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Milk Man Kills Girls at Amish School

Monday, October 02, 2006

Officials in Lancaster County report 4 people were killed in a mid-morning shooting at an Amish one-room school house in Lancaster County.

Earlier reports from the Lancaster County coroner indicated six people were dead. However, the coroner has now stated he is not sure about that number.

Three girls are being treated at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. One, an 8-year-old, was shot in the neck. Another, 12 years old, was shot in the arm and leg. The third, 10 years old, was shot in the head.

At least three of the students were taken to Hershey Medical Center. A 13-year-old patient was taken into surgery for treatment of a gunshot wound. That child remained in surgery at 3:30 p.m. and in critical condition. An 8-year-old, who was still receiving treatment in the Medical Center's shock trauma center as of 2:30 p.m., is listed in critical condition. The third patient, believed to be 6-years-old, was transferred to the Medical Center from another hospital to receive care related to gunshot wounds. That patient arrived at approximately 1:35 p.m. and is also in critical condition.

Officials in Lancaster County report 4 people were killed in a mid-morning shooting at an Amish one-room school house in Lancaster County.

The shooting happened shortly before 11 a.m. at Wolf Rock School at the intersection of Wolf Rock and Mine roads in Bart Township. The victims are apparently 2 students, a teacher's aide and the gunman.

The following information is from a news conference held at 2 p.m. by Pennsylvania State Police: The teacher managed to call 9-1-1 at about 10:36 a.m. and alert authorities that a man with a gun had entered the school.

Upon arriving at the scene, 9 minutes after being dispatched, police tried to talk with the suspect using the P.A. systems in their cars. As they did, the suspect called emergency dispatchers in Lancaster County and told them that if police did not pull back, he would start shooting people in 10 seconds.

Officers tried to use the cell phone number retrieved from the suspect's call to dispatchers in order to call the suspect. But as they tried, officers on the scene reported hearing shots. Police think he was using an automatic handgun.

Officers immediately stormed the school house, but the suspect had blocked all the exits with 2x4 and 2x6 lumber. Troopers broke the windows, got inside and found the suspect dead. They also found 3 females between 6 and 13 years old dead at the scene.

Charles Carl Roberts IV, 32, who lived in Bart, Pa. He is a truck driver who works a night shift as a milk delivery person. The last time his wife had contact with him was 8:45 a.m. when he walked their children to the bus stop.

When Roberts' wife returned home, she found several notes left for their children. Police said they amounted to suicide notes to explain his actions.

Roberts then called his wife to tell her police were there and that he wasn't coming home.

Police said he told his wife that he was acting out for revenge for something that happened 20 years ago. Investigators are trying to figure out what that incident is.

Roberts was not wanted for any crimes. Investigators don't believe Roberts had a criminal record and they don't think there was a specific reason that he went into this particular Amish school.

The school had 27 students attending the school in grades 1 to 8.

Action News has ground crews and Chopper 6 is on the scene.

Action News will have continuing coverage of this developing story on 6abc.com.

Information from wire reports were used in this story.

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