The monster put his own children on the bus that morning, called them back as they were climbing aboard, and hugged them saying "remember daddy loves you".
His grudge also apparently had nothing to do with the Amish, it was with girls, and he chose these little ones as a close target of opportunity.
Heard this morning on FOX that he lost a baby about 3 years ago as it was born premature. The state police guy said they have an inkling that the baby dying was what set him off.
I'm still not sure how many have died. GMA did a report from right there in Nickel Mines and said "5 children" have been killed.
Adding in the gunman and that's a total of 6 deaths, which is what the coroner said yesterday, erroneously, before any else had died in the hospitals.
They also said on GMA this morning that one little girl who had been unaccounted for had slipped out with her brother when the monster let the boys leave. Hurray for that little girl!
They've had problems identifying the children and their families, because the parents wouldn't go in the medevac choppers to the hospitals where children were. They were finally convinced to go in vans, but the wrong children were found to be with the wrong parents.
Evidently, there is also something about having images, so photos that were faxed had to be in color or something I didn't quite understand from the reporter. The parents left at the school wouldn't say whose children were whose from the faxes.
It must have been sorted out, if at least the little girl this morning had her parents with her. I understand, in a limited fashion, their huge privacy issues - I just wish some things could be overlooked for the sake of the children's lives and safety today.
I am heartsick at what has happened here. The Amish ARE Lancaster. What has happened to them yesterday is especially hard, given their commitment to their way of life. My tears and prayers seem hardly adequate. If there is more I can do, I will. Their Congressman (Pitts), is my old science teacher. I will ask if there is something more that can be done for the families.
The grandfather of a 6 yo victim is requesting that people of all faiths remember them and all families involved, including the shooter's, in prayer.