More Pagan Holy Day Madness: At least 18 children among the 27 killed in elementary school shooting

State police personnel led children from the school, following a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, Dec. 14, 2012. (Shannon Hicks/The Newtown Bee)

By CHRISTINA NG (@ChristinaNg27) , RICHARD ESPOSITO and CANDACE SMITH (@CandaceSmith_) 

A shooting at a Connecticut elementary school this morning prompted the town of Newtown to lock down all of its schools and drew SWAT teams to the school, authorities said today.

A gunman has been killed and at least one other person has been shot, authorities told ABC News.
The shooting occurred at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, about 12 miles east of Danbury.

State Police received the first 911 call at 9:41a.m. and immediately began sending emergency units from the western part of the state.

A photo from the scene shows a line of distressed children being led out of the school.

Newton Public School District secretary of superintendent Kathy June said in a statement that the district's school were locked down because of the report of a shooting. "The district is taking preventive measures by putting all schools in lockdown until we ensure the safety of all students and staff."

State police sent SWAT team units to Newtown.

All public and private schools in the town are on lockdown.

State emergency management officials said ambulances and other units were also en route and staging near the school.

A message on the school district website says that all afternoon kindergarten is cancelled today and there will be no mid-day bus runs.

UPDATE
 

Parents pick-up their children near Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, December 14, 2012 (Reuters / Michelle McLoughlin) 

More than two dozen people, including as many as 18 children, have been killed during a school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut outside of New York City early Friday.

According to preliminary reports, at least one gunman opened fire inside of an office at Shady Hook Elementary at around 9:40 a.m. Friday. Police have verified that the suspected shooter has been found dead on the scene while other reports, still unverified, cite the possibility of a second shooter. Police have a second person in custody but have not confirmed any charges.

At least two weapons have been recovered from the slain gunman. The age and identity of the deceased have yet to be made public, although federal sources speaking on condition of anonymity claim one of the assailants was a 24-year-old man with ties to the school. CNN has identified one of the gunman as a local named Ryan Lanza.

Multiple media outlets are reporting that the school’s principal and psychologist are among the dead. An early afternoon press conference has been scheduled to update the public.

Young children wait outside Sandy Hook Elementary School after a shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, December 14, 2012 (Reuters / Michelle McLoughlin) 

 

Both state and local police are still on the scene at Shady Hook and the superintendent has ordered all schools in the district, both public and private, to be placed on lockdown. Lt. J. Paul Vance of the state police department said that both on-duty and off-duty officers responded to the emergency.

Shady Hook, around 12 miles from the town of Danbury, CT, normally has around 600 students in grades kindergarten through four.

Mark Boughton, mayor of Danbury, tells CNN three victims have been sent to a hospital in his city in “very serious” condition, though he declined to comment on their age or identity.

Upon being appointed as principal of Sandy Hook in 2010, Dawn Hochsprung told the Newtown Bee, "I don't think you could find a more positive place to bring students to every day.”

Relatives react outside Sandy Hook Elementary School following a shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, December 14, 2012 (Reuters / Michelle McLoughlin)

 

Relatives react outside Sandy Hook Elementary School following a shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, December 14, 2012 (Reuters / Michelle McLoughlin) 

 

A young girl is given a blanket after being evacuated from Sandy Hook Elementary School following a shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, December 14, 2012 (Reuters / Michelle McLoughlin) 

 

Police patrol the streets outside Sandy Hook Elementary School after a shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, December 14, 2012 (Reuters / Michelle McLoughlin)

 

Parents pick-up their children after a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, December 14, 2012 (Reuters / Michelle McLoughlin) 

 

A police officer keeps guard from a hill top over looking Sandy Hook Elementary School after a shooting in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14, 2012 (Reuters / Adrees Latif)

 

Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut (Credit: Google Maps)