this picture from the newtown bee. and all of the teachers try to do something about it.dn't know what was going on. it's unclear, at what point in this process the gunman died. they found himself dead in one of the the rooms there. the suggestion? probably he killed himself. more details as we go on. we know that law enforcement agents arrived at the school, they set up a perimeter of state and local police. they entered immediately to secure rooms to find students and make sure if a gunman was still active, they got him under control. then they quickly started leading students away from the school, trying to get them out of safety. a horrendous event. very difficult even for the officers involved. they had to tell many of the children, avert your eyes, close your eyes. they knew they would lead them right past many of the victims. >> oh, tom. such a difficult detail to listen to, that the children had to avert their eyes as they escaped the school. you know, it is not often that the president of the united states sheds a tear in public, and today it happened. you'll see

this picture, by the way, from the newtown bee and there were teachers trying to do something about it and they didn't know what was going on. it is not clear at what point in this process that the gunman died. law officials say no officers fired a weapon, but they did find him dead in one of the rooms there, the suggestion probably that he killed himself. we will get more details as we go on. this is what we know. when law enforcement agents arrived at the school, they immediately set up a perimeter around it. it was state and local police and officers spred spread throughout the building. they entered to secure rooms, to find student and make sure if a gunman was active in there that they got him under control and killed him if they had to. then they quickly started to lead students away from the school trying to get them out to safety. this was a horrendous event as you know. very difficult even for the officers involved because they had to, as you said, tell many of these children, avert your eyes, close your cries because they knew they were going to lead them past many of the vic

that many of the children were being led out, as you can see in this photograph from "the newtown beeand that the situation was more or less secure. there is still a lot of work to be done obviously. but as you can see, as we look at this time line closer and closer, it's coming down to a very short period of time, 20 minutes or less from the beginning to the end of this in terms of people really knowing what was happening. and now this huge, long, long search to understand why it happened. anderson? >> tom, thanks very much. we want to go to our david ariosto who's in the neighborhood where the mother of this shooter lived. david, what are you learning about this lady? >> anderson, this is where that first murder took place before the shooter headed over to that elementary school. we've talked to neighbors in and around the area here. they paint a picture of a woman who was killed right before that shooting -- they describe her sort of as this pleasurable woman, a woman who was a very pleasant person to be around. someone who loved gardening, loved landscaping, someone who attended a

this picture, by the way, from the newtown bee. it is not clear if they cleared everybody out or just the suspect -- they were searching the roof of the building, as well. but just as we reported yesterday, wolf, the simple truth is all this happened in about a 27-minute time span. all of it happening in a very close area here. with much more information and much more detail that is where they're hoping to figure out some kind of why. what was the thing that made this person come to this school and do this horrible, horrible attack. wolf? >> the investigation obviously continues. so many questions have to be answered, tom, thank you very much. let's bring in brian todd right now. he has got a closer look at the shooter. the twenty-year-old, adam lanza, you're getting new information, brian, what are you learning? >> reporter: well, police say they have picked up evidence about lanza, and his mother, picking up evidence at the house. they're not letting on what the evidence is. but we're getting new details about the shooter's past

this is a picture from "the newtown bee" of the kids being led away. this is a very short period of time, from 17 to 20 minutes that this went from nothing happening to all of these events happening that have changed the lives of so many people. and police will continue going over and over and over again the details of the movement of this shooter and his victims to try to get a better understanding of precisely how it all happened. >> tom, thanks. what happened in that building affected everyone. the tragedy is tough for the entire community here. and those not directly affected still want to make a difference. earlier, i spoke with two women trying to do just that. when you came up to talk to me, you ladies could barely get the words out. >> this is -- there are no words. there are no words. and even right now, we know that families are crying together, trying to get through day to day. and we feel that since we weren't directly impacted, we feel like we want to be able to use our voices to say things that we know that people are going to be saying f

this picture by the way from "the newtown bee."here were all these teachers trying to do something about it, they didn't really know what was going on. it's not clear at what point in this process the gunman died. law officials say no officers fired a weapon, but they did find him dead in one of the rooms there. the suggestion being probably that he killed himself. but we'll get more details of that as we go on. this is what we do know. when law enforcement agents arrived at the school, they immediately set up a perimeter around it. it was state and local police. and officers spread throughout the building. they say they entered immediately to secure rooms to find students and to make sure if a gun man was still active that they got him under control or killed them if they had to. then they quickly started leading students away from the school, trying to get them out to safety. this was just a horrendous, horrendous event, as you know. very difficult even for the officers who were involved because they had to, as you said, tell man

that many of the children were being led out, as you can see in this photograph from "the newtown beetuation was more or less secure. there is still a lot of work to be done obviously. but as you can see, as we look at this time line closer and closer, it's coming down to a very short period of time, 20 minutes or less from the beginning to the end of this in terms of people really knowing what was happening. and now this huge, long, long search to understand why it happened. anderson? >> tom, thanks very much. we want to go to our david ariosto who's in the neighborhood where the mother of this shooter lived. david, what are you learning about this lady? >> anderson, this is where that first murder took place before the shooter headed over to that elementary school. we've talked to neighbors in and around the area here. they paint a picture of a woman who was killed right before that shooting -- they describe her sort of as this pleasurable woman, a woman who was a very pleasant person to be around. someone who loved gardening, loved landscaping, someone who attended a monthly dice g

