unanswered questions in the massacre that has shattered a quiet town and stunned the nation. we want to welcome our viewers in the united states and around the world. i'm wolf blitzer reporting live right now from newtown, connecticut. the 20 children gunned down in their own elementary school were 6 and 7 years old. they were practically babies, as the people here in newtown, connecticut, mourn. we now know the names of the victims of the school massacre. authorities releasing the list just a little while ago. we're also learning just how brutally they died. the medical examiner says, every one of the 26 victims were shot more than once, apparently with a semiautomatic. the relatives of the shooter are struggling to competent when the loss of life, including nancy, who was gunned down by her son. no word on a motive. police say they have found very good evidence at the school and at the lanza home. for more right now on the investigation, let's bring in our national correspondent, susan candiotti, here in newtown, connecticut. with all of us, she's working her sources. what's the latest, susan? >> reporter: hi, wolf. of course, the question is what move a 20-year-old young man to target so many innocent victims. investigator are looking everywhere for clues. for example, trying to fine anything he might have written down, trying to talk to family and friends, even retracing his steps to look for clues. investigators are learning more each day that may have led to explain what 20-year-old adam lanza led a veshs attack. >> investigators at the crime scene, the school, at the seconda secondary crime scene we discussed, the female located, deceased, did produce very good evidence in the investigation, that our investigators will be able to use and hopefully painting a complete picture as to how and, more importantly, why this occurred. >> reporter: police won't say what the 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. >> to date atf has not uncovered any information that would substantiate the fact he tried to acquire guns recently. we're out there actively investigating. >> reporter: federal gun agents recovered weapons at the home the shooter shared with his mother. three more guns were found. these three, all older, being traced. at least once 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 semiautomatic long gun, called a bushmaster were bought legally by his mother. that long gun was used to kill several victims. >> i only did seven autopsies. victims 3 to 11, and i saw two of them with post-range shooting. all wouldn'ts that i know of at this point caused by the long weapon. >> reporter: one relative describes the shooter as a very bright young man. one point home schooled by his mother. and a law enforcement official tells us that the shooter's older brother described to them that his younger brother was t autistic, but so far nothing adds up to a motive. wolf? >> susan candiotti, thank very much. over at the stratford high school a half hour or so away from where we are here in newtown, connecticut, there's a vigil under way right now. i want to watch and listen right now. ♪ amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me ♪ ♪ i once was lost but now am found was blind but now i see♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ amazing grace how sweet the sound♪ ♪ ♪ the truth is plain to see she was sent to rescue me ♪ ♪ i see who i want to be in my daughter's eyes ♪ ♪ in my daughter's eyes everyone is equal ♪ ♪ darkness turns to light and the world is at peace ♪ ♪ the miracle god gave to me gives me strength ♪ ♪ when i am weak i find reason to believe ♪ ♪ in my daughter's eyes ♪ when she wraps her hand around my finger it puts a smile on my heart ♪ ♪ everything becomes a little clear i realize what life is all about ♪ ♪ it's hanging on when your heart has had enough ♪ ♪ giving more when you feel like giving up i see the light ♪ ♪ that's in my daughter's eyes in my daughter's eyes ♪ ♪ i can see the future a reflection of ♪ ♪ who i am and choose to be though she's gone she gave strength to her family ♪ ♪ when i am gone i hope she sees ♪ ♪ how happy she made me i'll be there in my daughter's eyes♪ jason carroll is there at the high school, stratford high school, in connecticut. jason, set the scene for us. this vigil is so moving, images that we're seeing so powerful and remembering a special person. >> reporter: wolf, this is exactly how victoria, vicki, what her family call her, how vicki family's wanted to remember her. this is how they wanted to come together and grieve. this is something that took a life of its own because of facebook. a message went out saying they wanted to bring the community together, wanted to bring people together and tweets went out, one by vicki soto's sister saying come to the high school here at stratford high school and this is where we're going to have a candlelight vigil. this is where victoria soto graduated back in 2003. and, wolf, when i spoke to her family, earlier today, you really get more of a picture, more of a sense as you look at the picture there on your screen, you get a sense of who this woman was. that picture was the picture taken from the school, sandy hook elementary. her mother just got that picture last week. one of her mother's favorite pictures that that's the picture her mother says this is the image we want the world to see of our victoria soto. they describe her as a dedicated teacher. a woman who didn't call her students students. she called them, quote, her kids, every time she spoke about them. she actually herself wanted