Ryan Lanza Facebook HOAX: Hacker Posts Bogus, Victimized Facebook Chat Impersonating Newtown School Shooting Gunman Adam Lanza's Brother

On Friday, December 14 at approximately 9:40 a.m., 20-year-old Adam Lanza shot his way into the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut - ultimately killing 20 young students (ages 6-7) and six faculty members. On Saturday, Dec. 22, an imposter claiming to be Adam's older brother, 24-year-old Ryan Lanza, conducted a Facebook chat with the popular news outlet the New York Post, claiming that he was also a victim of the devastating crime since he lost both his mother (Nancy Lanza) and brother in the tragic shootings. Updated reports now confirm that a Facebook hacker actually posted all of the messages in the Post story - not Ryan Lanza. Since the heartfelt social media interview, a spokesperson for the Lanza family has spoken out, insisting that the man quoted was an impersonator and therefore the entire chat was bogus.

In the Post interview, the supposed brother of the troubled Newtown school shooting gunman states:

"I am a victim... I loss [sic] my mom and brother."

He then posted two tribute photo collages... one dedicated to Adam, and the other dedicated to his slain 52-year-old mother. Under each photo clip he posted "R.I.P. I will miss you bro. I will always love you as long as I live" and "I miss you mom. I love you so much. You will be always in my heart" (respectively).

The posts appear very convincing, but if Mstarz readers notice, these two pictures of Adam and Nancy Lanza are two of only a few images that have remained circulating on the web since the devastating shootings. Any hacker could have gotten ahold of them and posted a bogus photo tribute in Ryan Lanza's name.

The Ryan Lanza impostor continued expressing his grievances on Facebook, posting - "You all will be truly be missed. God Bless."

The impersonator even responds to a Facebook post where one individual states that Adam Lanza "should rot in hell" because he is the "scum of the earth." The alleged hacker writes - "I am so tired of people blaming me for something my brother did. I love Adam, his [sic] my brother... But you have no right to call my brother names when he isn't here no more. Just let my brother rest in peace. Please. Respect that... He is calling my brother a monster when he don't even know him."

Ryan Lanza, who lives in Hoboken, NJ, was thoroughly questioned by the police following the heartbreaking shootings in Connecticut. Authorities initially and wrongfully identified Ryan as the gunman, because Adam was carrying his brother's I.D. at the time of the tragedy.

The "official" Ryan Lanza Facebook page that supposedly got hacked has yet to be deactivated. Lanza's personal description reads:

"I am Ryan Lanza. I am 24 years old. Yes, I am the brother of Adam Lanza. My brother killed 20 kids and 6 adults.  Adam even killed our mother, Nancy. Everyone is saying that I am the shooter but I'm not. I wouldn't NEVER do that in my life. I am 100% innocent. I didn't know my brother would this. I am truly sad about what happen. I wish it didn't happen. I'm so sorry... I don't like to talk about my brother, my mom or the innocent victims of Sandy Hook. Please don't ask me about my brother. And why he this either. Please, respect my wishes."

Sounds a little suspicious.

Ryan also supposedly joined a number of Facebook support groups including "Support Ryan Lanza" and "Clear Ryan Lanza's Name."

Considering how easy it is to impersonate someone online these days, social media outlets should take extra precautions to make sure that the person they are gettting information from is indeed that actual person (expecially given the tenderness and solemnity of this specific subject). The Lanza family heatedly denies that the real Ryan posted any of the Post messages.

Here is the New York Post's original Ryan Lanza "interview."

Rest In Peace:

Mary Sherlach, 56; Nancy Lanza, 52; Anne Marie Murphy, 52; Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung, 47 (principal); Lauren Rousseau, 30; Rachel Davino, 29; Victoria Soto, 27; Daniel Barden, 7; Josephine Gay, 7; Chase Kowalski, 7; Grace McDonnell, 7; Charlotte Bacon, 6; Emilie Parker, 6; Olivia Engel, 6; Ana Marquez-Greene, 6; Dylan Hockley, 6; Madeleine Hsu, 6; Catherine Hubbard, 6; Jesse Lewis, 6; James Mattioli, 6; Jack Pinto, 6; Noah Pozner, 6; Caroline Previdi, 6; Jessica Rekos, 6; Avielle Richman, 6; Benjamin Wheeler, 6; Allison Wyatt, 6.

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