Deadly Amish Schoolhouse Shooting: Terror on Transcript

— -- On Oct. 2, Charles Carl Roberts IV, a 32-year-old milk truck driver and father of three, stormed the West Nickel Mines Amish School in Lancaster, Pa., armed with a shotgun, handgun and stun gun

He shot 10 girls before killing himself. Five of the girls died.

Lancaster County District Attorney Don Totaro's office released written transcripts of the 911 calls that preceded the deadly rampage.

Here are the transcripts of calls placed by Lancaster residents, Roberts, and Roberts' wife, Marie.

The Complete Transcript of Amos Smoker's Call to 911

10:35:29 a.m.

911 Dispatcher: Lancaster 911. Do you need police, fire or ambulance?

Amos Smoker: Yes, this is Amos Smoker.

Dispatcher: OK.

Smoker: There's a … there's a guy in the school with a gun.

Dispatcher: OK. What, what school? Where at?

Smoker: White Oak Road.

Dispatcher: What city, township or borough is that in?

Smoker: Bart Township.

Dispatcher: OK. Stay on the line. It's state police.

Smoker: OK.

(Call being transferred)

State Police PCO: State Police Dispatch Center

Smoker: Yes, this is Amos Smoker. (Line goes dead)

The Complete Transcript of Unidentified Call to 911

10:41:29 a.m.

911 Dispatcher: Lancaster 911.

Unidentified Caller: Did someone call in for police at a school?

Dispatcher: What school? … What school was it?

Caller: West Nickel Mines School.

Dispatcher: Nickel Mines School. Somebody with a gun?

Caller: Yes.

Dispatcher: Hold on one second. Did you call before? We transferred to state police.

Caller: OK. Someone's coming out.

Dispatcher: Well, I don't know. I'm going to transfer you, OK? I don't dispatch them here. Hold on. Does anybody need an ambulance? Do you know?

Caller: I don't know.

Dispatcher: All right. Hold on.

(Call being transferred to Pennsylvania State Police.)

Dispatcher: Is this Amish School?

Caller: Yes, it is.

Dispatcher: In Bart Township?

Caller: Yes.

Pennsylvania State Police PCO Campbell: Pennsylvania State Police, PCO Campbell. Hello.

Dispatcher: Go ahead, sir.

PCO Campbell: Sir, go ahead, State Police. (Line goes dead.)

911 Dispatcher: OK, hold on. Is he in the school?

Unidentified Caller: I don't know nothing. I don't know.

The Complete Transcript of Charles Roberts' Call to 911

10:55:38 a.m.

911 Dispatcher: Lancaster County 911, do you need police, fire or ambulance? Hello. … Your cell is cutting in and out. Do you have an emergency?

Charles Roberts: Yes.

Dispatcher: OK. What's the address of the emergency?

CR: It's on White Oak Road. I just took, uh, 10 girls hostage, and I want everybody off the property or, or else.

Dispatcher: OK, all right.

CR: Now.

Dispatcher: Hold on a second.

Dispatcher: Hello.

CR: Yeah.

Dispatcher: OK. What's the problem here?

CR: Don't try to talk me out of it. Get 'em all off the property now.

Dispatcher: Sir, I want you to stay on the phone with me, OK? I'm going to let the state police down there. I need to let you talk to them. OK, can I transfer you to them?

CR: No. You tell them, and that's it. Right now or they're dead, in two seconds.

Dispatcher: (To unidentified) He won't let me transfer. (Then to Roberts) Hang on a minute. We're trying to tell them. OK?

CR: Two seconds -- that's it.

Dispatcher: Sir, listen to me. Listen. (Line goes dead.)

The Complete Transcript of Marie Roberts' 911 Call

10:58:39

Lancaster 911 Dispatcher: Lancaster County 911.

Marie Roberts: Yes, my name is Marie Roberts. My husband just called me on his cell phone and told me that he wasn't going to be coming home and that the police were there and not to worry about it. And I have no idea what he is talking about, but I am really scared. And I wondered if how I find out what's going on?

Dispatcher: OK. Where are you calling from?

MR: I'm calling from my home.

Dispatcher:: And what's that address?

MR: 1084 Georgetown Rd.

Dispatcher: What township, city or borough is that?

MR: Bart Township.

Dispatcher: OK, and your husband didn't tell you where he was?

MR: No, he didn't.

Dispatcher: He called you on his cell phone?

MR: Yes, he did.

Dispatcher: OK, and, all he said to you was that?

MR: I'm not coming home. Um, he was upset about something that had happened 20 years ago, and he said he was getting revenge for it. I don't think he was getting revenge on another person. I'm worried that maybe he was trying to commit suicide.

Dispatcher: OK. Hang on the line. I'm going to transfer you to the state police. OK?

MR: Thank you.

Dispatcher: Hang on a second.

(Transfer)

PCO Bowerman: State Police Dispatch PCO Bowerman.

MR: My name is Marie Roberts. My husband just called me and said that he wasn't coming home and that the police were there and that he left notes for myself and my children and I'm worried that he tried to commit suicide somewhere.

Bowerman: What's his name?

MR: Charlie Roberts.

Bowerman: OK. What's, let me ask you a question. Hold on for one second.

MR: Yeah.

Bowerman: You said your name again was?

MR: Marie Roberts.

Bowerman: Marie Roberts, thank you.

Bowerman: Ma'am, let me ask you a question. What kind of vehicle does your husband drive?

MR: He was using my grandpa's pickup. It's a GMC.

Bowerman: Color?

MR: Blue.

Bowerman: Blue GMC.

MR: Yeah.

Bowerman: One second. OK, ma'am, what's your husband's name?

MR: Charlie Roberts.

Bowerman: Charlie Roberts, and what does he look like?

MR: He is 6 foot 2, short brown, you know like buzzed brown hair. Um, he is 32 years old, wears glasses. I guess he's maybe like 195 pounds.

Bowerman: OK. You say he left notes?

MR: Yes.

Bowerman: What did the notes say?

MR: Like the thought of not my children, not seeing them grow up, like, let's see, uh. I'm not even sure. Here it is, my daughter Abigail I want you to know that I love you and I'm sorry I couldn't be here to watch you grow up. That's how the notes start.

Bowerman: OK, hold on one moment. (Line goes dead.)