Obama to join community in Connecticut in mourning Sunday

U.S. President Barack Obama is in Newtown, Connecticut Sunday, joining the community as they mourn the victims of the school massacre.

A vigil is set for 7 p.m. Sunday, while mourners left flowers, balloons and mementos to honour the dead on Saturday.

The gunman, 20-year-old Adam Lanza, killed 20 first graders using a high-powered semi-automatic rifle in what was the second-bloodiest school shooting in American history.

Six adults were also killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School, while the gunman and his mother, Nancy Lanza, also died, bringing the total death toll to 28.

Only the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007 had more fatalities.

Medical examiner Wayne Carver said all of the children were hit multiple times, and many at close range.

“This is a very devastating set of injuries,” Carver said.

A list of names and ages was released Saturday, after parents identified their children through pictures.

Robbie Parker, the parent of six-year-old Emilie, who was killed in the shooting, spoke Saturday evening about the devastation.

“She said that she loved me and I gave her a kiss and I was out the door,” Parker said, as he spoke about teaching his daughter how to speak Portuguese.

A crisis line has been set up to help people cope with the tragedy, and families of the victims are asking for privacy.

According to the Associated Press, the gunman died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Reports indicate he suffered from a personality disorder and lived with his mother.

Investigators said they have some evidence of a possible motive, but have not yet released that information saying it is too early into the investigation.

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