He was a 20-year-old man who , by multiple accounts , was incredibly smart and quiet . He did n't appear to have any run-ins with the law . But Adam Lanza 's seemingly innocuous life was thrust into the spotlight when authorities said he perpetrated the second deadliest school shooting in U.S. history . On Friday morning , Lanza walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown , Connecticut , dressed in black battle fatigues and a military vest '' and began firing , according to a law enforcement source . By the time he was done , 26 were dead -- 20 of them young students . The bloodshed ended when Lanza 's own life did . He was found dead in a classroom with three firearms : a .223-caliber Bushmaster rifle and two pistols , a Glock and a Sig Sauer . Before Friday 's rampage , authorities said , Lanza killed his mother in their home in Newtown 's Sandy Hook community . Comforting survivors : 'Hug them ' and 'cry with them ' The mass tragedy left people in the Connecticut town , around the country , around the world asking questions . Who was this man , and why did he do this ? Lanza moved to Connecticut from Kingston , New Hampshire , with his parents and older brother Ryan , according to a booklet for the town 's Newtown 's Bennetts Farm neighborhood . He enjoyed soccer , skateboarding and video games , the publication said . In September 2009 -- when Lanza was 17 -- his mother and father divorced , court documents show . What happened after that for him is n't clear , except that he lived in the picturesque , 300-year-old Connecticut town . His father , Peter , remarried and lived not far from Newtown , an official said . He was questioned by authorities after the shooting . So , too , was his 24-year-old brother Ryan . Authorities have offered few details about Lanza . He had no known criminal record , a law enforcement official said . Slain Connecticut principal just implemented new security system . One of Lanza 's aunts , Marsha , described him as a `` quiet , nice kid , '' but he had issues with learning , she said . Her husband is Lanza 's paternal uncle . `` He was definitely the challenge of the family in that house . Every family has one , '' she told CNN affiliate WLS . `` They have one . I have one . But never in trouble with the law , never in trouble with anything . '' She said Lanza 's mother `` battled '' with the school board and ended up having her son home-schooled . `` She had issues with school , '' the aunt , who lives in Crystal Lake , Illinois , said . `` I 'm not 100 % certain if it was behavior or learning disabilities , but he was a very , very bright boy . He was smart . '' Alex Israel was in the same class at Newtown High School with Lanza , and lived a few houses down from him . `` You could definitely tell he was a genius , '' Israel told CNN , adding she had n't talked with him since middle school . `` He was really quiet , he kept to himself . '' Others in Newtown who knew Lanza said they had no idea he 'd ever be responsible for such horror . His former bus driver , Marsha Moskowitz , told CNN affiliate WABC that he was `` a nice kid , very polite '' like his brother . `` It 's a shock to even know ( the family ) , '' she said . `` You ca n't understand what happened . '' A relative told investigators that Lanza had a form of autism , according to a law enforcement official , who spoke under condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the investigation . But a national autism committee cautioned against speculating about any link between autism and violence . `` Some public comments have drawn potentially inaccurate and stigmatizing conclusions about a link between the diagnosis and a propensity for violence and lack of empathy , '' according to a statement from the Autism Research Institute 's Autistic Global Initiative Project . `` Autism is not a mental health disorder - it is a neurodevelopmental disorder . ... The eyes of the world are on this wrenching tragedy -- with 1 in 88 now diagnosed , misinformation could easily trigger increased prejudice and misunderstanding . '' A former classmate told CNN affiliate WCBS that Lanza `` was just a kid '' -- not a troublemaker , not anti-social , not suggesting in any way that he could erupt like this . `` I do n't know who would do anything like this , '' the classmate said , before walking away distraught . `` This is unspeakable . '' How do we stop the violence ? The suspect 's father was also at a loss for explanation . He sent his condolences to the families of victims in a statement released Saturday . `` Our family is grieving along with all those who have been affected by this enormous tragedy , '' he said . `` No words can truly express how heartbroken we are . We are in a state of disbelief and trying to find whatever answers we can . ''
Father : Lanza killed 26 people at a school and his mother before he was found dead . Tony 's aunt : She was ` ` never in trouble with the law , never in trouble with anything '' ` ` You could definitely tell he was a genius , '' a neighbor and former classmate says . Another former classmate recalls him as ` ` just a kid '' who did n't show violent tendencies .