The Slatest

Read the rest of Slate’s coverage of the Sandy Hook school shooting.

While the world watched news of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary unfold, it seems Peter Lanza only found out about his connection to the tragic events several hours later. Moments after police left Peter Lanza’s home in Stamford, Conn., around 40 miles from Newtown, Conn., where the shooting took place, Adam Lanza's father drove up in a blue Mini Cooper. The Stamford Advocate’s Maggie Gordon was waiting outside and when she introduced herself as a reporter she was immediately surprised he didn’t seem to realize why a reporter would want to talk to him.

“So I continued, explaining that I'd been told someone at his address had been linked to the shootings in Newtown,” writes Gordon. “His expression twisted from patient, to surprise to horror; it was obvious that this moment, shortly after 1:30 p.m. Friday, was the first time he had considered his family could have been involved.” Peter Lanza quickly declined to comment and went into his house. Peter and Nancy Lanza divorced in 2009 after 28 years of marriage due to “irreconcilable differences,” according to court records. Adam Lanza was 17 at the time. Peter Lanza is a vice president of taxes for GE Energy Financial Services, according to his LinkedIn profile.