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CNN Sunday Morning

Shooter's Family Looking For Answers; Survivors and Those Lost in the Shooting; Global Shock To Shooting

Aired December 16, 2012 - 06:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone. I'm John Berman.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Kate Bolduan. You're watching our continuing coverage of the Connecticut school shooting. We're live in Newtown, Connecticut.

BERMAN: President Obama will be coming here later today. He will meet with some of the victims' families and will speak at a vigil being held here tonight.

Meanwhile, we're learning more about this tragedy and the victims. Twenty children, six adults died in Friday's shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

H. WAYNE CARVER II, CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER: Everybody's death was caused by -- everyone that we've completed so far was caused by gunshot wounds. And, obviously, the manner of death on all these cases has been classified as homicide.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: That was the medical examiner. He also offered this disturbing detail. All of the victims he's seen, they were shot more than once.

BOLDUAN: It was just amazing to even hear him recount what he's seen in really chilling, chilling detail, John.

We will have much more on the victims, of course, their names and their stories, coming up in just a few minutes.

People in this community are still coming to grips with this tragedy, understandably. We saw more vigils here last night and they're still offering grief counseling to many. That's going to be especially important for the kids who lost so many of their friends in this shooting.

We also want to pass this along to you. The United Way has set up a Sandy Hook School Fund. Donations can be sent to the Newtown Savings Bank at the address you see on your screen, 39 Main Street, Newtown, Connecticut, 06470. And we're also hearing now from Adam Lanza's family. The man suspected of committing these brutal crimes. Both his brother, Ryan, and his father have been questioned by police. Peter Lanza, Adam's father, released this statement. He says, "our family is grieving along with all those who have been affected by this enormous tragedy. We are in a state of disbelief and trying to find whatever answers we can. We, too, are asking why." That is Peter Lanza, Adam Lanza's father. And we're also hearing from Adam Lanza's aunt, who says she is shocked, but offered what might be a little insight into why.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARSHA LANZA, ADAM LANZA'S AUNT: I know she had issues with school. She eventually wound up homeschooling him, because she battled with the school district. In what capacity, I'm not 100 percent certain. If it was behavior, if it was learning disabilities, I really don't know. But he was a very, very bright boy. He was smart.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Has he acted out? Had she shared with you any --

LANZA: No, she didn't.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No violence towards her? No --

LANZA: No. No, no. And if he did, I know she wouldn't tolerated it. If he needed help, I know they would have gotten it for him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Joining us now is our national correspondent, Susan Candiotti.

Susan, you've been following this investigation from the very, very beginning. What more -- what more are we learning about Adam Lanza and what he was doing in the days before the shooting?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, of course, that's one of the many key questions that authorities are trying to figure out as we're beginning to see more photographs emerge of this 20-year-old young man. Of course, the photos we've seen of him are of him at a very much younger age. Again, he was only 20. A lot of these photos were taken when he was just a teenager.

We know, for example, that investigators have been chasing down a lot of leads in this area. They've been talking to friends and family and neighbors to try to learn more about him as an individual and, again, where he was in the days before the shooting.

So, for example, they have been spending a lot of time, John and Kate, at various gun ranges and gun shops in the area. Again, chasing down information that he may have visited some of these places. And one of the stops took them to a local sporting goods store -- it's a chain and it's located in Danbury, Connecticut -- because, according to sources, they learned that he -- someone may have purchased a gun there, possibly him, on Tuesday, but decided against it. They spent a lot of time there talking to employees and even tracking down the store's surveillance camera videos to see if they could capture him on tape, but that pan did not -- that tip, rather, did not pan out.

We understand that authorities have plans to keep doing that today.

John.

BOLDUAN: And, Susan, are we getting any sense of any new information of really what transpired at the school Friday morning? And the impossible question is really, is there any evidence yet pointing toward a motive?

CANDIOTTI: Oh, the motive, no. We've been asking that again and again. We did hear from investigators saying that they are picking up what they call very important evidence to try to figure that out at both the crime scene and at the home that the shooter shared with his mother, but they're not revealing what they consider to be that important evidence.

We do know this, that the three guns that he took there, guns that were legally purchased, according to authorities, by his mother, those three guns were found next to his body, including one that he killed himself with. They know which one that was, but they're not saying. Remember, he took with him two handguns and a long gun called a Bushmaster.

