Crime & Safety

Newly Reported Sandy Hook Details Stir Discussion in Newtown ... and Across the Country

An anonymous source shared new information from the investigation, which is close to being complete.

A full report on the Dec. 14 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, prepared by states' attorney Steven Sedensky, is still forthcoming. But a host of new details have surfaced, at least according to a report from the Hartford Courantkickstarting more discussions and some controversy.

The Courant's report, attributed to "a source with knowledge of the investigation," outlined details relating to police response, the state of the shooter's home and actions taken by school staff. The most-discussed portion of the report was likely that relating to the actions of first-grader Jesse Lewis, who apparently yelled for other students to run for safety during the shooting.

According to another portion of the article, a school secretary and nurse remained locked in a closet in Principal Dawn Hochsprung's office for hours while SWAT teams set up a command center around them.

Over the weekend, national blogs and residents alike talked over the details of the report.

"This is what a hero looks like ... thank you, Jesse," said Facebook page Adopt a Sandy Hook / Newtown Cop, referring to Lewis. "This little boy saved so many lives..I wish I could meet his parents and say thank you in person."

But the page criticized the anonymous source who leaked the information.

"Not sure why the people supplying the information are speaking 'under anonymity' but that just about says it all," it wrote.

The final police report on the shooting has been a long time coming. In July, Gov. Dannel Malloy told reporters he expected a final report by mid-September. September came and went with no report. Sedensky has said publicly he will release a report this fall, but has not given a firm date.

Earlier this month, the state's Freedom of Information board ruled against Sedensky, ordering the release of 911 calls made during the event. Sedensky is appealing the decision, which some Newtown officials criticized.

"Trying to find a balance between the public's right to know and having as much transparency as possible, I'm very much an advocate of that," First Selectman Pat Llodra told Patch earlier this month. "But I always want to have that balanced. There has to be some good that can be done and absence of harm. Who is it benefiting and who is it harming?"


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