A shooting rampage in Connecticut, Friday morning, Dec. 14, left 27 people dead at an elementary school, including 20 children and the shooter, according to reports. 

Newtown Patch reports this exclusive:

The man identified in media reports Friday as the shooter has told friends that he thinks his developmentally disabled brother may have committed the crime, Patch has learned.

A close friend of Ryan Lanza who would not be identified told Patch that he spoke to Lanza as Lanza made his way home from work to Hoboken. Lanza also took to his Facebook page to rail against CNN naming him as the suspect in the shooting in Newtown, Conn.

Check Newtown Patch for updates in the school shooting.

Cumming Patch asked Forsyth County Schools what policies and measures are in place within local schools to prevent such a tragedy here. The following statement was e-mailed to us:

The terrible tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut serves as a reminder to our entire community about the importance of school safety.

Emergency response plans, which have been developed in partnership with our community’s first responders, are in place at each of our Forsyth County schools.

Each school regularly practices emergency response drills, and we continually evaluate our safety and security procedures. Our school counselors and other administrators will be available for students throughout the week if they have questions or concerns.

A good parent resource that will help with conversations about school shootings is located at http://www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/teaching-tolerance/school-shootings-the-conversation-you-need-to-have-with-your-kids/

Please continue to keep the Newtown community in your thoughts and prayers.

What do you think? Could this kind of shooting happen here in Forsyth County? What can be done to prevent a tragedy like this?

You might also be interested in reading:

27 Dead in Connecticut School Shooting

CT School Shooting: How to Discuss with Your Children

Liz Kennedy contributed to this article.