And we know from the medical examiner that he used that long gun to kill a number of his victims. As you indicated earlier, Kate, we know that he shot many of his victims several times, according to the medical examiner, anywhere from three to 11 times each. Just a vicious, cold blooded event that authorities have called -- being blamed on something -- someone who was very, very evil. And we can understand why.

Kate.

BOLDUAN: Yes. Susan Candiotti doing some great reporting on this very, very difficult story. Susan, thank you so much.

For more information on how you can help those affected, so many people are asking how, well, you can go -- you can help those affected by the shooting, you can go to cnn.com/impact. You can also offer your thanks and impact your world, as we always like to say, John.

BERMAN: We want to bring in Victor Blackwell in Atlanta, who's monitoring some of the other stories for us this morning.

Good morning, Victor.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John. Good morning, Kate. Here are some of the other things happening around the world.

With just 16 days before the U.S. could go over the fiscal cliff, a deal might be near. A source close to the talks tells CNN that House Speaker John Boehner is willing to hike taxes on the wealthiest Americans. That's something the president says must be included in any plan. Boehner previously called tax increases on top earners a nonstarter. His office says he and the president have not reached a deal.

Staying in Washington. President Obama appears set to nominate Senator John Kerry as his next secretary of state. Hillary Clinton has said that she'd step down after the president's first term. The formal announcement could come this week. Now, United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice was the expected choice, but she pulled her name out of the running because of the controversy over her comments in the wake of the Benghazi attacks.

Secretary Clinton was supposed to testify about Benghazi this week, but that's on hold now. She suffered a concussion and now she's resting at home. The secretary has been battling a stomach virus and she fainted after becoming dehydrated. Her office says that it is not severe.

It's election day in Japan and voters are choosing a new parliament. The election could return former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to office if his liberal democratic party wins and lots of analysts expect that he'll win big. He's promised to get Japan's struggling economy back on track.

Let's go back now to Kate Bolduan and John Berman in Newtown, Connecticut, for our continuing coverage of the Connecticut school shooting.

BERMAN: Thanks so much, Victor. And you will be with us all morning.

There is a lot of news going around -- on all over the world.

BOLDUAN: There really is, John.

BERMAN: And thank you, Victor, for keeping us up to speed on all of that.

BOLDUAN: Thanks.

BERMAN: Here in Newtown, where so much of the focus has been over the last few days, people will be going to church services this morning to grieve for their loved ones.

BOLDUAN: Absolutely. And we're going to tell you some incredible and heartwarming stories about the victims. But, first, we want to show you the names and the ages of all 26 people killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School on that Friday morning to honor their passing.

Charlotte Bacon, 6 Daniel Barden, 7 Rachel Davino, 29 Olivia Engel, 6 Josephine Gay, 7 Ana Marquez-Greene, 6 Dylan Hockley, 6 Dawn Hochsprung, 47 Madeline F. Hsu, 6 Catherine V. Hubbard, 6 Chase Kowalski, 7 Jesse Lewis, 6 James Mattioli, 6 Grace McDonnell, 7 Anne Marie Murphy, 52 Emilie Parker, 6 Jack Pinto, 6 Noah Pozner, 6 Caroline Previdi, 6 Jessica Rekos, 6 Avielle Richman, 6 Lauren Rousseau, 30 Mary Sherlach, 56 Victoria Soto, 27 Benjamin Wheeler, 6 Allison Wyatt, 6

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: In a few hours, people here in Newtown, Connecticut, will head to church services to seek comfort and mourn the loss of so many of their loved ones. Their friends, their family members, many people they've known for so many years.

We now know 12 girls and eight boys were shot to death inside Sandy Hook Elementary School. All of them were either six or seven years old. Among them was Emilie Parker. Her father says she could light up a room and was an exceptional artist who always carried around markers and pencils to draw for anyone. Her dad said he gave her a kiss the last time he saw her alive.

Six adults also lost their lives in that tragic shooting. All between the ages of 27 and 56 years old. That includes 47-year-old principal Dawn Hochsprung, who was married and had two daughters and three stepdaughters. You see a picture of her right there. One parent says Hochsprung was always smiling.

And school psychologist 56-year-old Mary Sherlach. She had a history of working with disabled adults. She was married for more than 30 years and loved to garden.

