NEWTOWN, Conn. — President Barack Obama has arrived in Newtown, Conn., to console families, thank first responders and speak at a vigil in memory of the 26 teachers and schoolchildren killed during a shooting spree at an elementary school Friday.
This is the fourth trip of Obama's presidency to a grieving city in the aftermath of a mass shooting.
In his remarks, Obama will be addressing not only the residents of Newtown, but also a stunned nation. A White House official said Obama is the primary author of his speech and edited his remarks on the flight to Connecticut with White House speechwriter Cody Keenan.
Keenan helped Obama write his speech last year following the shootings in Tucson, Ariz., that killed six and wounded 13, including Rep. Gabby Giffords.