Newtown gunman had interest in other mass murders

Newtown gunman had interest in other mass murders

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — The man who killed 26 people inside a Connecticut elementary school last year showed interest in other mass killings, people close to the investigation told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The 20-year-old gunman, Adam Lanza, killed his mother at their home before killing 20 first-graders and six staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown on Dec. 14. He killed himself as police arrived.

Authorities found literature on other mass shootings at Lanza’s house, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation. Another person familiar with the investigation says Lanza demonstrated an interest in other mass murders. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is continuing.

A police report is expected around June. State police have declined to comment.

The Hartford Courant and the Hearst Connecticut Media Group first reported Wednesday that Lanza had done research on other mass killings.

The Courant previously reported that investigators found news articles about Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik at Lanza’s Newtown house. Breivik killed 77 people in twin attacks in 2011 in Norway’s worst peacetime massacre. Several media outlets, including CBS, reported Lanza may have been trying to top the Norway shooter.

Authorities have not provided a possible motive.