Thirty-year-old Laura Rousseau was just recently hired as a permanent substitute teacher. Her mother says she always dreamed of teaching and says we will miss -- says they will miss her terribly and will take comfort knowing that she had achieved that dream.

The gunman also took the life of a 27-year-old first grade teacher who is being hailed around the world for her bravery.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CROWD (singing): Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once -- (END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Hundreds of people sang "Amazing Grace" at a candlelight vigil for Victoria Soto in her hometown of Stratford, Connecticut, last night. The young teacher moved her students from the classroom door when they heard the gun shots ringing out. To protect the children, she faced the gunman when he stormed in and he shot her. I spoke earlier -- I spoke yesterday with two parents whose son, by what they call a miracle, made it out of that classroom alive.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT LICATA, FATHER OF TWO SANDY HOOK STUDENTS: When they heard noises that he described as -- initially they thought were hammers falling, then they realized that it was gunshot and Ms. Soto, who was Aiden's (ph) teacher, had the presence of mind to move all the children to a distance away from the door on the side of the room furthest away from the door. And that's when the gunman burst in, did not say a word, no facial expressions, and proceeded to shoot their teacher. And they basically ran right next to the guy and out the door. And --

BOLDUAN: They ran past the gunman?

R. LICATA: They ran past the guy. He's still standing in the door and they ran past him and ran down the hallway and they're one of the closest rooms to the main entrance and Aiden was -- had the presence of mind to hold the door for one of his classmates and then there was another one of his classmates that was a little behind and waited for him and then they all ran to the road, to the main road.

BOLDUAN: Do you think he knows what -- that she likely did not make it?

DIANE LICATA, MOTHER OF TWO SANDY HOOK STUDENTS: He keeps asking about her, and I think he's reassuring himself that she's going to be OK. He really, really, really cared about his teacher. He was very close with her and she really loved their class. And he keeps saying, I really hope she's OK. I hope it's not her. He knows that she's been hurt, but he doesn't know the end result. He knows the kids that he saw getting shot. He doesn't know the outcome. So I think he's reassuring himself in his six-year-old mind. I know he's processing it. But I think he's reassuring himself. I think he's telling himself that it's going to be OK.

We had to put the sign out in the front today asking people not to ring the doorbell because he still hasn't internalized the fact that this gunman, this bad guy, is gone and he wants to know if there are more bad guys in the world.

R. LICATA: Right.

D. LICATA: And I don't know how to answer that question properly. And so, when someone rings the doorbell, he thinks it's him coming back, coming for him. And so he -- you know, he -- so I think our biggest concern now is making sure that we handle his sensitive nature properly and carefully and support him and support our daughter because she, again, does process things very differently than he does. So that's our job as parents now is to stay close to them, hold them, hug them, love them and let them know that they are safe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: That was Robert and Diane Lacata. They were wonderful to sit down and speak with us. Clearly they're still dealing with so many emotions.

We do want to say, though, that Victoria Soto's sister and cousin, she is the teacher of that little boy that we were just hearing his parents talk about him, they -- her parents and family members say they are very proud that she had the instinct to protect her students and that -- and that that brings them some peace about what happened. They, of course, say, she is a hero. It was pretty special for me to be able to spend some time with them.

BERMAN: You know, and we should add at CNN, we are being so sensitive to the families here, to the people in this community. We are not barging in and putting microphones in people's faces to talk to them. We're only talking to people who invite us in. And they invited you in. And you got to spend time with six-year-old Aiden. What was that like. Tell me about this young boy who went through so much.

BOLDUAN: Yes. And we should say that I spent time with him. His parents did not want him to be part of the interview, which is understandable. He's still trying to deal with this tragedy.

BERMAN: Oh, sure.

BOLDUAN: And they don't know exactly yet how to help him through it. They know that they want to let him lead the way in kind of how he's dealing with the tragedy. But it was very special to spend some time with him.

He was in very high spirits. He's a six-year-old boy. He was showing me his kong fu moves. His sister was also at Sandy Hook. She's a second grader. So they had two children at this school yesterday. And I spent time with the sister as well. They're absolutely adorable and precious and really drive home just all -- just the precious little lives that were in those classrooms and what was lost. And these two parent, they said that they are so lucky to be able to be hugging their children.

BERMAN: Amazing.

