The Walrus
02-10-06, 19:33
Police responded to a multiple shooting and hostage situation in eastern Lancaster County this morning at a small, one-room Amish schoolhouse, where at least six people were shot to death, according to the county coroner.
Pictures: Scene (http://www.wgal.com/news/9981693/detail.html#)
Commissioner Jeffrey Miller of the Pennsylvania state police identified the gunman as Charles Carl Roberts IV, 32, of nearby Bart, Pa. Miller said Roberts was a truck driver who delivers milk. He went to work last night and all appeared normal. Miller said he took his children to the bus stop this morning and that the last time his wife saw him was at 8:45 a.m.
Miller said Robert's wife did find what appeared to be a suicide note this morning. She tried to contact her husband. Miller said the note appeared to indicate that Roberts was getting revenge for something that happened 20 years ago, and it involved young females.
A teacher at the school called police around 10:36 a.m., saying that hostages had been taken, said Miller. Miller said officers responded and that Roberts, who was armed with an automatic handgun and a shotgun, could easily see them. Miller said Roberts had forced many of the children to line up against the blackboard and that he bound their feet with wire ties and flex cuffs. Miller said that it appears when Roberts shot the children, they were shot execution style.
Right now, Amish families are waiting at a nearby farm to find out which children survived.
News 8 reporter Anne Shannon said people who were inside the scene told her with tears in their eyes that Lancaster County has never seen a tragedy like this.
"This is definitely an enormous scene," Shannon said.
There is no word yet on how many people were shot.
The scene is along the 4800 block of Mine Road in Bart Township. Witnesses said that a man named Roy entered the schoolhouse this morning and started making threats. Some children were able to get out of the school. They ran through a meadow to a nearby farm and alerted the family there to what was happened. Police were then contacted. Negotiations took place. But at some point, at least 10 shots were fired within the school. Police said the hostage taker shot himself.
"They're all little kids," said a man who lives near the school. "I see the kids come right by my house … they're always friendly, waving, smile. They come to our house sometimes selling different goods … They're sweet kids. It just blows my mind. It's as quiet as can be out here."
Lancaster General Hospital has called in all available personnel. John Lines of Lancaster General Hospital said so far they have received three patients ranging in age from 6 to 15. All of them are in critical condition with gunshot wounds. All will be taken to other hospitals that have pediatric trauma units. The hospital is expecting to get other patients after those children are airlifted out.
Hershey Medical Center in Dauphin County has also been warned that they will be receiving a patient via airlift.
Another injured child was taken to a Reading Hospital.
Police are now searching around the school, perhaps for victims who may be hiding in nearby fields.
The schoolhouse serves about 30 students from first to eighth grade. The school is among farmlands just outside the tiny village of Nickel Mines.
*sighs* 3 school shootings in a week. What the F*** is wrong with people lately!?
It's really sad
Pictures: Scene (http://www.wgal.com/news/9981693/detail.html#)
Commissioner Jeffrey Miller of the Pennsylvania state police identified the gunman as Charles Carl Roberts IV, 32, of nearby Bart, Pa. Miller said Roberts was a truck driver who delivers milk. He went to work last night and all appeared normal. Miller said he took his children to the bus stop this morning and that the last time his wife saw him was at 8:45 a.m.
Miller said Robert's wife did find what appeared to be a suicide note this morning. She tried to contact her husband. Miller said the note appeared to indicate that Roberts was getting revenge for something that happened 20 years ago, and it involved young females.
A teacher at the school called police around 10:36 a.m., saying that hostages had been taken, said Miller. Miller said officers responded and that Roberts, who was armed with an automatic handgun and a shotgun, could easily see them. Miller said Roberts had forced many of the children to line up against the blackboard and that he bound their feet with wire ties and flex cuffs. Miller said that it appears when Roberts shot the children, they were shot execution style.
Right now, Amish families are waiting at a nearby farm to find out which children survived.
News 8 reporter Anne Shannon said people who were inside the scene told her with tears in their eyes that Lancaster County has never seen a tragedy like this.
"This is definitely an enormous scene," Shannon said.
There is no word yet on how many people were shot.
The scene is along the 4800 block of Mine Road in Bart Township. Witnesses said that a man named Roy entered the schoolhouse this morning and started making threats. Some children were able to get out of the school. They ran through a meadow to a nearby farm and alerted the family there to what was happened. Police were then contacted. Negotiations took place. But at some point, at least 10 shots were fired within the school. Police said the hostage taker shot himself.
"They're all little kids," said a man who lives near the school. "I see the kids come right by my house … they're always friendly, waving, smile. They come to our house sometimes selling different goods … They're sweet kids. It just blows my mind. It's as quiet as can be out here."
Lancaster General Hospital has called in all available personnel. John Lines of Lancaster General Hospital said so far they have received three patients ranging in age from 6 to 15. All of them are in critical condition with gunshot wounds. All will be taken to other hospitals that have pediatric trauma units. The hospital is expecting to get other patients after those children are airlifted out.
Hershey Medical Center in Dauphin County has also been warned that they will be receiving a patient via airlift.
Another injured child was taken to a Reading Hospital.
Police are now searching around the school, perhaps for victims who may be hiding in nearby fields.
The schoolhouse serves about 30 students from first to eighth grade. The school is among farmlands just outside the tiny village of Nickel Mines.
*sighs* 3 school shootings in a week. What the F*** is wrong with people lately!?
It's really sad