On December 14, 2012, a gunman entered Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, and killed 20 children and six educators. He had killed his mother earlier that morning and died by suicide at the school. Connecticut’s State’s Attorney concluded that he acted alone and was solely criminally responsible; investigators did not establish a conclusive motive or why he chose the school.
What the investigation concluded
The State’s Attorney’s final report, dated November 25, 2013, found no additional shooters, accessories, or co-conspirators. It concluded that the shooter acted alone. The Connecticut State Police after-action report describes the school attack as lasting approximately six minutes.
What remains unknown
Investigators did not identify a conclusive reason for the killings or for selecting Sandy Hook Elementary School. The State’s Attorney wrote that the question of why the shooter committed the murders “may never be answered conclusively.” An unanswered question about motive is not evidence that the documented attack was staged.
What the public records show—and their limits
The State’s Attorney’s report describes seven days of school-scene processing, including written documentation, video, photographs, measurements, and analysis of bullet trajectories. It also cautions that emergency activity and a protective sweep may have disturbed some doors, windows, or evidence before collection began.
#1 Best Overall
The Connecticut State Police reports portal provides released reports and multimedia from the investigations, along with a redaction index and related letter. Those materials offer access to official records, but readers should distinguish released records and investigative summaries from every underlying record or unreleased detail.
Where to read the records
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Read the Connecticut State Police Sandy Hook investigation records portal for the available reports and multimedia.
Rank #2
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Use the State’s Attorney’s final report for the criminal investigation’s findings, including its conclusion that the shooter acted alone and its account of the limits of the motive determination.
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Use the State Police after-action report for the agency’s review of the response and its rounded description of the attack’s duration; it is not a substitute for the full investigative record.
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FAQ
How many people were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School?
Twenty children and six educators were killed at the school. The State Police after-action report separately counts 28 deaths in the overall incident when the shooter and his mother are included.
Did investigators conclude that the shooter acted alone?
Yes. The State’s Attorney’s November 25, 2013 report concluded that the shooter acted alone and was solely criminally responsible. Investigators reported no additional shooters, accessories, or co-conspirators.
Did investigators determine a motive?
No conclusive motive or reason for targeting the school was established in the investigation. The State’s Attorney said that question might never be answered conclusively.
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