BOLDUAN: And so many families cannot be hugging their children.

BERMAN: Amazing resilience from some amazing kids.

BOLDUAN: Yes. (INAUDIBLE), John.

BERMAN: All right, our continuing coverage of this tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, will continue in just a moment. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Vigils, prayers, words of reflection. The nation is remembering the victims of the Colorado -- the school shooting here in Connecticut in their own way. This is how "Saturday Night Live" paid tribute.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CROWD (singing): Silent night. Holy night. Al is calm. All is bright.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: That is simply beautiful. The sketch comedy show opened this weekend's show with a chorus of children singing the classic Christmas song "Silent Night."

In Miami, the Miami Heat players stood with their children for a moment of silence before Saturday's game against the Washington Wizards. They wanted to pay respect to the shooting victims. You know the New England Patriots, the New York Giants will all pay tribute today. As far away as England, soccer players were wearing insignia on their uniform to mourn with the people here in Connecticut. Clearly the shockwaves from this senseless massacre that left 20 children and six adults dead, they are being felt far, far beyond our borders.

For more now on the truly global reaction to this, I want to bring in Victor Blackwell.

Victor, what have you seen how the world is reacting to what happened here in Newtown, Connecticut.

BLACKWELL: Well, John, you mentioned the soccer players in the U.K. And we're getting more response from the U.K. and all over the world because if there's one thing, aside from political disagreements, that I think the world can agree on is the innocence of our children.

And specifically from David Cameron, the British prime minister, you know, back in 1996, they suffered through the Dunblane school shooting. His statement from Ten Downing. "My thoughts are with the injured and those who have lost loved ones. It is heartbreaking to think of those who have had their children robbed from them at such a young age when they had so much life ahead of them." As we mentioned, that Dunblane shooting in 1996.

Also in '96, a shooting in Tasmania that ended with five people being killed. That statement after that we received from Prime Minister Julia Gillard of Australia. Listen to what she had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JULIA GILLARD, AUSTRALIA PRIME MINISTER: It is almost beyond comprehension that such a happy place could be reduced to a place of death and terror. But that is what we have seen today. Our heartfelt sympathies go to those families who have lost a child, to those families who have lost a loved one, to those families who are now trying to counsel their young children who has been witness to such shocking scenes and would be so distressed as a result.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Just two of the statements from coming all across the world in demonstrations of solidarity.

Back to you, John, in Newtown.

BERMAN: Victor, you said it so well. If there is one thing that is universal, it is the love for our children. Victor Blackwell in Atlanta, we'll come back to you in a little bit.

For more information on how you can help those affected by the shooting, go to cnn.com/impact.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: Welcome, once again. We are continuing our very special coverage of the Sandy Hook shooting this morning, live from Newtown, Connecticut. It is half past the hour, thank you so much for joining us this morning.

Here in Newtown, people are still asking why and how. Questions that we may not have answers for, for a very long time, if at all. They are also remembering the victims. We saw more vigils here last night, as people pay their respects to the 20 children and 6 adults killed in the school shooting. All of those children were just 6 or 7 years old.

Investigators are still trying to piece it altogether. They found more information on the shooter, but, still, no motive.

CNN national correspondent Susan Candiotti has been following the investigation from the very beginning. Susan, what more do you know?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Kate. We know that investigators tell us that they are making progress, but they're not saying exactly what kind of progress they're making. We know, for example, that they have been talking to family and friends of the shooter, Adam Lanza, to try to develop a profile about what he was all about. And for example, they are very interested in anything he may have written down. Any e-mails he may have sent as they try to piece together some kind of a motive and what he was doing in the days before the shooting.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CANDIOTTI: Investigators are learning more each day that may explain what led 20-year-old Adam Lanza to launch a vicious attack on young children and adults at an elementary school.

VANCE: Our investigators at the crime scene, the school, and secondarily at the secondary crime scene that we discussed where the female was located deceased did produce some very, very good evidence in this investigation that our investigators will be able to use, and hopefully painting the complete picture as to how and, more importantly, why this occurred.

CANDIOTTI: Police won't say what that evidence is. However, investigators have been checking out gun ranges and sporting good stores. They followed a lead the shooter tried to buy a gun Tuesday at this location. After searching store surveillance videos, the tip didn't pan out.

