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Newtown, Connecticut (CNN) -- The horrific picture of the bloody Connecticut school massacre two days earlier became clearer Sunday, from how a man fired his way into the building to the "assault-type rifle" he used to slay 26 people -- 20 of them children, ages 6 and 7 -- before killing himself.
Adam Lanza, 20, has been positively identified as the gunman, Connecticut State Police Lt. J. Paul Vance said Sunday. The police spokesman also revealed that the shooter's mother, Nancy Lanza, is the woman found dead from "multiple gunshot wounds" in the Newtown, Connecticut, home she lived in with her son.
While more details have emerged about Friday's massacre in this quiet New England town, authorities still don't have an explanation as to why it happened.
"We will and we are searching diligently and nonstop to attempt to answer that," Vance said.
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Connecticut State Police officers search outside St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church in Newtown, Connecticut, on Sunday, December 16, after a threat prompted authorities to evacuate the building. Investigators found nothing to substantiate the reported threat, a police official said, declining to provide additional details. The church held Sunday services following last week's mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown. Connecticut State Police officers walk out of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church after the Newtown church received a threat December 16. Firefighters attach black bunting to a fire truck as a memorial at the fire station down the street from the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, on Saturday, December 15. Connecticut Chief Medical Examiner H. Wayne Carver II talks to the media about the elementary school shooting during a press conference at Treadwell Memorial Park on December 15. Zulma Sein is hugged by a family member outside of the entrance to the Sandy Hook School on Saturday. Police officers keep guard at the entrance to the street leading to the Sandy Hook Elementary School on Saturday, December 15. Connecticut State Police Lt. Paul Vance addresses the press on December 15. Police officers stand at the entrance to the street leading to the Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 15. Corinne McLaughlin, a student at the University of Hartford, bows her head during a candlelight vigil at Hartford, Connecticut's Bushnell Park on Friday, December 14, honoring the students and teachers who died at Sandy Hook Elementary School in nearby Newtown earlier in the day. Distraught people leave the fire station after hearing news of their loved ones from officials on Friday. Emergency workers stand in front of the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown. A child and her mother leave a staging area outside Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14. Members of the media converge on December 14 in front of an apartment at 1313 Grand Street in Hoboken, New Jersey. The apartment is believed to be connected to the Connecticut elementary school shooting. Faisal Ali, right, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, joins other people outside the White House on December 14 to participate in a candlelight vigil to remember the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Connecticut State Police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance, center, briefs the media on the elementary school shootings during a press conference at Treadwell Memorial Park on December 14 in Newtown. People weep and embrace near Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday, December 14. A woman leans on a man as she weeps near Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. President Barack Obama wipes a tear as he speaks about the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School during a press briefing at the White House on December 14. A woman weeps near the site of a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. A woman weeps near Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. People comfort each other near Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. A man takes in the scene near Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. A young girl is given a blanket after being evacuated from Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. State police personnel lead children from the school. Children wait outside Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, after the shooting. A boy weeps at Reed Intermediate School after getting news of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. FBI SWAT team members walk along Dickinson Drive near Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. An aerial view of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14. Connecticut State Troopers arrive on the scene outside Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. A Connecticut State Police officer runs with a shotgun at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown on December 14. Police patrol the streets around Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. People try to deal with the shock of the attack outside Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. Connecticut State Police secure the scene of the shooting on December 14. People embrace outside Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. A man escorts his son away from Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. People take in the news outside Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. People line up to enter Newtown Methodist Church near the the scene of the shooting on December 14. A woman speaks with a Connecticut state trooper outside Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. The streets around Sandy Hook Elementary are packed with first responders and other vehicles. A view of the scene at Sandy Hook Elementary School after the shooting. A young boy is comforted outside Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. People embrace each other on December 14. 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Connecticut State Police officers walk out of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church after the Newtown church received a threat December 16. 
Firefighters attach black bunting to a fire truck as a memorial at the fire station down the street from the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, on Saturday, December 15. 
Connecticut Chief Medical Examiner H. Wayne Carver II talks to the media about the elementary school shooting during a press conference at Treadwell Memorial Park on December 15. 
Zulma Sein is hugged by a family member outside of the entrance to the Sandy Hook School on Saturday. 
Police officers keep guard at the entrance to the street leading to the Sandy Hook Elementary School on Saturday, December 15. 
Connecticut State Police Lt. Paul Vance addresses the press on December 15. 
Police officers stand at the entrance to the street leading to the Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 15. 
Corinne McLaughlin, a student at the University of Hartford, bows her head during a candlelight vigil at Hartford, Connecticut's Bushnell Park on Friday, December 14, honoring the students and teachers who died at Sandy Hook Elementary School in nearby Newtown earlier in the day. 
Distraught people leave the fire station after hearing news of their loved ones from officials on Friday. 
Emergency workers stand in front of the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown. 
A child and her mother leave a staging area outside Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14. 
Members of the media converge on December 14 in front of an apartment at 1313 Grand Street in Hoboken, New Jersey. The apartment is believed to be connected to the Connecticut elementary school shooting. 
Faisal Ali, right, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, joins other people outside the White House on December 14 to participate in a candlelight vigil to remember the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. 
Connecticut State Police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance, center, briefs the media on the elementary school shootings during a press conference at Treadwell Memorial Park on December 14 in Newtown. 
People weep and embrace near Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday, December 14. 
A woman leans on a man as she weeps near Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. 
President Barack Obama wipes a tear as he speaks about the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School during a press briefing at the White House on December 14. 
A woman weeps near the site of a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. 
A woman weeps near Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. 
People comfort each other near Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. 
A man takes in the scene near Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. 
A young girl is given a blanket after being evacuated from Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. 
State police personnel lead children from the school. 
Children wait outside Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, after the shooting. 
