Somber remembrances in Newtown, at White House on anniversary of Sandy Hook shooting

 Robert F. Bukaty / Associated PressOn the anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, firefighters lower the town's flag on Main Street to half-staff in honor of the victims.By Simon Moya-Smith, Staff Writer, NBC NewsBells tolled 26 times in Newtown, Conn., on Saturday -- once for each of the victims who died a year ago at Sandy Hook Elementary School in a brutal, senseless massacre carried out by disturbed loner Adam Lanza.The bells rang began sounding at St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown beginning at 9:30 a.m. — the moment the gunman shot his way into the school on Dec. 14, 2012, the Associated Press reported. Connecticut's governor had asked for houses of worship across the state to do the same, and flags were lowered to half-staff around Connecticut. At the White House, President Barack Obama and wife, Michelle, paused for a moment of silence in honor of the victims, standing at a wooden table in the Map Room before three tiers of 26 lighted candles.  Jacquelyn Martin / APPresident Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama share a moment of silence in honor of the Newtown shooting victims on Saturday in the Map Room of the White House.Officials and many citizens of Newtown, still fatigued and traumatized, emphatically requested privacy, asking the American public and media stay away on the anniversary so that the families and friends of the victims could quietly mourn and reflect. "Newtown's ask of the world for the anniversary is to stay where you are and do acts of kindness and honor those we’ve lost," David Ackert, chairman of the Newtown Foundation and Newtown Action Alliance, told NBC Connecticut.Many Newtown residents were themselves staying away on the anniversary, including Neil Heslin, father of 6-year-old victim Jesse Lewis. He said that he planned to travel to New York on the anniversary to take part in a project honoring the victims, but also to avoid any spectacle that may encroach on the town."I need to get out of Dodge," he said.Her passion was animals. So Catherine Hubbard's parents decided the best way to honor the school shooting victim was by helping the creatures she love so much. The Associated Press reported that Newtown looked every bit the classic New England town on Saturday, with snow falling and many homes decorated with Christmas lights. But it said reminders of the citizens' private grief were everywhere. "God bless the families," read a sign posted at one house in the green and white colors of the Sandy Hook school, and a church posted that it was "open for prayer."Andrew Snow, a 49-year-old mechanic who was drinking coffee at the general store with a friend, told the AP it was an especially difficult day."You kind of hope the town can put it behind without actually forgetting about the victims," said Snow, who grew up in Newtown and is moving back from nearby Southbury to support the community. "But it's not easy to do. I think about it every day."In his weekly radio address, hours before the White House memorial, President Obama said the nation hasn't done enough to make its communities safer by keeping dangerous people from getting guns and healing troubled minds. Gun restrictions backed by the president in response to the shooting faced stiff opposition and ultimately stalled in the Democrat-controlled Senate."We have to do more to keep dangerous people from getting their hands on a gun so easily. We have to do more to heal troubled minds. We have to do everything we can to protect our children from harm and make them feel loved, and valued, and cared for," Obama said. Elsewhere, elected officials, clergy and various organizations across the country held solemn remembrances of the massacre -- with local candlelight vigils as well as demonstrations calling for stricter gun laws.In Ann Arbor, Mich., the "We Are Newton Remembrance Vigil" was held on the steps of the Federal Building. The event, which will include Mayor John Hieftje, is sponsored by a local branch of Organizing for Action, a nationwide nonprofit that supports the policy aims of the Obama administration, including tighter gun control laws.RelatedMore coverage of the Newtown anniversary from NBC ConnecticutComplete coverage of the Newtown anniversary from NBCNews.comDecember 14 marks one year since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, and some parents who lost their children that day are speaking out, aiming to make changes with the organization Sandy Hook Promise. NBC's Kate Snow reports. On the University of Pittsburgh campus in Pennsylvania, another branch of the organization hosted a “Remembering Newtown" candlelight vigil in recognition of the 20 children and six adults who were shot and killed by gunman Adam Lanza. Several event organizers across the northeast braced for winter weather and relocated their vigils indoors.Demand Action to End Gun Violence, a bipartisan coalition of U.S. mayors to stem the proliferation of illegal guns and to encourage stringent federal gun ownership legislation, will host a variety of events across the country. Its events are geared to honor the victims of the shooting Sandy Hook, as well as other victims of gun violence.On Thursday, family and friends of the Sandy Hook shooting victims traveled to Washington, D.C., to honor their loved ones through a solemn vigil and volunteer work. The group was joined by other gun violence victims from across the country. Matt Mcclain / AFP - Getty ImagesMiranda Pacchiana (C) of Newtown, Connecticut, holds a candle at the conclusion ofThe National Vigil for Victims of Gun Violence on December 12, 2013 at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC.During the vigil, the bell at the National Cathedral rang for three minutes to represent the lives claimed by firearms every year.Although remembrances of the shooting have been taking place over the past week, commemorations of the victims have occurred all year long.There is, for example, The Sandy Ground Project: Where Angels Play, which built 26 playgrounds in areas leveled by Hurricane Sandy, each named after one of the Sandy Hook victims, WVIT reported.There is also the Newtown Documentation Project, which sought to preserve the thousands of letters and handmade gifts that have poured into the town in the past year.NBC News' Miranda Leitsinger contributed to this report.

