Newtown shooter's mom buried in private service, source tells NBC Nancy Lanza is being described by a family member as a "survivalist," and someone who owned a collection of guns. Nancy Lanza is the mother of Connecticut shooter Adam Lanza. NBC's Chris Jansing reports. A private funeral was held Thursday for the mother of the gunman who killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., a New Hampshire police source told NBC News. The service for Nancy Lanza, who was shot by her son Adam just before the school rampage last Friday, was attended by about two dozen family members in New Hampshire, her previous home state, the source said. Her brother is a retired police captain in Kingston, N.H. The service was held as more children and teachers killed at the school were buried on Thursday.