Sandy Hook Shooting: 26 or 27 Victims?

Adam Lanza shot and killed 27 people before turning the gun on himself Friday in Newtown, Conn., but most tributes and conversations in the days following have focused specifically on the number 26.

The fact our entire school just took 26 seconds of silence for the life's taken in Connecticut >>> ?

- Emily (@em_bracelife) December 17, 2012

Many of those tributes have failed to count Lanza's mother, Nancy, as a victim of her son's crimes. According to police, Nancy was shot in the face in her home by Adam on the day of the school shootings. Adam Lanza then went to Sandy Hook Elementary School, where he shot 26 others, including 20 children.

Twenty-six flares were sent into the sky at the NFL football game between the New England Patriots against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday night, in honor of those killed inside Sandy Hook school.

26-second moment of silence w/ 26 flares for the victims in Newtown at Gillette tonight instagr.am/p/TUbvsHv8bD/

- New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 17, 2012

And Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy has asked churches to ring 26 bells during a moment of silence around the state and country this Friday.

But for many people, the exclusion of Nancy Lanza as a victim of the shooting in many counts and speeches has seemed inappropriate or wrong.

@ lizdahlemnbcct Why hasn't Nancy Lanza been included in anyone's speeches as a victim? Everyone says 26 victims when it should be 27 victims

- Tony Granato (@LTtonyg) December 17, 2012

A lot of people are forgetting a victim of the sandy hill tragedy Nancy Lanza.Her life was taken from her and she deserves to be remembered

- Mika Glogowski (@eeka_mika) December 17, 2012

Nancy Lanza, 52, is believed to have owned the guns that Adam Lanza used in the attack.