Gunman in Colo. high school shooting shot self when confronted by officer

 The 18-year-old Colorado man who shot a fellow student before killing himself Friday intended to shoot numerous people, but his rampage was interrupted by a school resource officer who responded to the shooting, officials said Saturday. Ed Andrieski / APArapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson holds a picture of Claire Davis the 17-year-old student that was shot during a briefing Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013, at Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colo. Davis was shot by 18-year-old shooting suspect Karl Halverson Pierson at the school on Friday before he took his own life. “His intent was evil,” Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson said of Karl Halverson Pierson. “And his evil intent was to harm multiple individuals.”Upon entering the school, Robinson said, Pierson fired one round down the hallway. He then shot Claire Esther Davis, 17, who just happened to be sitting nearby with a friend as he headed toward the library. The girl suffered severe head trauma and remains in critical condition at Littleton Adventist Hospital.Confronted by the officer, the teen committed suicide less than a minute and a half after he entered the building, armed with a shotgun and multiple rounds of ammunition that he purchased legally, the sheriff said.In a statement, Claire’s family asked for “continued prayers” for the teenager, who remained in critical condition.“She was an innocent victim of an evil act of violence,” Robinson said.He then read the statement from her family:"Our beautiful daughter Claire Davis has severe head trauma as a result of a gunshot. She needs your continued prayers," the family said.Authorities release the name of the shooting victim and offer a timeline of the incident, which took just one minute and 20 seconds. NBC's Ron Mott reports. They also expressed their gratitude to first responders and the trauma team that responded during Friday's brief incident at Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colo.,  “for saving our daughter’s life and quickly getting her into surgery,” according to the statement.Robinson said he does not believe Davis and the shooter knew each other.  Davis had been previously identified as a 15-year-old student. Robinson said the student gunman purchased the pump-action shotgun used in the shooting incident legally on Dec. 6 at a local retail outlet, then legally purchased multiple rounds of shotgun ammunition on Friday morning. Pierson was also armed with a machete and three Molotov cocktails, one of which was set off. Robinson said the explosives were made of 12 to 16 ounce bottles containing flammable liquid and were brought into the school in a backpack. The weapons were found on and around the shooter's body, he said. Pierson set off one of the Molotov cocktails, setting a fire in the library. Robinson said the response of a school resource officer was “absolutely critical” to the fact that that there were no additional injuries or deaths.The parents of a 17-year-old student shot and critically wounded in a Colorado school shooting said "she needs your continued prayers" in a statement read by Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson Robinson said Pierson entered the school from the north side and fired one random shot down the hallway before firing at the victim at point blank range.Pierson then entered the library and ignited one of the Molotov cocktails.The deputy sheriff then ran through a long hallway from the cafeteria to the library. While the deputy was containing the shooter, the shooter took his own life at the north end of the library, Robinson said.Robinson said the motive in the shooting was seen "as some type of retaliation" against a school staff member. Robinson said that Pierson was subject to disciplinary action from the school's debate team coach in September, but denied reports that he had been kicked off the debate team.  The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Family of student wounded in Colo. high school shooting: 'She needs your ... prayers'