to be a teacher every since she herself was a little girl. and so, it was -- the family was especially proud when she became a teacher. she was really the rock of the extended family. she was the one who did secret santa every year during the holidays. but she's just really especially going to be missed. also here that you see here in the crowd are her family, her two sisters. she's got a sister, julian, another sister, carly, her brother carlo matthew, her father, they are here as well. her cousin here, who i spoke to earlier today. a lot of the folks here are wearing green and that's because green was one of victoria's favorite colors. the word went out today, if you've got green, ware a green hat, green gloves, sweater, anything put it on. this is another way to remember victoria. they did not want her to be remembered as just a victim, wolf. they wanted her to be remembered as a dedicated teacher, a loving sister, and a loving daughter. wolf? >> a story, such a story of a wonderful woman, vicki soto, first grade teacher at the school, 27 years old. she had her students huddled behind her, tried to protect them, as jason's been telling us. she was shot and killed at the elementary school. jason, i want to let our viewers know that we have learned that the president of the united states, president obama, will come here to newtown, connecticut, tomorrow. he will attend the interfaith vigil that will take place at 7:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. eastern time here in newtown, connecticut. the president of the united states wanted to be here. he wants to comfort the families. he wants to participate in this interfaith vigil that will take place here in newtown tomorrow night. obviously he has been shaken. we all saw what he said yesterday at that brief statement he made in the white house. he broke down, started to cry, holding back tears. so the president will be here tomorrow night, 7:00 p.m. eastern for the interfaith vigil here in newtown. let's go back in the meantime to the vigil that's taking place right now over at stratford high school. ♪ the time you must keep on smiling smile ♪ ♪ what's the use in crying you find that life is still worthwhile ♪ ♪ if you just smile >> last selection will be performed by myself. ♪ never dreamed of the sorrow ♪ ♪ i never felt i have reason to lament ♪ ♪ i hope i'd never know heartbreak how i wish i could ♪ ♪ change the way things went i wanted nothing but goodness ♪ ♪ i wanted reason to prevail ♪ ♪ i want ed life to go on i wanted days of plenty ♪ ♪ but i refused to feel tragic ♪ ♪ there's got to be something else that's more than pain and grief ♪ ♪ there's got to be meaning most of all when a life has been so brief ♪ ♪ i've got to learn something how can i gather any less i want life to go on ♪ ♪ i want ed days of plenty you have to believe ♪ ♪ there is reason for hope you have to believe ♪ ♪ that the answers will come you can't let this defeat you ♪ ♪ i won't let this defeat you you must fight to keep ♪ ♪ her there within you so believe that she mattered and believe that she ♪ ♪ always will she will always be with you ♪ ♪ she'll be part of the days you'll get to fill she will live in your bounty she will live ♪ ♪ as you carry on your life through days of plenty♪ thank you for letting us be here. this vigil continues at stratford high school not far away from newtown, where we are. the vij thgil that we're watchi remembering vicki soto, only 27 years old. kate bolduan is still with us. kate, you had a chance to speak with parents who are fortunate their little child survived, in part thanks to vicki soto. >> reporter: absolutely right, wolf. that's what those parents say. this is robert and diane lacotti. they not only have one child at sandy hook, two children at sandy hook yesterday, their daughter in second grade, their son in first grade in victoria soto's -- as we continue to look at these pictures of this vigil. their first grade son, in her class, he talks about not only being able to escape but before that, coming face-to-face with the shooter, wolf. >> what happened when i got to the school and realized it was sandy hook, pulled down as far as i could, i couldn't get all the way. i drove over the curb into the firehouse parking lot and i said, it's here, it's here, there's been a shooting here. and i saw -- i saw the emts working on a little boy and i knew it wasn't our son i knew it was close, i ran to the school. you know the chaos is indescribable. i mean, it's like living through columbine, everything you've seen on tv. so as the children start to come out, you know, single time, class by class, group by group, when you see their teacher, i saw my daughter's teacher, she wasn't -- my daughter wasn't with her teacher and i grabbed her teach somewhere asked her where she was she said she didn't know because she wasn't with the class. so the kids start to come out. when i saw her, the sense of relief is incredible but it's really short-lived because i still have one in there and i'm waiting for him to come. and he didn't come out. and i didn't see his teacher and i didn't see his classmates. so as a parent, you know, i hugged made daughter and i said, you know, i told her to hug her friend in her class and i said go to the fire station, daddy's coming. i'm going to wait for aden. i'm going to wait. and he didn't come out. so you know, when you're standing there waiting, and no one will tell you anything, it's indescribable feeling of helplessness. you know, we are very lucky because i think i was there an hour and then the group stopped