GENE MARQUEZ, ATF: To date, ATF has not uncovered any information that would substantiate the fact that he tried to acquire guns recently. We're out there actively investigating.

CANDIOTTI: Federal gun agents also said they recovered weapons at the home the shooter shared with his mother. Sources say three more guns were found. These three rifle models, all older. They're being traced. At least one has been connected to the mother. Three more weapons were discovered with the shooter in a classroom, where he took his own life. According to law enforcement officials, the two handguns and semi-automatic long gun called a Bushmaster were bought legally by his mother. The chief medical examiner says that long gun was used to kill several victims.

WAYNE CARVER II, CONNECTICUT CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER: I only did seven of the autopsies. The victims had ranged from three to 11 wounds apiece, and I only saw two of them with close-range shooting. All the wounds I know of at this point were caused by the long weapon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CANDIOTTI: One man who said that he knew the shooter's mother, described her as a gun enthusiast who liked to take her sons target shooting. But so far authorities say they have found no evidence of that. Relatives describe him as a bright young man who was homeschooled. His brother, according to law enforcement officials, told investigators that the younger brother, the shooter, was autistic, but certainly none of this adds up for investigators so far, why he allegedly did what he did. Kate.

BERMAN: Susan, you heard in your piece, Lieutenant Vance say they did recover materials at the house that will be key in helping to tell the story of what may have caused this to happen, what led up to it. Do you have any sense of what types of materials those might be?

CANDIOTTI: They're simply not saying. And so, we certainly have pressed them on it. Does that mean that they've been looking at a computer and they're looking at letters or written -- any kind of letters he might have written down to people to try to express his thoughts? But they're not saying exactly what that was. Did something have to do with the gun collection that the mother had there? It certainly appears, unfortunately, John, as you know, that he appeared to have used one of those guns to kill his own mother.

BOLDUAN: And, Susan, also you had said earlier this hour that it appears that investigators know which weapon this young, this young man used on himself, but are still withholding that information. What's the process of this? Why withhold the information? These investigators haven't really come out publicly yet to even I.D. him.

CANDIOTTI: That's right. That's an important point. We've been asking that time and again. But, we keep hearing, look, this is a decision being made by the lead investigators of this case, the Connecticut state police, and they have chosen not to formally release the name of the shooter at this time. We still don't have an explanation, for example, as to why there was a mix-up on the day that this happened, when initially sources and law enforcement officials were identifying the shooter as the older brother, when, in fact, it was the younger brother. We still don't know what happened there either.

BOLDUAN: Yes. Susan Candiotti, doing great reporting for us here in Newtown, Connecticut. Susan, thanks so much.

BERMAN: Every hour that does pass here, we're learning more about the tragic deaths of these 26 people at the Sandy Hook elementary school. Officials say the victims were shot multiple times, and that most were killed by this rifle. We know that a .223 caliber Bushmaster semi-automatic rifle, like the one we're going to show you right now here, was found near the shooter when he was deceased, and we know it was legally purchased by Nancy Lanza, the shooter's mother.

To discuss this now, I want to bring in former assistant director, Tom Fuentes. He's also a CNN contributor.

And, Tom, knowing now that this Bushmaster, this assault weapon was the likely gun that was used, are you even surprised the situation wasn't worse?

TOM FUENTES, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, it would be pretty horrific just because of that, John. The Bushmaster bullet would be about three times faster, longer and more powerful than the bullets that would have been fired from those two handguns. So, I think that when the medical examiner yesterday mentioned that all of the wounds all of the victims were killed with the long gun, the nature of those wounds would have been extremely horrible.

BOLDUAN: And, Tom, the Bushmaster is a military-style rifle. It's not a shotgun you would use for hunting, you know, you could say. Tell me what you know about why a civilian would own that rifle?

FUENTES: Well, one reason would be -- some claim that it has sporting purposes, for either hunting or even just target practice, as a sporting gun. But most people that purchase that weapon claim it's for personal protection. It's to protect their homes or their families, and they would prefer to have that kind of fire power, as opposed to a shotgun or even just pistols within the home.

And also, we don't know if there were more guns that were recovered at the home. So she may have had shotguns, as well. But the choice of that particular weapon, frankly, obviously, it's for hunting people. It's the main purpose that you would want to have a weapon like that, is to either take care of yourself or for protective purposes, certainly, but it's a much more powerful gun than those two handguns.

