Killings in Pennyslyvania

[Janet]

I just saw on the noon news about the shooting in the Amish community in Lancaster, or near there. Those poor children and their families. What in the heck is this world coming to. It's all you hear about anymore. There is suppose to be more information on the evening news. I just get so upset when I hear this kind of news. It makes my heart ache so bad!!!

[Mandy]

That's terrible! I honestly don't know what this world is coming to. I guess it's the same all over the world.

..my brother lives near there in another town, .it is so very sad, they just had a news break on about it and will again at 6. they didnt hold any details back, a horrific crime scene I am sitting here crying for those children and the families.

[Necee419]

I caught a bit of the news on my portable TV at work. They didn't really give too many details but one man was saying that this could be a series of copycat incidents similar to the maniac that took those young girls hostage in Colorado. It is a sick world we are living in when young children are the targets of evil. It is so unfair.

I didnt hear that part yet, They said he left suicide notes at his house...he did this after he took his 3 children to school. They also said it may be a 20 year old grudge thing. I dont understand why he had to take children along with his suicide. I guess we will hear more later.
yes it is unfair.

[Kimberley]

(CBS/AP) At least four people were shot to death at a one-room Amish schoolhouse in Pennsylvania's bucolic Lancaster County Monday, and at least three young girls were hospitalized in critical condition, authorities said.

A total of seven students were hospitalized with injuries.

It was the nation's third deadly school shooting in less than a week, and one of the deadliest in U.S. history.

Police say the gunman who attacked an Amish school was 32 years old and sent the male students outside while keeping the girls in and blocking the doors. The number of those killed or injured is unclear.

"So far, six confirmed dead, and the helicopters are pulling into (Lancaster General Hospital) like crazy," Coroner G. Gary Kirchner said earlier.

State Police Cpl. Ralph Striebig said earlier that the shooter was dead.

The adult male suspect shot himself after lining up students, tying females' ankles and shooting some execution style in the head.

Three girls, ages 6-12, were admitted to Lancaster General Hospital in critical condition with gunshot wounds, spokesman John Lines said. Officials at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center confirmed that victims also were being admitted there.

WGAL-TV reported that a man entered the schoolhouse this morning and began to make threats. The man apparently took hostages and began negotiations with the police. At some point, at least 10 shots were fired within the school. Police said the hostage taker shot himself, according to the TV station.

"They're all little kids," a man who lives near the school told WGAL. "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."

Police late Monday morning surrounded the one-room schoolhouse, a tiny building surrounded by a white fence and farm fields in southeastern Lancaster County. The Lancaster County 911 Web site reported that dozens of emergency units were dispatched to a "medical emergency" at 10:45 a.m.

Hours after the attack, about three dozen people in traditional Amish clothing, broad-brimmed hats and bonnets stood nearby speaking to one another and authorities. Others gathered with a group of children at a nearby farm while investigators stretched out in a line across a field searching for evidence.

The school is just outside Nickel Mines, a tiny village about 55 miles west of Philadelphia.

It was the third small community to be shocked by a deadly school shootings in just the past week.

On Friday, a school principal was gunned down in Cazenovia, Wis. A 15-year-old student, described as upset over a reprimand, was charged with murder in the killing. Just two days earlier, an adult gunman held six girls hostage in a school at Bailey, Colo., before killing a 16-year-old girl and then himself.

Nationwide, the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in Littleton, Colo., remains the deadliest school shooting, claiming the lives of 15 people, including the two teenage gunmen. Last year, a 16-year-old shot seven people to death at a school on Minnesota's Red Lake Indian Reservation, then killed himself.

[Kimberley]

A horrible and senseless tragedy! What the hell did he have against little girls?

I dont know, they said they think it was a 20 year old grudge by something he had wrote in the suicide note to his wife, ...maybe we will find that out later... suppose to be an update at 6 pm
so sad

[Necee419]

Disgusting. If he was going to kill himself, why did he have to take innocent children with him? I hope he rots in hell.

[magnolia]

I've been watching updates on this story all day here at work via CNN on the internet - tragic is not a strong enough word to describe the incident that unfolded today As you all have said, why take these innocent children with him? If it's a 20 year old grudge, these girls were not even alive at that time cause as I understand it, all the victims are between 6 and 16 years of age. It's a sad, sad day when we send our kids off to school, a place that's supposed to be safe, and in this day, we can't be for certain we'll see them at the end of the day! Although we have on-duty police officers at our schools here in town at the school from 7:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon, they can't be all over the campus at one time! My son and I were just talking about the recent school shootings and I told him not to ever say it couldn't happen here - because it could. The Pearl school shooting where Luke Woodham was the shooter is not quite an hour to the east of where I live - THAT one was a little too close to home!

Sending many prayers to the families affected by today's tragedy (and those from last week!).

[Janet]

I can hardly stand it.....those precious children and their parents. I pray it never happens again!!

[Gina]

This is definite a sick world we live in today, as I watched the news reporting this story it brought tears to my eyes. If your kids are not safe in school anymore , where are your kds safe. Scary, and may God help these families get through this horrible, horrible ordeal.

[Marilyn]

What gets me is that these incidents are happening in small communities. We think big cities are dangerous places. There is actually no place that we are safe. We're afraid of terrorists, and just look what we are living with right here at home. It's so very, very sad. The parents must be so devistated tonight. And then there are the parents of the children in critical condition. It's almost too much to bare.

[Necee419]

Another little girl died this morning. Now the total is 4 deaths plus that beast, so 5 deaths total. If an Amish community, where the incidents of violence are practically non-existent, is not safe then the rest of us are doomed. I kind of expect things like this to happen here in NYC, but I guess no one is exempt from evil. Apparently this man chose this location to commit this horrendous act because he knew there would be no security. Essentially, these people's wholesome and trusting ways made them a target. It is all so sad.

and another 5 plus the murderer so sad

The 9-year-old girl died about 1 a.m., and the 7-year-old girl died about 4:30 a.m.