this is a picture from "the newtown bee" of the kids being led away. this is a very short period of time, from 17 to 20 minutes that this went from nothing happening to all of these events happening that have changed the lives of so many people. and police will continue going over and over and over again the details of the movement of this shooter and his victims to try to get a better understanding of precisely how it all happened. >> tom, thanks. what happened in that building affected everyone. the tragedy is tough for the entire community here. and those not directly affected still want to make a difference. earlier, i spoke with two women trying to do just that. when you came up to talk to me, you ladies could barely get the words out. >> this is -- there are no words. there are no words. and even right now, we know that families are crying together, trying to get through day to day. and we feel that since we weren't directly impacted, we feel like we want to be able to use our voices to say things that we know that people are going to be saying f

that many of the children were being led out, as you can see in this photograph from "the newtown bee and that the situation was more or less secure. there is still a lot of work to be done obviously. but as you can see, as we look at this time line closer and closer, it's coming down to a very short period of time, 20 minutes or less from the beginning to the end of this in terms of people really knowing what was happening. and now this huge, long, long search to understand why it happened. anderson? >> tom, thanks very much. we want to go to our david ariosto who's in the neighborhood where the mother of this shooter lived. david, what are you learning about this lady? >> anderson, this is where that first murder took place before the shooter headed over to that elementary school. we've talked to neighbors in and around the area here. they paint a picture of a woman who was killed right before that shooting -- they describe her sort of as this pleasurable woman, a woman who was a very pleasant person to be around. someone who loved gardening, loved landscaping, someone who attended

this is a picture from "the newtown bee" of the kids being led away. this is a very short period of time, from 17 to 20 minutes that this went from nothing happening to all of these events happening that have changed the lives of so many people. and police will continue going over and over and over again the details of the movement of this shooter and his victims to try to get a better understanding of precisely how it all happened. >> tom, thanks. what happened in that building affected everyone. the tragedy is tough for the entire community here. and those not directly affected still want to make a difference. earlier, i spoke with two women trying to do just that. when you came up tho talk to me, you ladies could barely get the words out. >> this is -- there are no words. there are no words. and even right now, we know that families are crying together, trying to get through day to day. and we feel that since we weren't directly impacted, we feel like we want to be able to use our voices to say things that we know that people are going to be saying

the bottom line is, though, you see the pictures of the newtown bee, there was an effort to get the studentsut to safety. and it was a difficult stunt to pull off because you have hundreds of kids here and they're obviously traumatized and very, very upset. 9:50. by this time for sure, and again, we're not sure of the time line, it's murky, but the gunman somewhere in this process has died. police officers say no officer fired a shot. so it's believed he shot himself, but this we do know. as officers arrive on the scene from state and local police, they secure the entire building and they spread out through it trying to make sure there are no other gunmen and trying to find all these pockets of children hiding within this building. and at that point, they start escorting them out of the building as well. a difficult, difficult time, and this time line is what the investigators are going to have to build upon in the coming weeks to clarify, to make sure we know exactly when things happened and how. >> reporter: and that is tom foreman reporting for cnn. in the aftermath of friday's tragedy, q

we do know according to the newtown bee on the scene that there was one child carried from the schoold we know that these emergency personnel gathered their enmass, the extents of the injuries unclear. according to the website of newtown school, afternoon buses and kindergarten is canceled. the superintendent issuing this statement, the district is taking preventive measures by putting all schools in lockdown until we assure safety of all students and staff. >> we can take you through a time line as it's come available. this according to the current.com. website of the hartford courant. the shooter was in fact in the main office of the school, again, unconfirmed reports of two shooters, we do of course, we can confirm one shooter has been killed. another perhapses at large. we don't have that confirmed. and again, as of 10:30 eastern, students were still being led as you see the students here, led from the school, by their teachers. again, we can tell you now, it's an active shooter scene, though the school itself has been cleared. we did receive reports as well that the fbi, s.w.a.t.

