Adam Lanza: Motive Behind Newton School Shooting Still Unclear?

By Staff Reporter | Dec 20, 2012 10:17 AM EST

The motive of the 20-year-old gunman who opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newton, Connecticut, killing 20 children and six adults, is still a matter of ambiguity, despite rumors that he was upset that his mother wanted to commit him into a mental institute against his will.

 On Tuesday, Joshua Flashman, son of a pastor at Beacon Hill Evangelical Free Church in nearby Monroe, told Fox News reporters, "From what I've been told, Adam was aware of her petitioning the court for conservatorship and (her) plans to have him committed...Adam was apparently very upset about this. He thought she just wanted to send him away. From what I understand, he was really, really angry. I think this could have been it, what set him off," as reported by New York Daily News.

Richard Flashman, Joshua's father, released a statement as soon as Fox News ran the story, clarifying that his son's comments were not based on any factual evidence. "As the Fox News article indicates, the information Josh spoke to them about was hearsay and not confirmed. I suggest you do not run with the story. I am perplexed why Fox would run with it in the first place," as reported by NY Daily News.

There were also rumors regarding his mother Nancy Lanza's close ties to the school that might have triggered a jealous outrage, however police have denied such insinuations saying that the mother had "no connections to the school." Police say Lanza shot his 52-year-old mother to death with four semi-automatic rifles, all registered under his mother name.

Lanza then made way to the school where he shot six adults, and 20 children of ages six and seven, after which he shot himself. The weapons used in the school shooting were ther same semi-automatic, legally registered weapons.

Police say that investigation as to his motives are still under way.

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