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Adam Lanza Idealized Anders Breivik, The Norwegian Who Killed 77 People In 2011

Danielle Tarasiuk |
February 19, 2013 | 12:03 p.m. PST

Executive Producer

 

According to a law enforcement source, Adam Lanza, who killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School last December was inspired by Anders Breivik, the Norwegian man who killed 77 people in a series of attacks, including a shooting spree at a summer camp. 

CBS reported that Lanza wanted to top Breivik and chose Sandy Hook Elementary School because it was the “easiest target with the largest cluster of people.” 

Psychological evidence suggests that Lanza was likely enacting fantasies from a violent video game and saw the death of his targets as another point added to his score. 

Sources say that Lanza would spend hours in his mother’s basement, where he blacked out the windows, playing violent video games and practicing his virtual shooting skills. 

But unlike his imagined competitor Breivik, who surrendered, Lanza shot and killed himself as police approached. 

Read the full story here. 

 

Email Danielle Tarasiuk here or follow her on Twitter. 



 

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