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To: Toespi; nw_arizona_granny; Velveeta; penelopesire; Cindy; backhoe; DAVEY CROCKETT; milford421; ...
Here's the latest update I've come across, but I'll take another look in a bit... This is the same link as earlier, but the article has been updated:

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

POSTED: 11:26 am EDT October 2, 2006
UPDATED: 7:03 pm EDT October 2, 2006

A gunman stormed a one-room Amish schoolhouse Monday morning, barricaded it, lined up students and shot 11 of them, one teacher's aide and then himself before police could even start negotiations.

The teacher's aide and two students died at the scene. Another student was dead on arrival at Lancaster General Hospital. The eight other students are in critical condition. The gunman is dead.

Commissioner Jeffrey Miller of the Pennsylvania State Police identified the gunman as Charles Carl Roberts IV, 32, of Bart Township. Miller said Roberts was a truck driver who delivered milk. He went to work last night and all appeared normal. Miller said Roberts 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 Roberts' wife found what appeared to be a suicide note Monday morning. She tried to contact her husband by phone but could not reach him. Later, Roberts called her and told her he would not be coming home, Miller said.

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 heavily armed, 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.

"He did a great deal of planning," Miller said. Roberts was prepared for a "lengthy siege if you will." If you'd like to see a list of all the weapons and material Roberts brought with him to the school, click here.

Tragedy In Lancaster County

Right now, Amish families are waiting at a nearby farm to find out which children survived. Not all of the victims have been postitively identified.

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.
1,444 posted on 10/02/2006 6:08:49 PM PDT by LibertyRocks (Liberty Rocks Blog: http://libertyrocks.wordpress.com)
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To: LibertyRocks

This just makes my heart sore! So sad....


1,449 posted on 10/02/2006 6:15:14 PM PDT by penelopesire
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