Posted on 10/02/2006 9:16:45 AM PDT by DCBryan1
Edited on 10/02/2006 12:55:46 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
Developing....
School Shooting injures one person,
Hostage situation may be developing.
Update: Multiple Shooting Victims and Possible Hostages in Lancaster County
Not many details available yet, but an incident has been reported from Mine Rd. in Bart Township in Lancaster County involving multiple gunshot victims. Dennis Buterbaugh reports live from our newsroom. abc27 has a news crew on the way. We will update with details as they become available.
Update 2: Pennsylvania Police: Amish School is 'Horrendous Crime Scene' After Shooting
NICKEL MINES, Pa. — At least two female students and one slightly older female — who may have been a teacher's aide — were shot and killed execution style in what police say may be a revenge killing for something that happened 20 years ago.
State Police Commissioner Jeffrey Miller said Monday that truck driver Charles Carl Roberts IV entered the one-room Amish schoolhouse in earlier in the day. The gunman brought in pieces of wood to board up the doors to the building when he entered the school. He also stacked desks against the building's doors.
"It appears that the suspect entered school with the intention of taking hostages," Miller said.
Roberts had wire ties and plastic flex cuff, which he used to begin tying the hostages feet together after they were lined up along a blackboard. He let go 15 male students, as well as one adult female who was pregnant. Three other non-student females with infants were also allowed to leave. One shotgun and one handgun was found next to the suspect when police entered the building.
"It seems as though he wanted to attack young, female victims," Miller said.
After a half hour inside, Roberts began shooting. When the gunfire stopped, three females were found shot dead at the scene, along with the suspect, who shot himself, Miller said. At least seven more victims — some critically wounded — were transported to nearby hospitals, he said. One victim, a young girl, died in the arms of a trooper, Miller said. He could not confirm how many people died en route or at the hospital. The county coroner earlier reported six children killed but then backed off of that statement.
What is important is for us to *not* apply our "English" sensibilities to the Amish culture. When I saw all the pics of the Amish around the school, I cringed, They do not like to be photographed. I hope the community is strong enough, and the county/state wise enough, to resist the instant influx of "helpers" that will descend on them.
I'm somewhat familiar with that area. Nickel Mines is just west of a town called Gap, PA. A road in my home county in Delaware is called the Newport-Gap Pike, and I've been through that small town on the way north and west in Pennslvania. It's a beautiful area.
SORRY BAD LINK...
There seems to be some discrepancies as far as how many are actually dead at this time. The headline about the coroner was on the site approximately 30 minutes ago. Now the headline reads only 3... Don't know what's up with that.
Here is a link to the video:
http://video.ap.org/v/en-ap/v.htm?g=cb00f79c-9fce-4b6c-95ed-1dfe4b295005&f=PALAN
this is a little off topic. I'm not all that familiar with how Free Republic works. I have posted a bit in the past, but not much.
I noticed the column on my right that says "breaking news", but it appears that some of these links are several days old.
is there a section that shows real "breaking news"?
sorry for the off topic question, but it's been a while and I need a little refresher.
Thanks
What difference would it have made other than to a few judgmental people on this board? This guy was determined to harm innocents before killing him. He knew that he was not leaving the school alive. He was armed, the teachers and aides were not armed. Despite what is commonly shown in the movies, an armed man has an advantage over an unarmed female who was almost certainly smaller than him. It is very likely that the teacher's actions saved lives by not forcing his hand and have him start shooting everyone, including the boys and infants. From what I now of the Amish, their communities are very close and I am sure that the survivors are in agony right now over the deaths of those innocent girls.
I for one think that it is inappropriate to second-guess (and yes, it sounds like blame when you say things like "I would never leave the children behind) when this occurred four hours ago and we don't know all of the details.
"I wonder what happened between him and the Amish when he was 12. "
There's nothing to excuse the taking of these innocent lives, despite the stuff that will be paraded out later as possible motive(s).
I think I finally understand. Thanks. Sorry it took so long.
It got pulled. But no maliciousness or satire was intended. The movie "The Village", an Amish-type genre was a reflection of the fact you cannot run from human violence.
http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/touchstone_pictures/the_village/doorredmark.jpg
I know it is ungodly for me to feel this way, but I absolutely despise those jackasses over at DU. They represent the absolute worst in people.
Thank you very much, I appreciate the correction. I just noticed that when looking to correct the link which I posted a second ago.
Don't know what's up with that. Why would he say 6 and then retract? I wonder if it is a situation like what we have seen where they haven't gotten permission to speak about it.
I love Bill Hemmer, so watch out!
There is no way any of the Amish should be blamed. I imagine all the folks inside that school would have been totally baffled by the threat of violence against them, since violence is not part of their nature. They were likely in honest disbelief initially.
The guy was a demented fruit loop -- who knows what "issues" he might have worked up in his sick little mind.
I'm betting it was something stupid, like he saw The Witness 20 years ago, saw some sweet-faced Amish girl he could fantasize as being like Kelly McGillis, and never got over the shame of being rejected.
Well, hopefully she won't read this thread. She's already been judged guilty of deserting the children, by some. I suppose if she had fought the guy, refused to leave, she would also be dead and sadly, so would the little girls. For all we know, he could have said leave, OR I will kill them.
Too bad people can't just say prayers for all the victims and save their disgust for the cowardly POS that caused this tragedy.
Amish are human, they are capable of mistakes... and offending others. The killer was a milk truck driver, lot's of Amish have dairy farms... chances are this guy did local milk pickups. Again, Amish are far from perfect people...
Apparently he was not Amish, but a 32 year old truck fdriver living in the area.
As I said in another post, to one of our DelMarVa list poster.........this is far to close to home. I had lots of dealings with the large Amish community in Kent County over the years.
This man, no doubt; had a history of 'beefs' doncha think?
It is not the incident; but the mind set that wraps around it. . .would like as well to know what his favorite movie is. . his favoritie pastime. . .etc.
Sick, sick; disgustingly sick; and never seeking help; just 'being who he is'; no excuses; I do not care what supposedly happened to him when he was twelve years old.
These people are problems first. . .last and always.
CNN, since the Amish do not drive their own vehicles they often use "drivers" to take them longer distances, it was reported that he is one of these drivers.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
