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.
I had a history teacher in H.S. that I just knew was going to show up armed one day and whack half of the class.
Ahhhh, as always joanie you say it so well. Just beautiful. You have perfectly captured what so many of us feel about the Amish, and why we love them so. Thank you! : )
What makes it really bad is noone ever uses the word "gentleman" any more - except when describing the actions of some criminal!
What could have been so traumatic to a 12 year old to make him harbor this kind of bitterness and commit such a heinous act?
The depths of depravity...
I'm coming from a similar place in that my father always had guns, hunted, took my brother with him. As children, we had toy guns. I can't say we had wrestling matches in the living room, nor do I remember knowing anyone else who did. But that didn't mean it didn't go on.
I think we have to define violence in one way. And that is as a damaging physical action taken with disrespect or disregard for the well-being of another life. That would discount the family skirmishes you described.
What we have now is sons and daughters who have fewer and fewer role models to teach them self-control by their own example in a casual family setting. At the other end, we have children who are over-exposed to adult supervision starting at a very early age. In order for a child to learn self-control, they must be allowed to figure out what works. If a child has good role models at home, they are more likely to come up with compromise as a solution to a problem on their own. As it is now, adults have taken on an intervening role for the sake of expediency. "Situations" are resolved for the child, so the child doesn't really learn from the situation. They just do what they are told.
We have too many kids who are not learning the crisis solving process (some would call it anger management) by experiencing the whole process, which includes accountability. And by accountability, I don't mean "go to your room." Rather, accountability means accepting that the method one used did not get one what one wanted and understanding why. This is why teaching children that they deserve self-esteem for simply existing is so dangerous. Unearned self-esteem, no self-accountability, no understanding of compromise and its value all being acted out in homes with no good role models, violence on TV, in video games, and in music, and we have set our society up for disaster.
I'm so sorry your community has to face a tragedy like this. Please know my prayers are with you, your community, and most especially the Amish Community, the girls who are in the hospitals right now, and the families the injured, the girls and the young woman who have passed on. May God comfort all of you...
Why don't you try reading all my posts, rather than take one out of context.
This just makes my heart sore! So sad....
By Brett Hambright
Intelligencer Journal
Published: Sep 26, 2006 5:16 PM EST
LANCASTER COUNTY, PA - Pennsylvania state police said Monday they are investigating a Sunday morning hit-and-run accident on Georgetown Road that killed a 12-year-old Bart Township boy.
Emanuel S. King, of 962 Georgetown Road, was struck and killed by an oncoming pickup truck about 6 a.m., while riding a scooter just yards from his home.
Karie Mitchell, 30, of Bart Township, was driving a Chevy Silverado north on Georgetown Road, police said, when she crossed the yellow line and struck the boy.
Police said Monday charges have not been filed against Mitchell, who allegedly fled the scene following the accident.
Trooper David Fedorshak said police received information on Mitchell's whereabouts following the accident. Shortly after, police found her at a residence.
Fedorshak said Mitchell's actions don't necessarily warrant charges.
"There are mitigating circumstances," Fedorshak said. "She is cooperating. The charges are pending, but we still have to do some more investigating."
A rescue crew found the boy and his scooter in a yard off the shoulder of Georgetown Road. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Lancaster County Deputy Coroner Matt Arnold.
An autopsy Monday morning determined the child died of multiple traumatic injuries found everywhere on his body, according to Lancaster County Coroner Dr. G. Gary Kirchner.
An Amish farmer who lives near the site of the accident said Georgetown Road has become known as the "Amish Interstate." The farmer said more than 50 buggies can pass through a location on the road in an hour.
The segment of Georgetown Road where King was killed is a two-lane road where motorists must cross into the opposing lane to pass buggies.
(The mother of the youth has said she has no ill feelings towards the driver. She would like the driver to come see her, as she wishes to let her know that it was the Lords choosing that took her son.)
Thanks for your links, all. The pictures are an excellent testimony to the innocence and simplicity of Amish life.
I've been gone all afternoon and evening and just got home.
Can someone update me on how the girls are that we sent to the hospitals and has there been any info on what supposedly happened to this guy 20 years ago.
Thanks
Unfortunately I did see it.
I cannot imagine the pain so many families are going through right now.
Interesting... Thank you very much.
Unfathomable.
For my birthday, all I wanted was to drive out to Lancaster County. It was a wonderful day. You're right about the happy kids.
Your post contains an article from News Journal/Delaware Online, a Gannett Publication.
The only material allowed to be posted from any Gannett publication is a title and link.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1111944/posts
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.