there was a shooting, but then there are also local reports from our local fox affiliate, and the newtown beeing is the local newspaper that there are multiple injuries. we have heard there are staging areas outside. x cawe can only imagine that parents would be racing to the school to try to reconnect with their children who as we also understand may or may not be inside on lockdown at this time. bill. bill: you think about colleges across the country and how they have changed and they've got even plans together, contingency plans in cases like this. you think about high schools too. you don't think about elementary schools, kindergarten through fourth grade. there is a website for sandy hook elementary school. there is no information on it of value that would lend any sort of factual information on the ground. that is your first image right now out of newtown, connecticut. let me just check the wires here real quick. alisyn: this is the first photograph we're getting from a local newspaper. you can see clearly something is happening at this school. yellow police tape surround an area and yo

this is a picture from the newtown bee showing children escorted out by state troopers.ou can see the huge glut the vehicles that came in there as people came trying to get information. >> very chaotic and horrifying scene for the people who have children in that school. representative john fray is serving his seventh term in the connecticut house of representatives, the minority whip. he said his niece and nephew go to that school, and she witnessed first graders running from the school crying. she among other people took those children, and people have been assembling at the firehouse. here we see the pictures of adults and presumably teachers taking away distraught children and walking them to a safer place. robert told us that many children have reunited with families, but they are remaining at the firehouse because they're unable to leave this very active scene where they're's a possibility they're looking for a second gunman. >> we have on the phone jessica norton. she's with the group survivors of homicide. they're active in the state of connecticut. jessica, can

newtown bee reporting one child was carried out by a police officer and apparently the child was wounded. how we do not know and seriousness is not clear either. >> it says dozens of state troopers are on the scene. they're assisting local police. heavily-armed police gathered around the school at 10:45. this is all so recent. stretchers have been set up and saging area set up for the parents of students in the school. very terrifying situation in newtown area. our coverage will continue. bill: coverage continues on "happening now.". jenna: if you're just joining us a school shooting in connecticut. still uncon fermed details. this happened at sandy hook elementary school about hour and a half ago. according to wires and local reports we're getting some information there are several injuries at this elementary school this friday morning. a few details about this area. this place, this newtown, township, in connecticut is about 60 miles from new york city. it's a town of less than 30,000 people. so small community and a small elementary school at that we're trying to work on details what

that image from the newtown bee. >> gretchen: in the wake of that tragic shooting, some are turning to says it's right to hold out hope because heaven is real. how does he know? he's been there. he is a noted neural surgeon and the author of "proof of heaven," best seller. he's been on the show several times. people keep wanting to you come back because especially now in the wake of this tragedy, you offer hope because you've seen the light, right? >> that's very much the case. my heartfelt love and prayers go out to those affected by this tragedy. >> steve: sure, i understand that you feel that when tragedy hits a town and a family like this one does, god finds a way to help the victims' families. explain what you mean. >> very much it has to do with the belief and knowing that that is possible. for me it's become very, very clear that that entire realm and the eternity of our souls is very much a part of all reality. and that is something that i want to offer to them is just knowing that that belief can offer comfort and that they can know that those precious souls are cherished and

made by a photographer named shannon hicks, and she was a local -- you know, she worked for the newtown beeing picture. you can just imagine these kids. they have been practiced. they've done this. this is the protocol. you know, the congo line. they all put their hands on each other's shoulder. the one in the front has to keep his eyes open, and it's so heart breaking. >> so many do seem to be keeping their eyes closed, which the teachers said don't look, don't look. >> what about the next one? the tornado in texas? >> the tornado in texas, isn't this the most incredible? this was made, again, through a windshield by a photographer, and it was -- it became so iconic the next day it was one of the -- on 17 front page pictures -- front page papers. it's just amazing. >> wouldn't you get off the road real quick if you saw that coming from the windshield? >> the juxtaposition, you rarely get to see the sides of the car. it's on its way. this guy is not a full-time photographer. he is a jack of all trades. he is just in the right place, and he stopped. this is one of the things. i mean, we -- t

newtown connecticut. he told the modesto bee he was a sergeant and had been deployed to iraq and afghanistan.e corp. says poosely never charged overseas and was discharged as a private. >>> the grant was announced today by congresswoman lee and is making way for hires and retires. although the fire department is still trying to figure out how many. the pinol department is also looking to get the same money from the department. >>> a woman who was killed as she was walking home from a store is being remembered tonight. paul chambers talked to the store clerk who called 911 after she heard gunshots and then pleas for help. >> reporter: a few candles and flowers lay year the area where ramona rochelle was killed. someone shot several shots along the 700 block of the boulevard. she said she heard gunshots and several people ran into the store for coverage. >> as i saw the man, i thought they were trying to kill him. >> reporter: foreman was later pronounced dead on the scene. she was caught in the middle of a gunfight as she was walking home from a store. >> i wish they could do away with guns al

newtown connecticut. he told the modesto bee he was a sergeant and had been deployed to iraq and afghanistan.now the u.s. marine corp. says poosely never charged overseas and was discharged as a private. >>> the grant was announced today by congresswoman lee and is making way for hires and retires. although the fire department is still trying to figure out how many. the pinol department is also looking to get the same money from the department. >>> a woman who was killed as she was walking home from a store is being remembered tonight. paul chambers talked to the store clerk who called 911 after she heard gunshots and then pleas for help. >> reporter: a few candles and flowers lay year the area where ramona rochelle was killed. someone shot several shots along the 700 block of the boulevard. she said she heard gunshots and several people ran into the store for coverage. >> as i saw the man, i thought they were trying to kill him. >> reporter: foreman was later pronounced dead on the scene. she was caught in the middle of a gunfight as she was walking home from a store. >> i wish they could do