NICKEL MINES, Pa. – A hostage situation turned fatal Oct. 2 when a 32-year-old dairy truck driver shot and killed 3 female students in a one-room Amish schoolhouse in eastern Lancaster County, Pa.
Charles Carl Roberts parked his pickup truck outside and ran into the schoolhouse early Monday morning, making threats. He ordered the boys and adults out of the classroom and lined up the girls against the chalk board where he bound them and then shot at least three of them in the head execution style. Seven other girls were wounded during the incident, some seriously.
According to a suicide note he left his wife and children, Roberts, who is not Amish, wanted revenge for an incident that occurred 20 years ago. No other details regarding the motive were revealed by authorities.
The gunman was carrying a shotgun and automatic handgun. Police were called and then surrounded the school. But when a hostage negotiator tried to reach Roberts on his cell phone, he began firing.
State police Cpl. Ralph Striebig stated the gunman was among the dead.
The town has approximately 30,000 occupants but doesn’t have police because there practically is no crime. The school where the incident took place teaches children ages six to 13.