coming and i just knew no one elz was coming out of that school. i knew in my heart. i actually received a text from a friend said that he was at the police station and he was safe there and he was one of the groups of kids that ran that got out, had been picked up. when we went there, and i saw him for the first time, it was just an incredible feeling of relief and i feel so blessed. it's just a feeling of blessing. >> a miracle. >> truly is. >> angels on their shoulder. the children got out of the kas room. it was a blessing. indescribable. >> it's an amazing feeling. and you feel -- you feel so relieved but at the same time you know that others can't share that feeling. and you just -- your heart doesn't know which direction to go. their friends, their neighbors. >> these are children that our children went to preschool with, known since they were 2 years old 3 year old, so the magnitude of what's happened, not just for us but for everyone in this community, hasn't even been felt yet. the children will learn about their friends and their teacher and others that they know and, you know, we, as parents, need to do the best to prepare our children for that and explain in the best way we can that makes sense to them what's happened and how to kind of help them through that process. >> from what you've been told by your son and what you know now, what happened? >> according to aden, they went through a normal day. they did their circle time, where they introduce each other, they did their message -- >> over the loudspeaker. >> and they were doing their announcement over the loudspeaker. and that's when they heard noises that he described as initially they thought were hammers falling. then they realized that it was gunshots. and miss soto, aden's teacher, had the presence of mind to move all of 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. at that time, the children from an early age are taught, when they see a person with a gun, you run and you call 911. and they practice that in school with their fire and emergency drills and everything. we're very lucky that all of the children, my son included, had the presence of mind to react appropriately and they basically ran right past the gunman out the door. >> ran past the gunman? >> he's 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 aden was -- had the presence of mind to hold the door for one of his classmates. there was another classmate that was behind and waited for him and they all ran to the road, the man road, all the way down. and where they met a woman who is an angel to us, who took them into her van and took them to the police station. >> how did your son, he's 6 years old, have the presence of mind, faced not only by seeing this horrific act happen in front of him, but then have the presence of mind to run past this person and to safety? >> i think it's impossible to honestly know what was going through his mind. you know, it's sad to say that in today's world i do watch the news with the kids, i do discuss all of the things that happen, and have told them, you know, thinking from a high school or college perspective, if anybody ever comes into your classroom with a gun, you just run. and i've said that to them countless times, just -- you just run. and so i -- i'm sure -- i'd like to think that part of that is deep down inside, my son and he knew he had the presence of nind do that. and i think part of it was just this fight or flight response, this instinct that told him and other students in that room to just leave. and i think maybe because of the way that things played out, how the gunman came in and shot their teacher first, i know they would have looked to her for guidance and without her, to tell them what to do, they just ran. and it's honestly a miracle that i'm able to have -- we're able to have this conversation with you and with our son still with us. >> do you think he knows what the -- that she likely did not make it? >> he keeps asking about her. he's reassuring himself that she's going to be okay. he really, really, really cared about his teacher. he was very close with her and she really loved that class. he keeps saying, i really hope she's okay, 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. i think he's reassuring himself in his 6-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 okay. >> what was yesterday supposed to be like? >> i was supposed to go there 2:00 and build a gingerbread house, you know? this he something we do as parents. all parents in this community very much involved. we go in and read books. diane's active in volunteering there. we know the teachers. we know a lot of the kids. so 2:00 i was supposed to go and build a gingerbread house. that's what aiden's class was doing. >> starts out like any other day. >> routine. >> working from home, i had meetings and going to the gym and i was supposed to go to aiden's class but i asked robert if he had meetings and i said why don't you go, aiden will be excited. he couldn't wait for daddy to come. start off like any other day. >> reporter: what was last night like when you finally have your family back together and you come home? >> the day was hourless. i couldn't tell you what time it was. it was -- time almost stood still but at the same time just kept progressing. having the kids, we stayed so close together. we sat on the couch all night. the kids, we tried to keep them protected, letting them watch whatever they wanted to on television and we stayed really, really close. we all slept in the same room last night. >> reporter: dan, what's that