School Shooting:Multiple Deaths in Lancaster, PA Amish School, Shooter Kills Self

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.

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.

UPDATE:

"So far, three female students, one female teacher's aide and Roberts are dead." - article below

This page at WGAL has a lot of information including video, a statement from the gunman's wife and more. Here is an unlinked listing of what's available:
# PICTURES: Aerials, Ground Shots
# PICTURES: Roberts' House, Truck
# TEXT: Gunman's Wife Releases Statement
# FORUM: Share Your Feelings About This Tragedy
# VIDEO: Press Conference 1
# VIDEO: Press Conference 2
# VIDEO: Press Conference 3
# VIDEO: Press Conference 4
# VIDEO: Press Conference 5
# VIDEO: Press Conference 6
# VIDEO: Wounded Arrive At Hospital
VIDEO: Residents React

And, this updated article:

http://www.wgal.com/news/9981693/detail.html

Police: 'He Intended Not To Walk Out Of There Alive'

POSTED: 11:26 am EDT October 2, 2006
UPDATED: 4:47 pm EDT October 2, 2006

Police responded to a multiple shooting and hostage situation in eastern Lancaster County this morning at a small, one-room Amish schoolhouse, where several people were shot to death.

#
PICTURES: Scene

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 delivered 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 found what appeared to be a suicide note this morning. She tried to contact her husband. Miller called her at one point, and told her he would not be coming home, Miller said.

#
PICTURES: Roberts' House, Truck

Miller said that it appears that Roberts was intent on getting revenge for something that happened 20 years ago, and it involved young females. All of the deceased, except for the shooter, were females.

"It's obvious to us that this was a premeditated hostage scenario," Miller said. "I believe, based on what the investigators have so far, he intended not to walk out of there alive, but he also intended to kill innocent victims."

Before the shooting, Miller said, Roberts allowed all of the male students, three adult females who had infants and a pregnant woman to leave. That group, which included the teacher, went to a nearby farm. The teacher called police at 10:36 a.m., saying that hostages had been taken at the school.

Miller said officers responded and that Roberts, who was armed with an automatic handgun and a shotgun, could easily see them. Miller said Roberts called Lancaster County radio and told them if state police did not remove themselves in 10 seconds, he would start shooting people. A negotiator was able to get the cell phone number that Miller had called from, and just as that negotiator was calling back, Roberts started shooting, Miller said.

"They heard shots, multiple shots in quick succession," Miller said.

Miller said officers had already been preparing for an assault, and that as the shots were fired they moved in. Getting inside was not easy because Roberts had blocked all doorways with two-by-fours and two-by-sixes, which he had brought with him. Officers had to climb into the schoolhouse through windows. By the time they were in, Roberts had shot students, a teacher's aide and himself.

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. One of the shot females died in the arms of a state trooper, Miller said.

Some of the injured children, who have been transported to various hospitals, were shot in the head.

#
FORUM: Share Your Feelings About Today's Tragedy

So far, three female students, one female teacher's aide and Roberts are dead.

Tragedy In Lancaster County

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.

The school, which is called the West Nickel Mine Schoolhouse, is at 4876 White Oak Road in Bart Township.

"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 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. Only one of them was concious. All of those patients were taken to other hospitals that have pediatric trauma units. Another arrival to Lancaster General Hospital was pronounced dead on arrival.

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.

The schoolhouse serves about 30 students from first to eighth grade. The school is among farmlands just outside the tiny village of Nickel Mines.

STATEMENT FROM GUNMAN'S WIFE:
http://www.wgal.com/news/9984739/detail.html

A family friend of Charles Carl Roberts, the 32-year-old man accused of shooting students at an Amish school in Bart, Pa. Monday, read the following statement from Roberts' wife on News 8:

"The man that did this today was not the Charlie I've beenmarried to for almost 10 years. My husband was loving, supportive and thoughtful -- all the things you'd always want and more. He was an exceptional father. He took the kids to soccer practice and games, played ball in the backyard and took our 7-year-old daughter shopping. He never said no when I asked him to change a diaper. Our hearts are broken, our lives shattered and we grieve for the innocent lives that were lost today. Above all, please pray. Pray for the families who lost children today. Please pray to for our family and children."

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.