BERMAN: Just to follow up on that, Tom. One of the things the medical examiner said that really caught me by surprise was that the bullets were designed somehow to stay in the tissue. Now, I'm not a gun person. I don't know a lot about guns. Can you explain to me what that means?

FUENTES: You know, as a former firearm instructor and SWAT team member, I'm not exactly sure what he means by that. The .223 round that's fired out of that Bushmaster is the same round that would be fired out of an M16. It has a muzzle velocity of over 2,000 feet per second. So to design that bullet, or to get that bullet to shoot in a way that would make it not fully penetrate and go through two or three bodies, for that matter, I'm not quite clear what he means by how that was designed. Because if you soften the lead, let's say, or, in this case, that bullet, the outer part of the bullet would have a copper jacket around it so that it would feed more easily through the gun as you're shooting it and pulling the trigger, the old casing is ejected, the new bullet is chambered and you just keep firing that way, depending on how that bullet is modified, would interfere with the loading and the continued ability to fire that weapon in rapid succession. So I'm not quite sure what he meant by that.

BERMAN: All right. Former FBI director, assistant director Tom Fuentes. Thank you so much for helping us try to understand this a little bit better. Thanks, Tom.

FUENTES: Thank you, John.

BOLDUAN: Back here in Newtown, we're remembering the victims. Doing that quite a lot. There are so many victims to remember. Coming up, we'll hear from the father of a 6-year-old girl killed in the attack. He moved people, many people to tears, and how he wants us all to remember his little girl.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: The families of the victims here in Newtown have been largely silent. Instead of choosing to grieve privately, they are choosing, rather, to grieve privately, and we're respecting that privacy, being so careful not to barge in and talk to anyone who doesn't want to talk to us.

But one father wanted all to know more about his daughter. Her name is Emilie Parker, her name was Emilie Parker, and she was just 6 years old.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERT PARKER, DAUGHTER EMILIE KILLED IN SHOOTING: Emilie was a mentor to her two little sisters and delighting in teaching them how to read, dance and find the simple joys in life. Emilie's laughter was infectious, and all those who had the pleasure to meet her would agree that this world is a better place because she has been in it. She was their best friend.

They were all born within three years of each other, so, by law, they're very close. She was teaching my middle daughter to read. She would help my youngest daughter learn how to make things, show her how to do crafts. They looked up to her.

And they looked to her when they needed comfort. Usually that's saved for a mom and a dad, but it was really sweet to see the times when one of them would fall or one of them would get their feelings hurt, how they would run to Emilie to get support and hugs and kisses.

She was the type of person that could just light up a room.

She -- she always had something kind to say about anybody. And her love and the strength that she gave us and the example that she showed us is remarkable. She is an incredible person. And I'm so blessed to be her dad.

I was leaving to work, and she woke up before I left, and I have actually been teaching her Portuguese, and so our last conversation was in Portuguese. And she told me good morning, and asked how I was doing, and I said that I was doing well. She said that she loved me, and I gave her a kiss, and I was out the door.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: I simply do not know where Robbie Parker, where this man found the strength and composure.

BOLDUAN: He was so well spoken.

BERMAN: To speak like that. So well spoken. His daughter, clearly, so important to him, and that family clearly so close. So impressive.

The Parkers, they moved to Connecticut from Utah just eight months ago. Emilie is going to be buried back in Utah.

BOLDUAN: And as Robbie Parker and other parents struggle with the tragedy that happened here in Connecticut on Friday, they also face another challenge. How to explain it to their children. Something we were talking about earlier. Here's Lisa Sylvester with some expert advice.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: If there's an image that sums up this story, it is this. Any parent out there can relate. Psychiatrist Charles Raison is with the University of Arizona's College of Medicine.

DR. CHARLES RAISON, UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA'S COLLEGE OF MEDICINE: How do you wrap your mind around something like this? With a good deal of heartbreak and with the understanding that it is going to take a while, and that there will be people that were closely impacted by this who will never wrap their minds around this. You know, human minds are not infinite, and this is now appearing to be probably the worst schoolyard catastrophe in history. And so there is going to be a huge long-term fallout for this that is going to also impact people's emotional well-being, and we need to gear ourselves up for that fallout, because it is coming, because this is a horrible thing.

