E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSOnly one child made it out alive of a first-grade classroom at Sandy Hook Elementary School last week — by fooling the gunman into thinking she was dead, the family's pastor says.
NBC News
The Rev. Jim Solomon, seen speaking at an interfaith vigil for the Connecticut shooting victims Dec. 16, 2012, in Newton, Conn., said the little girl 'has wisdom beyond her years.'
The little girl, who is 6½ years old but hasn't otherwise been identified, "ran out of the school building covered in blood from head to toe, and the first words she said to her mom when she got outside was, 'Mommy, I'm OK, but all of my friends are dead,'" the Rev. Jim Solomon, pastor of New Hope Community Church in Newtown, Conn., told ABC News in a report that aired Sunday.
"Of those who were left in the classroom of first graders, she was the lone survivor," Solomon said. (Law enforcement officials and witnesses say seven pupils survived in a second classroom by hiding in a closet.)
"Somehow, in that moment, by God's grace she was able to act as if she was already deceased," said Solomon, who spoke at the community interfaith vigil Sunday night on the same program as President Barack Obama.
Solomon said the little girl couldn't have survived "outside of divine intervention."
"She has wisdom beyond her years," he said.
The girl's parents were understandably relieved and grateful, Solomon said, but her mother told him "she was suffering from what she called 'survivor's guilt,' because so many of their friends no longer have their children, but she has hers."
Watch US News videos on NBCNews.com
Solomon couldn't be reached for comment Monday, and NBC News hasn't been able to verify his account.
More content from NBCNews.com:
- Obama at vigil for school victims reassures Newtown 'you are not alone'
- Police: Second person injured in Connecticut school shooting survived
- Video: After Sandy Hook shooting, schools address safety
- Snow storms forecast for parts of New England, Northwest
- Authorities probe report of swimmer riding sperm whale that died off Fla. coast
Leave a Comment:
...and they used a tax-payer owned school building to listen to prayer and the word of God!
Seriously....you have a problem with that? In the midst of all that happened there that's all you can say....
It was the rest of my first post (at the end of page 1)!
Kids are so smart!
We use armed guards to guard our money, jewelry stores and malls use them, so why not use them in our schools?
A year after I graduated, they put metal detectors in. I think that should be mandatory for all schools.
I've been making that same argument for a while now.
Banks have vaults, silent buttons, and security.
We as a society care more about our financial assets more than we do our children.
I agree. I think it is time to put some sort of security Officer in place. It will be expensive, but worth it in the end. The problem being. If these shooters realize that there are security officers at the schools will they start hitting daycares or some other "Soft Target". That's the problem with life there just never seems to be one answer that is completely right. I do agree with the idea of security measures. I don't however want to arm all the teachers. Let them focus on teaching.
Easy answer. Children don't have a defined value. You don't children as if they are diamonds and jewelry, you treat them as children. The cost to put armed guards at every school would be outrageously large and taxpayers wouldn't want anything to do with that.
This shooting happened at this elementary school once. There are thousands upon thousands of elementary schools out there, and only a few will ever need an armed guard. It's just impractical.
What a brave little person. My prayers to this child. To bad there wasn"t at least one teacher who had a gun on Friday to stop the murderer.
Oh Grandma, carrying a gun in an elementary school, no, what if the monster got to that teacher first with a burst of rapid fire bullets, what about more collateral damage, no there is a better way.
Agreed, skyparrot. "You can't solve a problem with the same mind that created it." Albert Einstein
so we should leave them to fend for themselves? 1/21 = .0476...chance of survival
Let's arm the kids too. We really need more guns. Guns for everyone, Guns for nuns!
john - As much as I hate it, if someone at the school was armed to stop a horrific situation such as this one, then I am for someone carrying a gun.
How would you solve it? Obviously, we don't know when a mentally disturbed person, or if a mentally disturbed person will go over the bend.
When implimenting an armed officer at the schools you would make it well known that you where doing it. The hopes are not for a shoot out, but to deter the shooter from ever entering. Noone wants a shoot out at a school. Skyparrot you say there is a better way and I totally agree an armed officer at schools is not ideal, but I cannot think of a better idea.