 The 18-year-old Colorado man who shot a fellow student before killing himself Friday intended to shoot numerous people, but his rampage was interrupted by a school resource officer who responded to the shooting, officials said Saturday. Ed Andrieski / APArapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson holds a picture of Claire Davis the 17-year-old student that was shot during a briefing Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013, at Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colo. Davis was shot by 18-year-old shooting suspect Karl Halverson Pierson at the school on Friday before he took his own life. “His intent was evil,” Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson said of Karl Halverson Pierson. “And his evil intent was to harm multiple individuals.”Upon entering the school, Robinson said, Pierson fired one round down the hallway. He then shot Claire Esther Davis, 17, who just happened to be sitting nearby with a friend as he headed toward the library. The girl suffered severe head trauma and remains in critical condition at Littleton Adventist Hospital.Confronted by the officer, the teen committed suicide less than a minute and a half after he entered the building, armed with a shotgun and multiple rounds of ammunition that he purchased legally, the sheriff said.In a statement, Claire’s family asked for “continued prayers” for the teenager, who remained in critical condition.“She was an innocent victim of an evil act of violence,” Robinson said.He then read the statement from her family:"Our beautiful daughter Claire Davis has severe head trauma as a result of a gunshot. She needs your continued prayers," the family said.Authorities release the name of the shooting victim and offer a timeline of the incident, which took just one minute and 20 seconds. NBC's Ron Mott reports. They also expressed their gratitude to first responders and the trauma team that responded during Friday's brief incident at Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colo.,  “for saving our daughter’s life and quickly getting her into surgery,” according to the statement.Robinson said he does not believe Davis and the shooter knew each other.  Davis had been previously identified as a 15-year-old student. Robinson said the student gunman purchased the pump-action shotgun used in the shooting incident legally on Dec. 6 at a local retail outlet, then legally purchased multiple rounds of shotgun ammunition on Friday morning. Pierson was also armed with a machete and three Molotov cocktails, one of which was set off. Robinson said the explosives were made of 12 to 16 ounce bottles containing flammable liquid and were brought into the school in a backpack. The weapons were found on and around the shooter's body, he said. Pierson set off one of the Molotov cocktails, setting a fire in the library. Robinson said the response of a school resource officer was “absolutely critical” to the fact that that there were no additional injuries or deaths.The parents of a 17-year-old student shot and critically wounded in a Colorado school shooting said "she needs your continued prayers" in a statement read by Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson Robinson said Pierson entered the school from the north side and fired one random shot down the hallway before firing at the victim at point blank range.Pierson then entered the library and ignited one of the Molotov cocktails.The deputy sheriff then ran through a long hallway from the cafeteria to the library. While the deputy was containing the shooter, the shooter took his own life at the north end of the library, Robinson said.Robinson said the motive in the shooting was seen "as some type of retaliation" against a school staff member. Robinson said that Pierson was subject to disciplinary action from the school's debate team coach in September, but denied reports that he had been kicked off the debate team.  The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Arapahoe high school shooting: 17-year-old girl shot in the head is in a coma

