School shooting victims shot multiple times

NEWTOWN, Connecticut (AFP) - Most of the 26 people gunned down at a Connecticut elementary school received multiple gunshot wounds from an assault rifle, the Connecticut chief medical examiner said on Saturday.

"All of the wounds I know of at this point were caused by the long weapon," Mr H. Wayne Carver said, referring to a military-style Bushmaster .223 semi-automatic rifle found at the scene.

Friday's massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School was said to be perpetrated by Adam Lanza, 20, who took his own life at the scene.

News reports said Lanza had shot his mother Nancy in the face before heading to the school, armed with at least two semi-automatic pistols and a military grade rifle.