moment like when you know how your day went and then you got everyone together? >> you break -- for me i've been a very emotional person and you just -- i just broke down because i'm sobbing because i'm relieved, because i have my son but i'm sobbing because i know that others do not and that adults were lost, children were lost, people are suffering from such an incredible, indescribable loss that the only thing i know how to do to process it is let that -- those feelings out. and i just started crying. >> we didn't know what to expect. we didn't know how -- if they were going to wake up and, you know, with a nightmare, and happily today actually slept well and we all -- the kids slept well. >> i didn't sleep. >> you process things. you keep replaying what our son -- what went through his mind and what happened and i don't think as adults we can even possibly imagine what any child saw that day especially no less our son. so we weren't sure what to expect. they woke up happy. what we're trying to do as parents is project a sense of normalcy and a sense of routine. >> a sense of safety. >> safety. >> because he -- 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. 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. so he -- 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, to stay close to them, hold them, hug them, love them, and let them know that they are safe. >> reporter: i'll tell you, wolf, robert and diane, they did not want their children to be on camera. they are still processing everything that he have gone through. but i did have the opportunity to spend time not only with swro robert and diane but with their two children. aiden and his sister seem in very high spirits, seem like two kids on a saturday morning. clearly they are shaken after everything they've experienced. both parents said to me, as hard as it is for this family and what they've been through, they know there are many more families that are not able to hug their children tonight and their hearts are breaking for them and go out to those families. wolf? >> our hearts are breaking for them as well. kate, thanks so much for sharing that with all of our viewers. we have something very special when we come back. robbie parker, the father of 6-year-old emily parker, she was killed yesterday. he is now speaking out. we're going to hear what he's saying about his beautiful 6-year-old daughter when we come back.e. but when i was in an accident... i was worried the health care system spoke a language all its own with unitedhealthcare, i got help that fit my life. information on my phone. connection to doctors who get where i'm from. and tools to estimate what my care may cost. so i never missed a beat. we're more than 78,000 people looking out for more than 70 million americans. that's health in numbers. unitedhealthcare. boproductivity up, costs down, thtime to market reduced... those are good things. upstairs, they will see fantasy. not fantasy... logistics. ups came in, analyzed our supply chain, inventory systems... ups? ups. not fantasy? who would have thought? i did. we did, bob. we did. got it. president obama will travel here to connecticut tomorrow to join in remembering and in mourning the victims of the second deadliest shooting incident in u.s. history at a school. a white house statement says the president will speak at an interfaith vigil for families of the victims as well as families from sandy hook elementary school, 7:00 p.m., sunday here in newtown, connecticut. we have been watching a vigil this hour for one victim, a teacher, who died trying to save her students. we're talking about victoria soto. today we learned the names of all six adults and 20 children gunned down at the sandy hook elementary school here in newtown. we also learned more about how they died. police say three guns were found at the scene next to the body of the shooter, adam lanza. but the medical examiner says all wounds he knows of were caused by what he calls the long weapon, that rifle, that we're talking about. that would be the modified semiautomatic rifle that's a civilian version of the military m-16. one of the victims of the newtown elementary school massacre was a 6-year-old girl named emily parker. her father gave a heart wrenching news conference a little while ago. listen to this. my daughter emilie would be one of the first ones to be standing and giving her love and support to all those victims. because that's the type of person that she is. not because of any parenting that my wife and i could have done. but because those were the gifts that were given to her by her heavenly father. as the deep pain begins to settle into our hearts, we find comfort reflecting on the incredible person that emilie was, and how many lives she was able to touch in her short time here on earth. emilie was bright, creative and very loving. emilie was always willing to try new things, other than food. she loved to use her talents to it touch the lives of everyone she came into contact with. she was an exceptional artist, and she always carried around her markers and pencils so she never missed an opportunity to draw a picture or make a card for those around her. i can't count the number of times emilie noticed someone feeling sad or frustrated and would rush to find a piece of paper to draw them a picture or to write them an encouraging note. emilie's card-making was expressed beautifully this last october when she placed a very special card she had made into the casket with her grandpa, who also just recently died of a tragic accident. emilie was a mentor