Newtown shooter motivated by Norway massacre: source

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BEIJING, Feb. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- Adam Lanza, who killed 26 people in Connecticut of the United States last year, was motivated by a Norwegian mass murderer.

Police sources told the media Monday that the 20-year old Lanza was obsessed with Anders Breivik, who murdered 77 people in July 2011.

Lanza believed that he was in a direct competition with Breivik. He intended to exceed Breivik's death toll. Lanza targeted nearby Sandy Hook Elementary School because it was the "easiest target" with the "largest cluster of people," the source noted.

On Dec. 14 of last year, Lanza killed his mother before carrying out the shooting rampage. He sprayed two classrooms with bullets and killed 20 first graders and six adults.

Unlike Breivik, who surrendered, Lanza turned the gun to himself as police closed in.

Officials have not publicly revealed what led them to the motive, but sources said that Lanza was indulged in playing violent video games.

The police said they found a "trove" of video games from the basement of Lanza's home, where he would spend countless hours alone in a private gaming room with the windows blacked out, honing his computer shooting skills.

Police said he used three weapons in shooting massacre, all registered to his mother Nancy Lanza, and shot his mother with a fourth weapon.

The Connecticut State Police said that the investigation has not finished and that any statements about Lanza's intentions were just speculation.

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