Coroner Reports 6 Dead in Pennsylvania Amish School Shooting
NICKEL MINES, Pa. — Six people were killed by a gunman at a one-room Amish schoolhouse in Lancaster County Monday, according to the county coroner.
Several others were taken to hospitals with injuries, authorities said.
"So far, six confirmed dead, and the helicopters are pulling into [Lancaster General Hospital] like crazy," Coroner G. Gary Kirchner said.
The school district identified the shooter as "Roy," although it's not yet known whether the gunman was a member of the Amish community.
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There are at least seven injured from the shooting, according to hospital officials.
Kim Hatch, spokeswoman for the Lancaster General Hospital, said the victims that center received all have gunshot wounds and are in critical condition. Two of those victims were sent to Hershey Medical Center, while the third was sent to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. One other patient has been sent to Reading Hospital of Pennsylvania.
Hatch said Lancaster General is expected to receive three more patients — all females in critical condition from gunshot wounds.
Earlier, state police Cpl. Ralph Striebig said, "there are a number of people dead. ... The exact number I do not know yet."
The police told FOX News that it was a hostage situation and that the shooter is now dead. It's not yet known whether the shooter is counted among the six deaths reported by the coroner. There were at least 12 people injured, along with the deaths, police said. Not motive is yet known.
There is a news conference scheduled at the school sometime Monday afternoon.
The school is in Paradise Township on Mine Road — an Amish community within the township. There are a total of 27 students in grades 1 through 8 at Wolf Rock School, where the shooting took place.
The Lancaster County 911 Web site reported that dozens of emergency units were dispatched to a "medical emergency" at 10:45 a.m. Monday.
About three-dozen Amish people congregated near the scene. Television news helicopters also showed a person being taken away on a stretcher to a waiting medical helicopter. Emergency responders were seen searching the school grounds.
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