Amazing, this girls intuition had to be taught somewhere. Most children that age do not have the mental capacity to understand how to deal with such a situation (heck almost ALL adults don't either) let alone react in the manner that she did.
An amazing child without a doubt.
Cheryl, please dear we don't need to turn our schools into armed camps, we need to address prudent methods to ensure that this never ever happens again., i.e., bullet proof glass, reinforced doors, auto lock class rooms, instant notification to law enforcement, such as banks use and of course we have to find ways to help the mentally ill, and control the killing machines that reeked all that damage. Armed teachers and fortresses are not the answer, living in fear and as hostages to that fear is unacceptable.
Knowing that the little one survived has eased my hurt heart, I know her family will hold her close. I still weep for the ones taken. America will never be the same and I do believe neither will I.
In our city we have a police task force that is directly assigned to school security. They are so embedded into our public schools with massive resources that our school violence has decreased dramatically. In fact several school shooting attempts have been thwarted in 2012 with one recently within my children's school district.
Our security implementations have been working and in this day and age it absolutely blows my mind why more school districts haven't adopted the same principles and policies especially when there are literally no reasons not to do whatever it takes to protect our children.
Border, we had them too in the High Schools, a permanent resource officer, pretty peaceful place and the school wasn't that big, in this case I can honestly say I do not know whether it would have made any difference, maybe it would have, I guess it would have depended on who shot who first, a firefight in the halls of an elementary school is too awful to contemplate too. Aw jeez.
I agree, an armed officer with a 9mm against someone with an AR carbine loaded with a 30 round magazine wouldn't be much of a challenge if the shooter was well trained in tactics.
What we have seen however is presence alone has created a deterrent. When someone knows (such as in a bank) if there are armed security officers chances are likely they'll look to another bank. Armed security can slow down the progress and even call in for support. As we have all seen seconds count in such situations and so long as you have someone firing back, those seconds can turn into minutes allowing for back up to arrive. We're also talking about children shooters here. Most if not all aren't prepared for a scenario where they're being attacked themselves.
We have also learned that by embedding police task forces law enforcement can detect threats early on. Education is handed down to the teachers and counselors who can recognize these threats (children that is) before they can act. That was the case of my children's school district. They found evidence and acted proactively. And it worked.
I'm not saying that security is 100% fool proof, but so far in our experience it's been working.
The Rev. Solomon is a liar for Jesus. I'm glad the child is ok, but it's hideous to suggest to her, a child, that God spared her while letting her friends die.
This is the 21st century. We know now, through reason and science, that the killer had a broken brain. It's her parents decision what to say to her, not a Liar for Jesus.
God didn't cause those children to die, the crazed gunman killed them. God didn't spare this little girl, but her intelligence allowed her to save herself. I am a believer in God. I don't believe that this was part of His plan for any of the victims' lives and trying to figure out what place divine intervention has in the lives of men with free will is still a little difficult for me at times...
The only thing I thing of when folks bring up God and this horrific tragedy is the quote from Epicurus on God.
Robyn,
I think you're just making things up. You're pretending to know things you don't know. I obviously don't know you, but your words, as they stand, are ridiculous. Again, this is not an attack on you, just your words.
Borderlands, I couldn't agree more.
Atheist,
This robin person sounds right up your alley, so why are you putting them down? Robin has a secular viewpoint on the situation despite believing in God. Religion is fine as long as people don't blindly follow everything without thinking.
What Rev. Solomon said seems patently hypocritical. As one poster pointed out, "Are you saying God chose to protect this one girl??? One of the strongest tenets of Rev. Solomon's religon is that God imbued man with free will. For God to intervine would be to negate that free will. I can agree that most people will pray to God to grant these victims and their families comfort and peace and that seems resonable. To put it in proper perspective: how do you feel when you see an athlete after a contest thank God for the victory. God cares about football?????? God liked one team more that the other??? To suggest that God saved this one child is to curse the other families with tormant and guilt for the rest of their lives. All must find their own way of grieving that brings comfort to them, if that is even possible.
god hates the philly eagles this year.
