Not long after Friday's shooting rampage at a Connecticut elementary school, media outlets began reporting the gunman's identity as 24-year-old Ryan Lanza of Hoboken, N.J.
His name and image quickly spread worldwide as the perpetrator of the nation's second-deadliest school shooting. Facebook and Twitter lit up as people vented their fury at the man they believed was responsible.
In reality, Ryan Lanza was at work in New York City when the gunman opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., some 60 miles away, and a law enforcement official later identified his 20-year-old brother, Adam Lanza, as the culprit.
Ryan Lanza was interviewed by investigators but is not believed to have any connection to the killings. He told officials he'd had no contact with his brother since 2010.
The Associated Press, relying on a law enforcement official who turned out to be mistaken, initially reported Ryan Lanza was the shooter. Many other media outlets also reported as such, citing law enforcement officials.
Once he realized he'd been identified as the perpetrator, Lanza evidently whipped out his mobile device and began posting a quick succession of denials on Facebook, according to screen grabs purportedly taken from his Facebook page and posted online.
"IT WASN'T ME I WAS AT WORK IT WASN'T ME," said one message. Then, two minutes later: "I'm on the bus home now it wasn't me." Finally, three minutes after that, he posted an obscenity and repeated, "it wasn't me," the screen grabs showed.
A friend of Lanza's, former Jersey Journal newspaper staff writer Brett Wilshe, told the AP he "got really scared" when he began hearing the media reports about Ryan Lanza, and sent him a message on Facebook asking what was going on and if he was OK.
Lanza's reply, according to Wilshe, was something like: "It was my brother. I think my mother is dead. Oh my God."
Wilshe said he met Ryan Lanza through mutual friends and hung out with him about once a month.
"I really enjoy his company because he's a great guy," Wilshe said. He said Lanza never mentioned his brother, though "I didn't know him well enough to have gotten to know his family."
Katie Colaneri, 24, a radio reporter from Hoboken, said she met Ryan Lanza about a year and a half ago through mutual friends, and described him as "the nicest guy." She last saw him at a community meeting after Superstorm Sandy, and they spoke of how he had been without power for several days.
When she heard his name, she said, it left her in "absolute shock, and I could not fathom what I was hearing."
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Associated Press writer Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pa., contributed to this report.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:10 AM EDT2013-05-22 12:10:21 GMT
Commuter rail service from Connecticut to New York City, along with Amtrak service between Boston and New York, was back on schedule Wednesday morning on one of the nation's oldest and most heavily traveled railways.
Commuter rail service from Connecticut to New York City, along with Amtrak service between Boston and New York, was back on schedule Wednesday morning on one of the nation's oldest and most heavily traveled railways.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:06 AM EDT2013-05-21 10:06:47 GMT
Looking for some waterfront property in tony Greenwich? A 50-acre compound known as Copper Beach Farm has hit the market with an asking price of $190 million.
Looking for some waterfront property in tony Greenwich? A 50-acre compound known as Copper Beach Farm has hit the market with an asking price of $190 million.
Monday, May 20 2013 5:58 AM EDT2013-05-20 09:58:10 GMT
The Connecticut Department of Transportation and Metro-North Railroad released the following information regarding service on the New Haven commuter rail line
The Connecticut Department of Transportation and Metro-North Railroad released the following information regarding service on the New Haven commuter rail line
Sunday, May 19 2013 8:05 PM EDT2013-05-20 00:05:54 GMT
Amtrak announced Sunday night that service remains suspended between New York and New Haven, with limited Amtrak service available between Boston and New Haven.
Amtrak announced Sunday night that service remains suspended between New York and New Haven, with limited Amtrak service available between Boston and New Haven.
Sunday, May 19 2013 12:24 AM EDT2013-05-19 04:24:33 GMT
Officials in Connecticut say it was amazing that there were no fatalities or more injuries after two Metro-North trains collided around 6 p.m. in Fairfield Friday evening.
Officials in Connecticut say it was amazing that there were no fatalities or more injuries after two Metro-North trains collided around 6 p.m. in Fairfield Friday evening.
Friday, May 17 2013 9:35 AM EDT2013-05-17 13:35:33 GMT
Danbury's police chief says four officers have violated the city's police rules governing rudeness and civility during a routine traffic stop and that the matter has been referred to state prosecutors.
Danbury's police chief says four officers have violated the city's police rules governing rudeness and civility during a routine traffic stop and that the matter has been referred to state prosecutors.
Thursday, May 16 2013 2:49 PM EDT2013-05-16 18:49:22 GMT
Powerball's estimated jackpot has soared to $550 Million dollars for Saturday's drawing after none of the tickets sold for the Powerball game Wednesday evening matched all six numbers drawn.
Powerball's estimated jackpot has soared to $550 Million dollars for Saturday's drawing after none of the tickets sold for the Powerball game Wednesday evening matched all six numbers drawn.
Tuesday, January 8 2013 5:14 PM EST2013-01-08 22:14:16 GMT
The sound of bells echoed through grief-stricken Newtown, Connecticut, Tuesday. More than 1,000 brightly ornamented bells were hung throughout the town by volunteers.
The sound of bells echoed through grief-stricken Newtown, Connecticut, Tuesday. More than 1,000 brightly ornamented bells were hung throughout the town by volunteers.
