Charles Carl Roberts IV, of Bart, got up and got his three kids on the school bus, wrote notes to his kids and then made his way to the Nickel Mine Amish School on White Oak Road, across from Splashes Swim Club.

Roberts arrived at the school and displayed a handgun, according to Col. Jeffrey Miller, State Police Commissioner. He allowed the 15 boys in the one-room schoolhouse to leave, as well as one pregnant woman and three women with infants. The teacher escaped at that time and ran to a neighbor to call for help. Roberts then, said Miller, told the girls to line up in front of the blackboard and tied the feet together of the remaining girls, aged six to 12 years old. He barricaded himself in the building with lumber he had brought with him, barring the police from easy access.

At some point during this time, according to Col. Miller, Roberts called his wife to say he was not coming home. He had said "he was getting revenge for something that happened 20 years ago."

The school is located in the middle of an open field and allows easy visibility around it. Roberts saw the troopers arriving and called 911 threatening to shoot if the officers did not back away. A State Police negotiator called the shooter. At that time the troopers heard several shots fired in quick succession.

The girls, one of whom is believed to be an aide, were shot execution style in the head. Roberts then turned the gun on himself. Seven students were taken out by helicopter or ambulance with serious injuries. Their condition is not known at this time.

Law enforcement officials and emergency service members searched the adjoining field to confirm no one lay injured outside.

Understandably, it was an emotional day for emergency workers and law enforcement officers. One emergency medical worker compared the scene to Ground Zero. Some onlookers and media compared it to Columbine and Bailey.

"One girl died in the arms of one of our troopers," said Col. Miller.

Roberts, 32, is a commercial milk tank driver. He was employed by North West Foods.

Troopers were called in from Lancaster, Ephrata, Embreeville, Avondale, Reading and Harrisburg, according to Capt. Jack Laufer, of Lancaster.

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