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Fatal shooting at US Amish school | Fatal shooting at US Amish school |
(10 minutes later) | |
A gunman has shot dead three girls and injured seven others before killing himself in an attack on an Amish school in the US state of Pennsylvania. | A gunman has shot dead three girls and injured seven others before killing himself in an attack on an Amish school in the US state of Pennsylvania. |
The attack happened in a one-room school in the village of Paradise near Nickel Mines in Lancaster County. | The attack happened in a one-room school in the village of Paradise near Nickel Mines in Lancaster County. |
The gunman entered the class and ordered all the boys and some adults to leave. He then tied up the girls and began shooting them in the head. | The gunman entered the class and ordered all the boys and some adults to leave. He then tied up the girls and began shooting them in the head. |
Police named the killer as 32-year-old truck driver Charles Carl Roberts IV. | Police named the killer as 32-year-old truck driver Charles Carl Roberts IV. |
These victims were shot execution style, shot in thehead Col Jeffrey B MillerPolice commissioner href="/1/hi/in_pictures/5400616.stm" class="">In pictures: School attack The Amish are Anabaptist Christians who live away from the modern world, with restrictions on the use of modern devices such as cars and telephones. | |
The attack happened at a school for children aged six to 13. | The attack happened at a school for children aged six to 13. |
Pennsylvania police commissioner Col Jeffrey B Miller said Roberts entered Georgetown School and began addressing the pupils, showing them an automatic handgun that he was holding. | Pennsylvania police commissioner Col Jeffrey B Miller said Roberts entered Georgetown School and began addressing the pupils, showing them an automatic handgun that he was holding. |
Col Miller said Roberts was also armed with a shotgun. | Col Miller said Roberts was also armed with a shotgun. |
In the classroom were 15 male pupils, 10-12 female pupils, one teacher and a number of assistants - older children and adults. | In the classroom were 15 male pupils, 10-12 female pupils, one teacher and a number of assistants - older children and adults. |
He told the boys to leave, along with a pregnant woman and three women who had young infants with them. The teacher also managed to leave the classroom and made a telephone call to the police at 1036 (1436 GMT). | He told the boys to leave, along with a pregnant woman and three women who had young infants with them. The teacher also managed to leave the classroom and made a telephone call to the police at 1036 (1436 GMT). |
The gunman made the girls line up in front of the blackboard, where he tied their feet using wire or plastic cuffs. | The gunman made the girls line up in front of the blackboard, where he tied their feet using wire or plastic cuffs. |
He then barricaded the doors with large pieces of wood. | |
Police arrived at the scene at about 1045 and set up a cordon around the school, Col Miller said. | Police arrived at the scene at about 1045 and set up a cordon around the school, Col Miller said. |
The officers tried hailing the gunman on their car loudspeakers, but were unable to make contact, Col Miller said. | The officers tried hailing the gunman on their car loudspeakers, but were unable to make contact, Col Miller said. |
'Too late' | |
At this time an emergency operator in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, received a call from someone who said they had been called by the gunman. | At this time an emergency operator in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, received a call from someone who said they had been called by the gunman. |
FACTS ABOUT THE AMISH Anabaptist Christian denominationCommunities in the US and CanadaMany communities reject links to outside worldMost Amish shun modern technology including electricity and carsPlain clothing - no buttons allowed in some communitiesSpeak English and a German dialect called Pennsylvania Dutch href="/1/hi/world/americas/5400904.stm" class="">Who are the Amish? In the phonecall, the gunman warned that if the police did not pull back from the area he would open fire on the hostages. | |
This message was relayed to the officers at the scene, Col Miller said, but as the message was going through shots fired in rapid succession were heard. | This message was relayed to the officers at the scene, Col Miller said, but as the message was going through shots fired in rapid succession were heard. |
Police then stormed the building, breaking the windows to enter. But by the time they got there three girls and the gunman were dead. | Police then stormed the building, breaking the windows to enter. But by the time they got there three girls and the gunman were dead. |
Seven people were found injured, at least three of whom were shot in the head. | Seven people were found injured, at least three of whom were shot in the head. |
'Normal behaviour' | 'Normal behaviour' |
Members of the tight knit community anxiously waited newsCol Miller said the girls had been shot one-by-one "execution style". | Members of the tight knit community anxiously waited newsCol Miller said the girls had been shot one-by-one "execution style". |
The gunman was a local milk tanker driver who often picked up milk from Amish farms in the area. | The gunman was a local milk tanker driver who often picked up milk from Amish farms in the area. |
A father of three, he had worked his night shift as usual on Sunday night, finishing at 0300 on Monday. | A father of three, he had worked his night shift as usual on Sunday night, finishing at 0300 on Monday. |
His wife said he had seemed perfectly normal as he walked his children to the school bus at 0845, as he did every day. | His wife said he had seemed perfectly normal as he walked his children to the school bus at 0845, as he did every day. |
Suicide notes | Suicide notes |
However, when his wife returned to the family home around mid-morning she discovered suicide notes that he had written to each of his children. | However, when his wife returned to the family home around mid-morning she discovered suicide notes that he had written to each of his children. |
At 1100 she received a call from Roberts in which he said he was "not coming home" and that the police were with him. | At 1100 she received a call from Roberts in which he said he was "not coming home" and that the police were with him. |
The police said there were indications that he was motivated by an incident that happened some 20 years ago, but refused to go into details. | The police said there were indications that he was motivated by an incident that happened some 20 years ago, but refused to go into details. |
In a separate incident, two Las Vegas schools, one high school and one elementary school, were temporarily locked down while police hunted for a teenager spotted carrying a gun on the high school campus. | In a separate incident, two Las Vegas schools, one high school and one elementary school, were temporarily locked down while police hunted for a teenager spotted carrying a gun on the high school campus. |
These latest incidents follow a week of gun-related violence in US schools | These latest incidents follow a week of gun-related violence in US schools |
Last Wednesday a 16-year-old girl died when an armed man, who also killed himself, took six students hostage at a Colorado high school. | Last Wednesday a 16-year-old girl died when an armed man, who also killed himself, took six students hostage at a Colorado high school. |
And on Friday, a head teacher at a high school in Wisconsin was killed when he confronted an armed 15-year-old student as he entered the school. | And on Friday, a head teacher at a high school in Wisconsin was killed when he confronted an armed 15-year-old student as he entered the school. |
Are you in the area close to this incident? Use the form below to send any information. | Are you in the area close to this incident? Use the form below to send any information. |