Funerals continue in Newtown as classes resume at area schools
Posted December 18, 2012 11:06 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
As mourning continues for young students and staff from Sandy Hook Elementary School murdered in Newtown, Conn., the New England community is struggling to regain some sense of normalcy by resuming classes at other area schools.
A funeral was planned Tuesday for six-year-old Jessica Rekos. Funerals were held Monday for students Jack Pinto and Noah Pozner, both six years old — the first services held after Friday’s mass shooting.
Wakes for other victims are also being held Tuesday, including for teacher Victoria Soto. Soto is being remembered as a hero for shielding her students from the gunfire.
A candlelight vigil was held in Winnipeg Monday night for Ana Marquez-Greene. The six-year-old girl lived in Manitoba with her family before moving to Newtown last summer.
Twenty seven people were murdered in Newtown on Friday. Twenty children were shot to death inside Sandy Hook school, as well as six staff: four teachers, the school’s principal and psychologist.
The gunman, 20-year-old Adam Lanza, shot himself inside the school as police closed in. He shot his mother, Nancy Lanza, at their home. He used her car to drive to the school and carried out the rampage with three of her guns.
Classes were scheduled to resume in other Newtown schools Tuesday. Sandy Hook will remain closed indefinitely as the police investigation continues. Sandy Hook students will be placed in surrounding schools for class.
Meanwhile, detectives are still trying to determine a motive for the attack. Lanza left no note or diaries indicating what would compel him to carry out such extreme violence. Federal authorities said he attended shooting ranges with his mother, a gun enthusiast.
And while the town of 27,000 continues to struggle with its deep loss, politicians, including New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, have started to wade into the gun control debate. On Monday Bloomberg held a news conference calling on U.S. President Barack Obama to take action and tighten firearms rules.
