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An American flag flies at half-staff over the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 14, 2012, in honor of the Connecticut elementary school shooting victims. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Washington -  House Speaker John Boehner has ordered flags at the U.S. Capitol lowered because of the shootings at a Connecticut elementary school that claimed 26 victims, including 18 children.

In a tweet, the Ohio Republican said he issued the order “in tribute to families and victims” at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

The killings appeared to be the second deadliest school massacre in the country’s history, with only the 2007 killings at Virginia Tech claiming more victims — 32 plus the gunman.

A law enforcement official said the gunman shot himself to death.

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