gunman-kills-mother-then-26-in-grade-school-rampage-in-connecticut/2012/12/15/9017a784-46b6-11e2-8061-253bccfc7532_story.html?hpid=z2), and the earlier info said he left his rifle in his car and used two handguns. Also, every victim was shot at least 3 times. It kind of makes you wonder if the local law enforcement is a little incompetent or some people were talking to the media who shouldn’t have been and didn’t know enough. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/215 "2012-12-15T23:58:54Z")
> [@April\_R](#): > > My mom was watching a news conference with the coroner, and she was shocked and dismayed at the stupid questions the reporters were asking. One guy asked, “What were the victims wearing?” The corner looked at him with disbelief in his eyes and muttered something like “Little kids clothes.” > > WTF media? > > edit: They were also going over how may bullets each victim has in them, and the extent of their wounds. Why do we even want or need to know this? We don’t. The “reporters” who asked these questions need to be dragged through the electronic mud. If I were the coroner I would have answered the clothes question by asking for the reporter’s name and affiliation. We’re all starved for the basic information. WHY did this guy do it. Did he leave a trail of breadcrumbs we can learn from. How did he get into the school. Who are the hero’s who saved the other kids. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/216 "2012-12-16T01:06:50Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I can’t ever remember such a story with so much early misinformation. [The coroner has now stated that all the victims were shot at close range with a rifle](http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/gunman-kills-mother-then-26-in-grade-school-rampage-in-connecticut/2012/12/15/9017a784-46b6-11e2-8061-253bccfc7532_story.html?hpid=z2), and the earlier info said he left his rifle in his car and used two handguns. Also, every victim was shot at least 3 times. Fuck the media. After hearing all day long yesterday that the shit-eating killer’s mother was a teacher at the school, now it’s casually mentioned that “Oh, by the way his mom was not and never was a teacher, and the only connection the bastard had to the school was that he attended it as a child.” ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/217 "2012-12-16T01:35:24Z")
> [@Sam\_I\_Am](#): > > I disagree. I will not take fault with them taking their time to ensure they have gleaned all the information they can. It is protocol, and I am sure it is important for a variety of reasons. For one, what if in a tragedy like this they realized part-way through the investigation that there was a second shooter, still alive. That precise accounting would be what got him off the streets. > > I can’t imagine the cops delay releasing the bodies unnecessarily; I can’t imagine they enjoy working around the bodies of dead kindergarteners. My sentiments exactly. > [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I can’t ever remember such a story with so much early misinformation. [The coroner has now stated that all the victims were shot at close range with a rifle](http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/gunman-kills-mother-then-26-in-grade-school-rampage-in-connecticut/2012/12/15/9017a784-46b6-11e2-8061-253bccfc7532_story.html?hpid=z2), and the earlier info said he left his rifle in his car and used two handguns. Also, every victim was shot at least 3 times. All the reporters and news services want to be _the_ first to report any given fact, so there’s a heedless stampede. They end up with egg on their faces but then do it all over again when the next big event occurs. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/218 "2012-12-16T02:17:40Z")
The children were all in the first grade. Sixteen of them were six years old, four of them were seven years old. It’s been reported that all the children were shot multiple times, up to 11 times. It may have been difficult to positively identify the children, and I’m guessing that it was not a situation where parents could pick up the pretty body of their lifeless child. It was reported that parents were asked to identify their children by a photograph to spare them some horror. The police went through something horrific, and it seems to me that they’ve handled the tragedy with professionalism and sensitivity. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/219 "2012-12-16T02:28:23Z")
> [@laina\_f](#): > > …The police went through something horrific, and it seems to me that they’ve handled the tragedy with professionalism and sensitivity. I’m thinking exactly the opposite. Not the horrific part, but the rest. Given the ridiculous amount of bad information that was put out yesterday by the press quoting “police sources”, it seems to me there must have been a bunch of ill-informed gossipy cops passing along the latest rumors to the press. ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/220 "2012-12-16T03:18:01Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > All the reporters and news services want to be _the_ first to report any given fact, so there’s a heedless stampede. They end up with egg on their faces but then do it all over again when the next big event occurs. And those of us monitoring the news almost never remember who was first or even care. Especially when the story changes so often because everyone else did so badly. It’s all one big ego trip and the people who are harmed by it are the “customers”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044.md?page=12)