NBC NewsArapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson holds a photo of Claire Davis student of 17 years who was killed during a briefing Saturday, December 14, 2013, at Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colorado.By Ron Mott and Tracy Connor, NBC NewsThe 17-year-old girl shot her at point-blank range in the head at a high school in Colorado, which is being described as "one of the best people" - is in a coma and in critical condition, said Sunday his family.Claire Esther Davis, a senior from Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colorado, wounded on Friday in an attack by 80 seconds by gunman student Karl Halverson Pierson, 18, which came into the building of packing a gun and a grudge about being on the bench on the debate team, police said.The victim's family had previously said that it suffered a severe trauma, but provides more details about his condition on Sunday and thanked emergency workers that led to the hospital."Claire remains in critical condition."She is stable, but is in a coma, they said in a statement released through the Littleton Adventist Hospital."Rescuers have Claire to the right place, at the right time, and the doctors and hospital staff are doing a great job taking care of it."Thank you for your continuing good thoughts and prayers, and it will provide updates as it improves their condition."Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson, said Claire was in the wrong place at the wrong time and that the motive for the murder was in retaliation against a staff member.Karl Pierson had grown angry and made threat remarks before shot a student and himself in a high school in Colorado. Reports Ron Mott of NBC.Captain of the team for discussion Joe Redmond said Pierson had grown more and more in recent weeks, and the target of his wrath was librarian of the coach and the school of debate Tracy Murphy."Speech and debate was his life and the fact that it was not had crushed a bit and made him very tense and angry" Redmond told NBC News."Karl and Murphy did not get along and that was communicated to a death threat."It tried to help him and not get," Redmond added. "No one was able to reach him. At the end of the day, that's what happened."Pierson appeared at the school at noon on Friday with a shotgun, ammunition attached to his chest, a machete and Molotov cocktails - and went to the library.Alerted to the threat, Murphy left the building, police praised as a move to attract Pierson tactical out.Pierson fired a round through a corridor and then fired to Claire, who just sitting with a close friend. He committed suicide as a security officer closed in on him, police said."His intention was evil and his evil was to harm several individuals," said the sheriff.Redmond said that he was trying to reconcile the crime in cold blood with the teenager who knew."Is unjustifiable what he did," he said."The Karl who knew he was a good person, but obviously the Karl who came to the school on Friday was not."Murphy was not injured. A statement of the Littleton public schools "asked asked that we share his and the concern of his family for all the victims of this tragedy."Meanwhile, the Arapahoe students pray for Claire, who was described as outgoing, athletic and an excellent student. She loves horses and recently placed second in equestrian competition, according to The Denver Post,A neighbor said that Claire newspaper is also the best babysitter in the community."It was our 5 years of age," said a man. "She was very dear. I think that she wanted to go to the infirmary - I know that she had been accepted already a number of schools already. "Fellow Avery Griggs, a second year student, student said that he is "one of the best people I met at Arapahoe.""It is amazing and so sweet," Avery told the Post.Friends and admirers written prayers on Twitter, and some students raise money to help pay his medical expenses."I feel like it will make us a stronger class and the school as a whole," Chris Davis, a senior from Arapahoe which helped organize fundraising efforts.This story was originally posted on Sunday, December 15, 2013 9:10 PM EST

Colorado shooting victim is great student, avid horse lover

 The parents of the Arapahoe High School shooting victim said, "she needs your continued prayers" in a statement that also offered details about the17-year-old girl's medical condition. By Becky Bratu, Staff Writer, NBC NewsThe 17-year-old senior in a coma after being shot point-blank at a Colorado high school was described by her family as a “woman of principle” and by a fellow student as “amazing and so sweet.”Claire Esther Davis is a senior at Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colo.She was wounded Friday when student gunman Karl Halverson Pierson, 18, entered the school building armed with a shotgun and multiple rounds of ammunition that he purchased legally a week earlier, Sheriff Grayson Robinson said Saturday afternoon. Authorities said the attack lasted just 80 seconds."His intent was evil and his evil intent was to harm multiple individuals," the sheriff said.Upon entering the school, Robinson said, Pierson fired one round down the hallway. He then shot Claire, who just happened to be sitting nearby with a friend as he headed toward the library. Claire suffered severe head trauma and remains in critical condition at Littleton Adventist Hospital, her family said in a statement read by Robinson. The sheriff emphasized that authorities don't believe Claire and the shooter were friends. Robinson said Claire was an innocent victim who was in the wrong place at the wrong time."I believe Claire Davis is an innocent young lady," Robinson said, adding that the motive in the shooting was  seen "as some type of retaliation" against a school staff member. Robinson said that Pierson was subject to verbal disciplinary action from the school's debate team coach, but denied reports that he had been kicked off the debate team. "I choose to never use his name again in public," Robinson said about the shooter.Claire's family said in a statement Saturday that she is in a coma and is listed in critical but stable condition."The first responders got Claire to the right place, at the right time, and the doctors and hospital staff are doing a wonderful job taking care of her," the family said."We appreciate your continued good thoughts and prayers, and will provide updates as her condition improves."Fellow Arapahoe students Saturday held prayer vigils for Claire, who was known for being outgoing, a good athlete who loved horses and a great student, The Denver Post reported, adding that the teen had recently placed second in an equestrian competition and is a member of the Colorado Hunter Jumper Association.A neighbor told the newspaper Claire was also the best babysitter in the community. "She took care of our 5-year-old," the man, who did not want to be identified, told the Post. "She was well-loved. I believe she wanted to go into nursing — I know she had already been accepted to a number of colleges already."Fellow student Avery Griggs, a sophomore, told the newspaper that Claire is "one of the nicest people I've met at Arapahoe.""She is amazing and so sweet," Avery told the Post. Friends and well-wishers posted prayers on Twitter, and some students collected money to help pay for her medical expenses."I feel like it's going to make us a stronger senior class and school as a whole," Chris Davis, an Arapahoe senior who is not related to Claire but helped organize the fundraising effort, told The Associated Press. He said she has a lot of friends, always seems happy and loves horses. This story was originally published on Sun Dec 15, 2013 9:47 AM EST

