Six-year-old Caroline Phoebe Boo Previdi, a White female, was a joyful and compassionate first-grader at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Born in Danbury, Connecticut, on September 9, 2006, she was a lifetime resident of Sandy Hook. Known for her infectious smile that brought happiness to everyone she touched, Caroline had a passion for drawing and dancing.
Her friends and teachers remembered her as a caring child who always wanted to make sure everyone was okay, often offering a hug or holding a hand to comfort others. A neighbor fondly recalled how Caroline would sit with her son on the school bus to ease his fears, playing peek-a-boo to make him laugh, earning her the nickname "Silly Caroline."
On the morning of December 14, 2012, Caroline went to school for what should have been an ordinary day. However, the school became the target of a horrific mass shooting. The perpetrator, 20-year-old Adam Lanza, forced his way into the building and opened fire. He moved through the school, targeting classrooms, and in a short amount of time, he fatally shot 20 first-grade students and six adult staff members. Caroline was among the children who lost their lives in the attack.
Before arriving at the school, the shooter had fatally shot his mother at their home. The weapons he used in the school massacre were legally owned by his mother. As first responders arrived at Sandy Hook Elementary, the gunman took his own life, ending the rampage. An investigation into the tragedy concluded that the shooter acted alone, and with the sole perpetrator deceased, no arrests were made. The motive behind his devastating actions was never determined. The investigation is officially closed, leaving a community to mourn the senseless loss of innocent lives, including that of a little girl who loved to dance and share her joy with the world.
