Funerals held for 2 young victims of Newtown shooting

Two young victims of the mass shooting in Newtown, Conn., were laid to rest Monday in the first funerals held after the unfathomable act of violence.

Services were held for Sandy Hook Elementary School students Jack Pinto, six, and Noah Pozner, also six.

At Jack’s funeral in Newtown, about a half dozen children wearing a wrestling’s club gold medals took off the awards and gave them to their teammate’s parents. A New York Giants fan, Jack was wearing a red-and-white jersey with receiver Victor Cruz’s number 80 as he lay in an open
white casket at the service. During Sunday’s game, Cruz wore shoes with “R.I.P. Jack Pinto” written on the side.

Noah was the youngest victim of rampage and his twin sister, Arielle, escaped unhurt.

Under chilly, leaden skies, police and bomb-sniffing dogs conducted a precautionary search of the street lined with white balloons outside the Fairfield, Connecticut, funeral home where Noah’s brief life was remembered.

A teddy bear and bouquet of white flowers lay at the base of an oak tree outside the Jewish service that was packed with mourners, including Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal and Senator-elect Chris Murphy.

The funerals occurred a day after United States President Barack Obama delivered a moving speech at an interfaith vigil for the 26 school shooting victims.

Obama read out the names of those who were killed — 20 young children, the school’s principal, psychologist and four teachers — and assured Newtown residents the rest of the country was behind them and then vowed to take action to ensure a tragedy like this never happens again.

“We can’t tolerate this anymore. These tragedies must end. And to end them we must change,” Obama said.

“In the coming weeks I’ll use whatever power this office holds to engage my fellow citizens from law enforcement to mental health professionals to parents and educators in an effort aimed at preventing more tragedies like this.”

“Because what choice do we have? We can’t accept events like this as routine.”

Adam Lanza, 20, forced his way into the school just after classes had started on Friday morning and opened fire on students and staff. He shot himself when he heard police closing in.

Police are still trying to determine a motive for the attack. The gunman didn’t leave a note or any indication about what led him to such extreme violence.

His mother, Nancy Lanza, was also found dead in the home they shared.

As the community continues to grieve its unthinkable loss, school officials are preparing to send Sandy Hook students to other schools. Classes remain cancelled at Sandy Hook and there’s no word when or if ever the school will reopen for students.

The shooting has once again sparked fierce debate about American gun control laws. Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman said he’d like to see military-style assault weapons outlawed.

With files from Reuters

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