Colorado shooting victim is a great student, Avid horse lover

 The parents of the Arapahoe High School shooting victim said, "she needs your continued prayers" in a statement that also offered details about the17-year-old girl's medical condition. By Becky Bratu, Staff Writer, NBC NewsThe 17-year-old senior in a coma after being shot point-blank at a Colorado high school was described by her family as a “woman of principle” and by a fellow student as “amazing and so sweet.”Claire Esther Davis is a senior at Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colo.She was wounded Friday when student gunman Karl Halverson Pierson, 18, entered the school building armed with a shotgun and multiple rounds of ammunition that he purchased legally a week earlier, Sheriff Grayson Robinson said Saturday afternoon. Authorities said the attack lasted just 80 seconds."His intent was evil and his evil intent was to harm multiple individuals," the sheriff said.Upon entering the school, Robinson said, Pierson fired one round down the hallway. He then shot Claire, who just happened to be sitting nearby with a friend as he headed toward the library. Claire suffered severe head trauma and remains in critical condition at Littleton Adventist Hospital, her family said in a statement read by Robinson. The sheriff emphasized that authorities don't believe Claire and the shooter were friends. Robinson said Claire was an innocent victim who was in the wrong place at the wrong time."I believe Claire Davis is an innocent young lady," Robinson said, adding that the motive in the shooting was  seen "as some type of retaliation" against a school staff member. Robinson said that Pierson was subject to verbal disciplinary action from the school's debate team coach, but denied reports that he had been kicked off the debate team. "I choose to never use his name again in public," Robinson said about the shooter.Claire's family said in a statement Saturday that she is in a coma and is listed in critical but stable condition."The first responders got Claire to the right place, at the right time, and the doctors and hospital staff are doing a wonderful job taking care of her," the family said."We appreciate your continued good thoughts and prayers, and will provide updates as her condition improves."Fellow Arapahoe students Saturday held prayer vigils for Claire, who was known for being outgoing, a good athlete who loved horses and a great student, The Denver Post reported, adding that the teen had recently placed second in an equestrian competition and is a member of the Colorado Hunter Jumper Association.A neighbor told the newspaper Claire was also the best babysitter in the community. "She took care of our 5-year-old," the man, who did not want to be identified, told the Post. "She was well-loved. I believe she wanted to go into nursing — I know she had already been accepted to a number of colleges already."Fellow student Avery Griggs, a sophomore, told the newspaper that Claire is "one of the nicest people I've met at Arapahoe.""She is amazing and so sweet," Avery told the Post. Friends and well-wishers posted prayers on Twitter, and some students collected money to help pay for her medical expenses."I feel like it's going to make us a stronger senior class and school as a whole," Chris Davis, an Arapahoe senior who is not related to Claire but helped organize the fundraising effort, told The Associated Press. He said she has a lot of friends, always seems happy and loves horses. This story was originally published on Sun Dec 15, 2013 9:47 AM EST