A boy weeps at Reed Intermediate School after getting news of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. 
FBI SWAT team members walk along Dickinson Drive near Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. 
An aerial view of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14. 
Connecticut State Troopers arrive on the scene outside Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. 
A Connecticut State Police officer runs with a shotgun at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown on December 14. 
Police patrol the streets around Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. 
People try to deal with the shock of the attack outside Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. 
Connecticut State Police secure the scene of the shooting on December 14. 
People embrace outside Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. 
A man escorts his son away from Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. 
People take in the news outside Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. 
People line up to enter Newtown Methodist Church near the the scene of the shooting on December 14. 
A woman speaks with a Connecticut state trooper outside Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. 
The streets around Sandy Hook Elementary are packed with first responders and other vehicles. 
A view of the scene at Sandy Hook Elementary School after the shooting. 
A young boy is comforted outside Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. 
People embrace each other on December 14. Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting Connecticut school shooting HIDE CAPTION << < 
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42 > >> Photos: Connecticut school shooting 
Students struggle to understand tragedy 
Medical examiner: Worst I've seen 
Small town changed forever by shooting The investigation
The first authorities heard of the shooting at Newtown's Sandy Hook Elementary School came in a call around 9:30 a.m. Friday.
It was then Lanza got into the building -- not by being buzzed in, though a security system recently implemented by Principal Dawn Hochsprung, but by firing.
"He penetrated the building by literally shooting an entrance into the building," Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy told CNN on Sunday. "That's what an assault weapon can do for you."
Lanza used a Bushmaster AR-15 "assault-type rifle" to gun down children in two classrooms, according to Vance, then killed himself with a handgun. "Multiple magazines," each of which contained 30 bullets, were fired from the Bushmaster weapon in the school, he added.
"We surmise that it was during the second classroom episode that he heard responders coming and apparently at that (point) decided to take his own life," said Malloy, this time to ABC's "This Week."
Authorities still have witnesses they plan to interview, Vance said, and they're analyzing evidence. The investigation could take weeks, he said.
Vance said authorities also are looking into threats and inaccurate information about the shooting on social media and elsewhere. He didn't give specifics, beyond referencing a threat to St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church in Newtown that prompted its evacuation.
"Anyone who harasses, threatens or intimidates or interferes with the investigation -- utilizing any social media of any type relative to this horrific crime -- will be fully investing and fully prosecuted to the extent of the law," the police spokesman said.
Timeline of the shooting: How tragedy unfolded
The victims and the gunman
Investigation to be 'long, painstaking' 
Student: I saw bullets going past 
Timeline: School violence in U.S. All the victims died after being shot multiple times, said H. Wayne Carver II, Connecticut's chief medical examiner. Their deaths are classified as homicides.
"This probably is the worst I have seen or the worst that I know of any of my colleagues having seen," said Carver, who personally performed autopsies on seven victims.
Principal Hochsprung was among the six adults killed, as were school psychologist Mary Sherlach, first-grade teacher Vicki Soto and substitute teacher Lauren Rousseau.
Share your tributes
As to Lanza, the gunman, the few relatives and acquaintances who have talked publicly are at a loss to explain how this could have happened. He had no known criminal record.
An aunt and a former classmate described him as very intelligent and quiet. His father, Peter Lanza, released a statement Saturday expressing condolences to victims' families and saying his family is in a state of disbelief.
Remembering the victims
As a teenager, Lanza often sat alone in the back of the school bus, his former bus driver said.
"He didn't sit with the other kids and didn't seem to have any friends," said Marsha Moskowitz, 52, who said she drove Lanza to school for three years starting when he was age 13.
Lanza was one of the older kids on the bus and did little to interact with the others, she told CNN. "He was quiet, a very shy and reserved kid."
The gun control debate
The deadly shooting that rocked Newtown and reverberated around the world also reignited the debate about gun laws.
Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California said Sunday that she will introduce a bill next month to prohibit assault weapons.
"It will ban the sale, the transfer, the importation, and the possession. Not retroactively, but prospectively. It will ban the same for big clips, drums or strips of more than 10 bullets," Feinstein said on NBC's "Meet the Press."
Obama on assault weapons
Adam Lanza was found dead next to three guns -- the semiautomatic .223-caliber rifle made by Bushmaster and two handguns made by Glock and Sig Sauer. A fourth weapon, a shotgun, was found in Lanza's car, according to Vance.
The weapons belonged to the gunman's mother, Nancy Lanza, who was a gun collector and recently showed off a newly bought rifle to fellow Newtown resident Dan Holmes, who owns a landscaping business in the town.
Besides the three weapons found at the school, the shooter also had access to at least three more guns, a law enforcement source said.
On Sunday, Connecticut's governor said federal officials need to do more to regulate guns.
"These are assault weapons. You don't hunt deer with these things. ... One can only hope that we can find a way to limit these weapons that really have one purpose," Malloy said.
Analysis: Why gun controls are off the agenda in America
The town
The massacre in Newtown is the second-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history, behind the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting spree that left 32 dead.
"Stuff like this does not happen in Newtown," said Renee Burn, a teacher at another school in the town, which is roughly 75 miles northeast of New York.
President Barack Obama arrived Sunday in Connecticut, where he'll talk with relatives of the victims and speak at a vigil in Newtown.
Until Friday, only one homicide in 10 years had been reported in the upscale community of expansive homes surrounded by woods, where many residents commute to jobs in Manhattan and the nearby Connecticut cities of Stamford and Hartford.
The shooting wounded the entire community, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, who has met with victims' families and watched devastated parents learn their children had been slain last week.
"I don't think I will ever forget the cries of grief and pain that I saw at the firehouse on that day," he said, "as a parent, as a person, just the unspeakable sadness that pervades this town still, and will go on for quite some time."
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