to her two little sisters in delighting and teaching them how to read, dance and find the simple joys in life. emlie's laughter was infectious, and all those who had the fleesh meet her would agree this world's a bert place because she has been in it. i have been teaching her portuguese. our last conversation was in portuguese. and she's -- she told me good morning and asked how i was doing and i said i was doing well. she said she loved me, i gave her a kiss and i was out the door. they were born within three years of each other. by law they're very close. she was teaching my middle daughter to read. she would help me youngest daughter how to make things, do crafts. they looked up to her. they looked to her when they needed comfort. usually that's -- that's saved for her mom and dad but it was really sweet to see the times one of them would fall or get their feelings hurt, how they would run to emilie get support and hugs and kisses. she was the type of insurgent could light up the room. she always had something kind to say about anybody. her love and strength she gave us and the example she showed to us is remarkable. she is an incredible person. and i'm so blessed to be her dad. >> robbie parker, 30-year-old father of little emilie parker, who was murdered yesterday here at this elementary school in newtown, connecticut. anderson cooper's on the scene. i don't foe what else to say after hearing a dad like that. >> yeah. it's all just beyond words really. and i said this last night, i feel like all of the words that we speak and all of the words that can be spoken are just -- it seems so small in the face of this horror. >> he works in a hospital. he's a physician's assistant. he deals with saving people's lives. he's at work and all of a sudden he gets a call. there's a problem. >> unimaginable. >> you know, all day long here people have been gathering and in spots, impromptu spots, public vigils, other times on a street corner. everybody wants to talk about where they were, what they heard, who they knew. and it's really extraordinary feeling here right now. i mean this is a community which -- it sound cliche -- but it's a community trying to come together, trying to help one another. and it's an extraordinary thing to witness. >> it happens the week before christmas. you know, people have to say to themselves, how could this happen in our little community here, a small city, small town, 20,000 people, not far from dan bury, as i walk around, people don't know what to say. >> yeah. and i mean, this is the kind of -- i mean a parent never gets over the loss of a child, especially to have it around the holidays and each year that remainder around this time, when everyone else is celebrating. i think people in this community will never forget that and each holiday a remembrance of those whose lives were lost. >> i got in front of me here, this is painful if you look at this. this is the list of the victims the state police released -- >> horrific. >> the 30 people -- excuse me 26 people who were killed at the school. six adults and we see their names and their ages, 29, 47, 52, 30, 56, and 27. but then you see the names of the children and all of them, 20 kids, either 6 or 7 years old, charlotte, 6, daniel, 7, olivia, 6, josephine, 7, anna, 6, dylan, 6. i mean you see these names. you go down, jessica, 6, benjamin, 6. >> to see photographs that the parents are releasing. we're only showing photographs of childn that the families want you to see and want you to know. obviously out of sense tevty. we've seen these shootings before, terribly enough and oftentimes it's adults that we're talking about. but to see -- again to see that little girl's face while her father's talking about her, it's -- it is stunning. >> he wanted to go out and make that statement. he wanted to remember his beautiful daughter emilie, he has two other kids, 2 and 4, she was 6, and he wanted to make a statement, answer questions. and you know you and i have covered these events before, virginia tech i remember parents wanted to speak about their sons or daughters who were murdered. >> oftentimes people want you to know who their child was and want you to know what their child but was about and what their child was like. for some it helps for others it doesn't help to talk, and we certainly understand that and being very sensitive in giving people privacy that they want and deserve. for those who want to talk, it can i don't know that it helps but it's -- it's one step. >> we've told all of our producers, all of our staff, you know, we're not going to try to convince people, if they don't want to, they don't have to. if they want to, they're more than welcome. we'd like to hear. >> it's times like this, for people watch, other parts of the country might not understand why somebody might do a press conference or do a statement. people really want, in their grief, they want you to know about who their loved within was and they know the thoughts and prayers of so many around the world are with them right now. they want people to share in that. >> now we know the president will come here and share his thoughts, not only with the people here. he's going to try to comfort them. but he's going to try to comfort a nation that's grieving right now. >> he'll be meeting with families and also first responders. of course think about those first responders and what they witnessed and have been dealing with and they need as much comfort for the things that they have seen in these last 24, 36 hours. >> you'll pick up coverage at the top of the hour. you're here for the duration, just like me. >> yeah. >> anderson, thanks very much. we'll take a quick break. more special coverage after this. ...so as you can see, geico's customer satisfaction is at 97%. mmmm tasty. and cut! very good. people are always asking me how we make these geico adverts. so we're taking you behind the scenes. this coffee cup, for example, is computer animated. it's not real. geico's customer satisfaction is quite real though. this computer-animated coffee tastes dreadful. geico. 