Newtown School Shooting 911 Calls Reveal Gunshots, Remarkable Calm
Dec. 4, 2013 — -- The 911 calls from the Newtown school shooting were released today and at least one of the calls is punctuated by gunfire in the background.
While one of the callers was clearly distraught, others -- including one woman who was shot in the foot -- were remarkably calm while talking to police dispatchers as the shooting continued.
See photos released in the Sandy Hook investigation report
The gunman, 20-year-old Adam Lanza, opened fire on Sandy Hook Elementary School almost a year ago, on Dec. 14, 2012. He killed 20 students and six staff members before turning the gun on himself. He had shot and killed his mother earlier that morning.
A Connecticut judge ruled last week that the 911 calls must be made public because there is a "clear public interest" in the recordings.
Victims' family members and the prosecutor had been opposed to making the calls public.
Below is a partial transcript of the calls:
- One of the first calls received by 911 dispatchers was a woman who was panting and on the verge of tears.
"Sandy Hook School. I think there's somebody shooting in here, Sandy Hook School," she said.
The woman said she believed someone was shooting in the school "Because somebody saw a gun…I saw a glimpse of somebody. They're running down the hallway…They're still shooting. Sandy Hook School, please."
- A female teacher told the dispatcher it sounded like there were gunshots in the hallway. She was in her classroom with all of her students.
- A man who identified himself as Rick and is believed to be school custodian Rick Thorne is heard on the calls several times.
- A woman called police to say she was shot in the foot.
"The door is not locked yet," she said. "I have to go lock the door."
"Keep everybody clam," the dispatcher instructed. "Keep everybody down. Get everybody away from the windows."
The teacher said her classroom was on the left after walking in the front entrance.
"I believe there's shooting at the front glass," he said. "Something is going on."
The man said he was down the corridor and the dispatcher told him to take cover.
"The front glass is all shot out. It kept going on...it's still happening," he said. "Everything's locked up, as far as I know."
When asked if he could hear anything, the man said, "I keep hearing shooting. I keep hearing popping."
After a break, Rick continues speaking with the dispatcher.
"Something's happening," he said. "Now it's silent."
At one point, the custodian said, "All doors are locked, kids are in classrooms."
"There's still shooting going on. Please," he said.
The woman calmly told the dispatcher she was in room number one facing the playground. "My classroom door is not locked," she added.
"There are two other adults in the room with me," she said. "They're over on the other side of the bookshelf." She also said there were children in the room.
When asked if she was okay, the woman said, "For now, hopefully."