All that pastor is telling the other parents is that their children were not special enough to be saved by God. That's a horrific message to send. SHUT UP, Pastor.
Bingo.
"She has wisdom beyond her years," he said.
Yeah, it's called instinct. By needlessly invoking god you diminish the virtues of this girl.
Thank goodness this little girl was spared her life ... may she recover from this horror and live it to the fullest. And may our collective hopes and prayers guide the others to the eternal peace where those who have gone before are waiting. Some day they will all be reunited with their family members yet to make that final journey.
If these suffering families believe that Batman will save them, I would say nothing. I cannot imagine what they are going through and I would think: Great, whatever gets you through the night.
I prefer not to be lied to. I know, I know, I'm silly that way.
Wow, playing possum works on humans too! What a smart little girl.
Tell me something, why is it that all you atheist have to slam people that do believe in God? I haven't seen anyone on these sites in the last few days that do believe in God slam any of you that don't. If you had something in your hearts but cold nothingness like what you want when you die maybe you wouldn't make cold hateful statements to people that do have something in their hearts. I am Christian and I have buried a child and unborn grandchild and if it enables me to go on with life believing that I will be reunited with my daughter how is that hurting you. If as you say there is no God and no afterlife it will make no difference because my death will not affect you in any way. How does my believing in God have anything to do with your life? No one forces you to believe and no one forces you to become a member of any church so why do you have to be so nasty to people that have God in their hearts? Again, how does what I believe have any negative effect on you?
And in response. Why do you find it important to force your "beliefs" on others? We understand that you "believe" your religion and what it teaches. Use it for yourself then.
I believe in God, or the universe. I do not, however, believe the myths from the Bible or Preachers. They are myths and stories - none of which make any sense whatsoever.
Gardenlady
You may be too emotional to have a discussion with about this issue. When you settle down, go through the posts you knee-jerk don't like and give me an example of this "nastiness" you are talking about.
Evidently she was given a window of time to think about playing dead, others did not have the chance. He mowed down everyone standing. Her life was obviously spared because of her quick thinking but God intervening I'm not so sure of that.Maybe when she grows up and does something noteable we will look back and say this is why she was saved and God knew she would be needed in the future. Who Knows?
I'm in agreement with Rick. Why would god save this girl and not the rest? God is the biggest excuse of our times. I'll side with science and reason any day. Those have served us with more answers and solutions than any god.
I guess If I were desperate to find God in this I might look here too.
The story of the little girl needs to be confirmed. IMHO the pastor is full of it when he gave credit to God.
God Bless this sweet child and help her and her family to overcome the traumatic events of last friday. Take all of those lost to your bosom and help comfort the families in time of need.
God, please help us. We are lost without you. I know that many have marginalized you, thinking that they can do it all on their own. Once I was one of those who denied you but I know now your presence and am happier for it. Please show yourself to the rest of this country and indeed, the rest of the world. Senseless violence is getting worse and only you can stop it. Amen
SO VERY glad she is alive.
Let's be careful with our words, though. Saying things like "Divine intervention" and praising "How Smart" she is (may have been just simple luck) could be adding pain to the loved ones of the children who died.
SO HAPPY she survived.
Let's leave it at that.
The gun lobby will say "Don't restrict guns. Teach the art of playing dead instead".
Whether that comes from the gun lobby or not, apparently.... it did work.
But not so well for the other 20.
It's all a matter of faith, nothing more and nothing less. If those who are seeking comfort and want to believe it was divine intervention, let them believe. Right now they just need something to hold on to, and that something is their faith! Since many no longer have their children to hold on to, their faith is all they have left! Anything to allow them respite from the pain. They have my sincere sympathy.
Thanks God, great job there.
Pastor says it was divine intervention that little girl survived. So I guess that means it was divine intervention that the other 19 be slaughtered. Living in a fantasy world is not an answer. Just be happy one child survived.