15 minutes could save you 15 % or more on car insurance. someone get me a latte will ya, please? ♪ [ male announcer ] this is karen and jeremiah. they don't know it yet, but they're gonna fall in love, get 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[ dog barks ] because right after they get married, they'll find some retirement people who are paid on salary, not commission. they'll get straightforward guidance and be able to focus on other things, like each other, which isn't rocket science. it's just common sense. from td ameritrade. relatives of the 20-year-old gunman, adam lanza, giving us additional insight who he was. his aunt, who lives in illinois, spoke out a little while ago. >> i had the tv on yesterday morning and that's how i found out about it. i tried to connect the dots. they listed ryan, the able didn't agree. i have a son, michael, a couple years older than ryan and when they said the age and the name, it didn't click but the location did. and it was revealed it wasn't ryan, he was now 24. then it click, yeah, that's the right age of ryan. i couldn't imagine ryan doing such a thing he's too -- too well educated. works in new york city. he's a cpa. he's got it together. ryan, he was different, he was quiet. nice kid. good kid. i mean he was definitely the challenge of the family in that house. every family has one. i have one. they have one. but never in trouble with the law. never in trouble with anything. you know. >> did you start making calls reaching out? what point did you start -- when you realized -- >> i called my husband in north carolina, i said have you heard the news? i said you need to litten to it. i was getting ready to head to the airport to pick up my college -- coming home from college. and i asked him what he knew. he heard about it but didn't know the names. so i said you need to listen to the radio on the way home. of course i lost it. this point i was hear, nancy was not only gone, pj. -- we called him pj, his name's peter -- >> we lost him. >> you just sent an e-mail? >> i did, yesterday, we had been in touch. though they divorced we were still friends. >> what were you chitchatting about? >> things in general, life, kids. what are your kids up to? >> texting. >> i sent her one yesterday before i found this out. >> when you were having these -- did she express her concerns about her son? i mean, what have you been able to put together now that you think back on who he was and the problems he was having? >> i know she had issues with school. she convenient eventually wound up home schooling him. she battled with the district. i don't know if it was behavior, learning disabilities. he was a bright boy. he was smart. >> did she share with you -- >> no, she didn't. >> no violence toward her? >> no. if he did, she wouldn't tolerate it. if they needed help they would have gotten it. they were the type of parents, even while married or separated, if the kids had a need, they would definitely fill it. >> we've just received a statement courtesy of our affiliate wfsb, a statement from the father of adam father of adam lanza who went into the school in newtown, connecticut, and killed 26 people. a statement from peter lanza, just released. our hearts go out to the family and friends who lost loved ones and to all those who were injured. our family is grieving along with all those who have been affected by this enormous tragedy. no words can truly express how heart broken we are. we are in a state of disbelief in trying to find whatever answers we can. we, too, are asking why. we have cooperated fully with law enforcement and will continue to do so. like so many of you, we are saddened and struggling to make sense of what has transpired. that have statement just coming in from peter lanza, the father of adam lanza, the shooter in this horrific, horrific case. president obama tearfully spoke about the massacre yesterday. he called for, quote, a meaningful action to prevent similar tragedy dpips didn't spell out, though, what should be done. i asked the connecticut senator, richard bloomenthal earlier today, what he expects to happen. >> we're going to go back to washington, the united states, new federal legislation needed to tighten up gun control in the united states? >> you know, wolf, that is a conversation i am going to have with my colleagues. today i'm not going to discuss it out of respect to the families. and i'm going to be back again tomorrow. but i'm going to go to washington and i'm going to raise this issue, and i think it's time for the conversation to be renewed. for the dialogue to begin again, and for the senate to consider whether that is necessary. >> let's bring in our white house correspondent briann brianna keilar. what do you see? >> president obama will be headed to newtown to speak at an interfaith vigil. he will be offering his condolences, no doubt striking a tone of uniyuan but not talking about what he sees as the solutions to avert something like this. the white house feels that they don't want to get into specifics about policies they might pursue in the