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Shooting victims' funerals to begin

Dec 17th 2012, 10:05

"These tragedies must end. And to end them, we must change," Obama says
The mother of a teacher who shielded her students says she "loved them more than life"
Governor: The gunman shot his way into the school
"It's incomprehensible, the pain here," a resident says

Watch CNN's LIVE TV coverage of the Connecticut elementary school shooting as the story continues to unfold. People are sharing their concern and sadness over the Newtown school shooting. What are your thoughts? Share them with CNN iReport.

Newtown, Connecticut (CNN) -- At a time when Newtown should be reveling in holiday cheer, the grief-stricken community will instead start the process of lowering 20 little coffins into the ground.

Six-year-olds Jack Pinto and Noah Pozner will be laid to rest on Monday.

The heartbreaking ritual will continue until families of 18 other children and six educators slain at Sandy Hook Elementary school last week say their final goodbyes.

Connecticut State Police officers search outside St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church in Newtown, Connecticut, on Sunday, December 16, after a threat prompted authorities to evacuate the building. Investigators found nothing to substantiate the reported threat, a police official said, declining to provide additional details. The church held Sunday services following last week's mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.

Connecticut State Police officers walk out of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church after the Newtown church received a threat December 16.

Firefighters attach black bunting to a fire truck as a memorial at the fire station down the street from the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, on Saturday, December 15.

Connecticut Chief Medical Examiner H. Wayne Carver II talks to the media about the elementary school shooting during a press conference at Treadwell Memorial Park on December 15.

Zulma Sein is hugged by a family member outside of the entrance to the Sandy Hook School on Saturday.

Police officers keep guard at the entrance to the street leading to the Sandy Hook Elementary School on Saturday, December 15.

Connecticut State Police Lt. Paul Vance addresses the press on December 15.

Police officers stand at the entrance to the street leading to the Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 15.

Corinne McLaughlin, a student at the University of Hartford, bows her head during a candlelight vigil at Hartford, Connecticut's Bushnell Park on Friday, December 14, honoring the students and teachers who died at Sandy Hook Elementary School in nearby Newtown earlier in the day.

Distraught people leave the fire station after hearing news of their loved ones from officials on Friday.

Emergency workers stand in front of the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.

A child and her mother leave a staging area outside Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14.

Members of the media converge on December 14 in front of an apartment at 1313 Grand Street in Hoboken, New Jersey. The apartment is believed to be connected to the Connecticut elementary school shooting.

Faisal Ali, right, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, joins other people outside the White House on December 14 to participate in a candlelight vigil to remember the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

Connecticut State Police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance, center, briefs the media on the elementary school shootings during a press conference at Treadwell Memorial Park on December 14 in Newtown.

People weep and embrace near Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday, December 14.

A woman leans on a man as she weeps near Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14.

President Barack Obama wipes a tear as he speaks about the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School during a press briefing at the White House on December 14.

A woman weeps near the site of a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14.

A woman weeps near Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14.

People comfort each other near Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14.

A man takes in the scene near Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14.

A young girl is given a blanket after being evacuated from Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14.

State police personnel lead children from the school.

Children wait outside Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, after the shooting.

A boy weeps at Reed Intermediate School after getting news of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14.

FBI SWAT team members walk along Dickinson Drive near Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14.

An aerial view of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14.

Connecticut State Troopers arrive on the scene outside Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14.

A Connecticut State Police officer runs with a shotgun at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown on December 14.

Police patrol the streets around Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14.

People try to deal with the shock of the attack outside Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14.

Connecticut State Police secure the scene of the shooting on December 14.

People embrace outside Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14.

A man escorts his son away from Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14.

People take in the news outside Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14.

People line up to enter Newtown Methodist Church near the the scene of the shooting on December 14.

A woman speaks with a Connecticut state trooper outside Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14.

The streets around Sandy Hook Elementary are packed with first responders and other vehicles.

A view of the scene at Sandy Hook Elementary School after the shooting.

A young boy is comforted outside Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14.

People embrace each other on December 14.

