Update!

Connecticut School Shooting: Syfy Pulls Violent Haven Episode in Wake of Newtown Tragedy

Episode featuring havoc in a high school will be replaced tonight with holiday-themed ep of Eureka

By Natalie Finn Dec 15, 2012 1:04 AMTags
Lucas Bryant, Eric Balfour, Emily Rose, HavenMichael Tompkins/Syfy

The entertainment business is doing its best to accommodate the national mood in the wake of the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School today in Newton, Conn.

Syfy is pulling a new episode of the drama Haven from its schedule tonight in favor of a repeat of last year's animated, holiday-themed episode of Eureka.

On what would have been tonight's Haven, an episode titled "Reunion," Lucas Bryant's Nathan and Eric Balfour's Duke go back to their high school to catch a killer who, per the network's description, is "wreaking havoc" at an alumni reunion.

"Tonight's scheduled 10 p.m. episode of Haven contained scenes of fictitious violence in a high school," Syfy said in a statement. "In light of today's tragedy in Newtown, Conn., we have decided not to air it. At this time, no decision has been made as to when the episode will air."

The show's third-season finale is slated to air Dec. 21. (Syfy and E! Online are both members of the NBCUniversal family.)

This morning in Newtown, 20 children and seven adults (including the shooter) were killed when a gunman opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary. Per NBC News, officials have now positively identified the shooter as 20-year-old Adam Lanza, several hours after the perpetrator was reported to be his brother, Ryan Lanza, 24, who is now being questioned by authorities.

ABC, one of many networks putting together additional prime-time reports about the shooting, is preempting a Barbara Walters interview with President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama with a special newscast about the shootings to be anchored by Diane Sawyer and Chris Cuomo.

UPDATE: SyFy will air the pulled episode, along with the season three finale, on Thursday, Jan. 17. The network issued a statement regarding the rescheduled episode: "Last Friday's 10 p.m. episode of Haven contained scenes of fictitious violence in a high school setting and in light of the recent tragedy, we have decided to reschedule it along with the series' season three finale, originally slated to air this Friday, Dec. 21 at 10 p.m. The final two episodes of Season three will now air back-to-back on Thursday, Jan. 17, from 8 to 10 p.m. ET, to maintain the integrity of the series' serialized nature."

(Originally published Fri., Dec. 14, 2012 5:04 PM PST)