SYLVESTER: The news out of Newtown is traumatic for parents and for children. This happened at a school where kids are supposed to feel safe.

RAISON: How do you explain this to children? Well, again, it depends on the age of the child. But I think simple, forthright explanations are the best. And I think one of the things I tell children is there are some bad people in the world, and sometimes bad people do really terrible things. And a terrible thing has happened, and there have been some children killed, and this is terrible, but you're safe. And, you know, you're safe and you're in a situation now where you are not going to be harmed.

SYLVESTER: The American Academy of Pediatrics offers this advice. Take into account the age of the child and provide basic information, without offering details that may only alarm them. Ask your children what they already know and answer questions. Parents can share their own feelings and the ways they're coping, and find meaningful ways to help others.

RAISON: Children are resilient, and what really matters now is how we help them understand what's happened, but even I think more important is the sense of protection and safety that we give them starting this moment and for the next weeks and months.

SYLVESTER: For those who witnessed, those children who saw, those who covered their eyes and ears to shut out the horror, they need time, love and prayers.

President Obama said it that parents are going to go home, hug their children, and even to process this as a nation, that's just going to take time.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BOLDUAN: That was CNN's Lisa Sylvester.

For those who need or want grief counseling, the Newtown youth and family services clinic will be open all weekend from 9:00 to 4:00 p.m. The Newtown parent connection is also offering a trauma support session today from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Edmund (ph) town hall.

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BERMAN: Welcome back to Newtown, Connecticut, everyone, for our continuing special coverage of the awful shootings that took place here now Friday morning, two full days ago. It is Sunday morning, and so many people will be going to church this morning to pray, to grieve, to mourn. One of the things that struck me is how they're all doing it together here in this town. BOLDUAN: I have gotten a sense, and I'm sure you have, as well, I've been talking to -- I've been talking to many residents that are here and many of our colleagues have said the same thing, is it's a small town. I mean, I'm struck by we're in this beautiful setting this morning. There's a creek right beside us, and it's absolutely beautiful. It's Christmastime, it is the holiday season, and there are all these beautiful trees around here, and the terror and the tragedy that struck this town, is just truly shocking. But how close this community has really rallied around each other and come together is awe inspiring. And we saw those pictures from that vigil in Stratford, Connecticut, last night, to honor the first grade teacher, Victoria Soto. It was a mass of humanity there, all grieving and coming together, and it really happened very naturally. It wasn't even a planned event.

BERMAN: And there's no one here that this has not touched in some way. I was at a gas station yesterday morning, and the man behind the counter there had this look on his face. And I was saying, you know, how has this been for you, and he said, I'm an EMT, and I spent Friday at the school. And then Saturday he was at the gas station, again. And it was still clearly affecting him so, so much.

BOLDUAN: I think, John, we see it because we're reporting on the story, but I think people in this town are just now starting to get the grasp of how this has impacted people around the world. I mean, we ran a clip of kind of the global reaction and how it has all affected people. I think what it really comes down to is everyone knows the innocence of an elementary school child. If you don't have children, you were once in elementary school yourself. And I think everyone, everyone has that experience, and it really, it really hits home.

BERMAN: One of my favorite columnists for "The Boston Globe" made a comment the other day, who said that kids around America right now or around the world are wondering why they're being hugged so tightly, and all I can say is, you know, adore them, just simply--

BOLDUAN: Just keep hugging them. Absolutely.

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BOLDUAN: All of our hearts are heavy this weekend, of course, with the story of the deadly shooting here in Connecticut.

BERMAN: Coming up, a reminder we could all use that good things, they still do happen.

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VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Well, all that's happened in the past two days is enough to make you just shake your head and stare at the television and ask, what has happened to our world. Well, we want to end this hour with the reminder, especially important reminder, that there are still good people and positive acts of kindness that are happening everywhere. Remember this? Last month this New York City police officer made news by offered a homeless man in Times Square a pair of boots on a cold night. Or this, a Tennessee boy who helped his brother in a wheelchair complete in a triathlon, helping him achieve his dream to cross the finish line. Who could forget this Libyan child who doesn't believe in hate, holding a sign apologizing for the embassy attack in Benghazi. So much to be thankful for even in this very difficult time.

We continue our coverage of the Connecticut elementary school shooting right now.