Connecticut school shooting

Photos: Connecticut school shooting

Students struggle to understand tragedy

Medical examiner: Worst I've seen

Small town changed forever by shooting

But even after the memorial and tributes, it is unlikely the community will ever be the same.

"It's incomprehensible, the pain here," said resident Darla Henggeler. "You can't imagine. We're still in shock.

"I can't let my heart go there because it's so overwhelming. I think once it settles in, I think my heart will break."

Obama: "These tragedies must end. And to end them, we must change."

In a packed auditorium at Newtown High School, President Barack Obama recited the names of those slain at Sandy Hook Elementary School and offered his condolences to the community.

"All across this land of ours, we have wept with you," Obama said Sunday night.

Interactive: Remembering the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting victims

He later said the country has failed to do everything it can to protect youths from such immense tragedy.

"Can we honestly say we're doing enough to keep our children -- all of them -- safe from harm?" Obama said, adding that "if we don't get that right, we don't get anything right."

"If we're honest with ourselves, the answer is no."

He noted this is the fourth time in the past two years that a mass shooting has united the country in despair.

"These tragedies must end. And to end them, we must change."

The president didn't mention specific steps, but promised to "engage my fellow citizens -- from law enforcement to mental health professionals to parents and educators -- in an effort aimed at preventing more tragedies like this."

Investigation to be 'long, painstaking'

Student: I saw bullets going past

Family of slain principal speaks

Timeline: School violence in U.S.

Read the full text of the president's speech

His call to action capped an emotional prayer service at Newtown High, in which local leaders of several religions -- a Jewish rabbi singing a prayer, a Muslim man choking back tears, and several Christian leaders offering perspective -- attempted to comfort a shattered community. Nine hundred watched in the school's auditorium, including several children toting teddy bears.

Shortly before Obama's remarks, the grassroots group Newton United launched "to create meaningful dialogue, both locally and beyond, around the issues that led to this this senseless act of violence."

The group plans to send a delegation to Washington on Tuesday to meet with the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence as well as families from July's movie theater massacre in Aurora, Colorado.

Analysis: Why gun controls are off the agenda in America

More clues about what happened, but not why

It's possible no one will ever know what led Adam Lanza to kill his mother, Nancy, in their home before taking her guns and raining hell on Sandy Hook Elementary School and eventually killing himself.

Investigators now know the gunman used "an assault weapon" to "literally (shoot) an entrance into the building," Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy said Sunday.

The nightmare worsened as he moved through Sandy Hook's halls.

Using a Bushmaster AR-15 "assault-type rifle," the 20-year-old fired multiple magazines -- each of which contained 30 bullets -- to gun down the adults and children in two classrooms, Connecticut State Police Lt. J. Paul Vance said.

He then took out a handgun and shot himself in a classroom as officers approached, officials said.

All the victims were shot between three and 11 times.

"This probably is the worst I have seen or the worst that I know of any of my colleagues having seen," said H. Wayne Carver II, Connecticut's chief medical examiner, who conducted autopsies on seven victims.

The perpetrator had no criminal record.

His father, Peter Lanza, released a statement Saturday saying his family is "grieving along with all those who have been affected by this enormous tragedy."

He offered his condolences to everyone affected.

"We are in a state of disbelief and trying to find whatever answers we can," the father said.

Relatives carry on the victims' voices

As more details about the 20 children and six educators emerge, so do stories of heroism and joyous memories of lives cut far too short.

When the gunfire rang out, 27-year-old Victoria Soto scrambled to move her students away from her first-grade classroom door and shielded them in the corner of the room.

It's not surprising that Soto would risk her life to save others, her mother said.

"She was truly selfless," Donna Soto said Sunday. "She would not hesitate to think to save anyone else before herself and especially children. She loved them more than life."

CNN's Susan Candiotti reported from Newtown, Connecticut, and Holly Yan reported from Atlanta. CNN's Wayne Drash, Greg Botelho, David Ariosto, Candy Crowley, Moni Basu and Chuck Johnston contributed to this report.

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