Investigators say the 20-year-old shooter killed his mother at her home before targeting the school.
There are mostly questions Friday night in Newtown, questions on the part of the police, who want to know whether this gunman threw up any red flag over the previous weeks or months that something like this was brewing.
And questions by parents, who want to know why some children were spared while others were killed. At times like this, with questions like those, many people turned to faith, prayer and togetherness.
On a night such as this, candles were lit and prayers were said.
At the Catholic church where many of the children's families were parishioners, a memorial mass and a search for answers.
The pastor spent five hours Friday with parents who lost their children.
"Think about one little girl who's going to be an angel in our Christmas pageant next Tuesday, another little girl has already chosen her first communion dress, she was so excited," said Monsignor Robert Weiss of St. Rose of Lima. "What do you say to those parents? What do you say?"
It has been more than 12 hours since 20 children and 6 adults were murdered in the school and the authorities still have countless questions as well.
"It's a horrific scene," said Connecticut State Police Lieutenant Paul Vance. "Between our mutual experience, we've never seen anything like this. It's as heart-wrenching for us as it is for the families, and I just would like to leave that at..."
Twenty-year old Adam Lanza had taken three legally purchased guns from his mother and killed her at their home.
Then he came to Sandy Hook School, kindergarten-through-fourth grade, where she was a teacher's aide.
Among those he murdered was the principal, who helped other school personnel try to stop him.
Then he killed himself.
Word spread fast.
Information was scarce.
Authorities quickly found the shooter's older brother and father who are said to be cooperating with police.
During the rampage, Adam Lanza was carrying his brother's ID, confusing investigators for a time.
Friday night, there was still confusion in this community.
Why did he do it?
Why would he kill a classroom of innocents?
"When you think these little children, we have 20 new saints today," Monsignor Weiss said.
There are prayer services and vigils scheduled for this weekend, but before those, first thing Saturday morning, Connecticut State Police and local police are expected to hold a briefing, at which time they are expected to reveal the names of the victims and much more information about how all of this played out.