wake of this tragedy. they're afraid that it would be counterproductive, that it would be inappropriate considering this tragedy just happened. but the sense that i gotten, wolf, is what president obama said yesterday should be seen very much as a pledge to do something more than just talk about this problem. and for right now, gun rights advocates are being very quiet. they are basically saying no comment. but gun control advocates are saying they want more than a vague pledge. just hours after the connecticut shooting a promise from president obama to tackle gun violence. >> we're going to have to come together and take meaningful action to be prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics. >> but what exactly does he mean by meaningful action? krit igs of the president's record on the issue are pushing for proposals. calling for meaningful action is not enough. we need immediate action. we have heard all of the rhetoric before. what we need is leadership, which we haven't gotten from the white house or the congress. as president obama ran for president in 2008, obama supported reinstating a ban on assault weapons. >> don't tell me we can't uphold the second amendment while keeping ak-47s out of the hands of criminals. >> reporter: once elected he did not make good on his campaign pledge. the brady campaign to prevent gun violence gave the president across the board f's on its report card. >> the senate will come to order order. >> reporter: a major obstacle for the president -- congress, where there's been little appetite to touch the issue. multiple bills have been introduced. not a single one has made it to the floor for a vote. those involved in the debate over guns says the president has a number of options. reinstating some fort of the assault weapons ban that expired in 1994, banning high-count magazines or improving the reporting of people with mental health issues to make sure they are disqualified from purchasing firearms. polls show americans have become accustomed to daily reports of gun deaths. friday morning a shooter killed a memory m-- memphis police officer who was a mother of four. friday night, a man shot a woman at a las vegas hotel before killing himself. early saturday morning in birmingham, alabama, police killed a gunman inside a hospital where three people were hurt. but new york congresswoman carolyn mccarthy whose husband died and son was injured when a shooter open fired on a long island train in 1993 says the connecticut shooting may be what forces president obama and congress to finally address the problem. >> let's face it, we need to have the president as the bully pull lit on trying to get something done. this time, which i saw was different, that politicians that usually don't talk about it were talking about it. so there is a difference this time around there is a difference, maybe the pendulum is turning and the country is ready to get serious about this issue. >> white house spokesman jay carney said now is the time to have sympathy for families. making it clear he doesn't think it's time to engage in a policy debate. but talking to congresswoman mccarthy today, she said when she heard that, she said she was upset and called up the white house and said what are you talking about? this is something we should have been talking about years ago. >> and brianna, i understand with' ear also getting new word about the president and his decision, as far as the next secretary of state is concerned. >> that's right, wolf. we're just finding out that president obama has decided on senator john kerry to replace hillary clinton as the secretary of state. this is coming to cnn from a democrat who spoke with kerry. and that same source says that this announcement could be made formal as early as next week. as you know, wolf, sort of the way was paved here for this to happen when u.n. ambassador susan rice withdrew her name for consideration with this post, leaving senator kerry as really the only other name that was really being discussed. >> brianna kielar at the white house. thanks very much. our coverage is going to continue at the top of the hour with anderson cooper. you'll be back tomorrow morning. i'll be back later in the day as well. we'll be gearing up for the president will be here in newtown, connecticut, tomorrow night. give us a final thought before we go. >> i think one thing that you and i have definitely seen as we have been here today, i've been talking with families that have children that were at the school. i think it's clear that this is a town forever changed, but a town that was definitely coming together to grieve and heal together. wolf? >> it will take a long time. kate, thanks very much. that does it. i'm wolf blitzer here in newtown, connecticut. cnn's coverage of this tragedy continues with a special edition of "ac:360." that's next. they've been committed to putting clients first. helping generations through tough times. good times. never taking a bailout. there when you need them. helping millions of americans over the centuries. the strength of a global financial leader. the heart of a one-to-one relationship. together for your future. ♪ have led to an increase intands toclinical depression.re. drug and alcohol abuse is up. and those dealing with grief don't have access to the professional help they need. when you see these issues, do you want to walk away or step up? with a degree in the field of counseling or psychology from capella university, you'll have the knowledge to make a difference in the lives of others. let's get started at capella.edu