HARRISBURG, Pa. — A woman who was severely injured when a gunman killed five girls and wounded her and four other girls during an attack on their one-room Amish schoolhouse in Pennsylvania has died 18 years later, a funeral director said Thursday.
Rosanna S. King, 23, died at her home on Tuesday and a funeral is planned at her home in the farming community of Paradise on Friday, according to an obituary from Furman Home for Funerals in Leola. Funeral director Philip Furman confirmed Thursday she was among those shot at the West Nickel Mines Amish School in October 2006.
Charles Carl Roberts IV, a 32-year-old milk truck driver, barricaded himself inside the schoolhouse and let boys and several adults go as he tied up 10 girls and shot them before taking his own life as police closed in.
Rosanna King, who belonged to an Old Order Amish Church community, was 6 years old at the time and had been considered the most severely injured survivor. She had been shot in the head and the attack left her unable to talk and needing a tube to be fed. She was dependent on others for personal care and mobility.
A year afterward, her family said in a statement she was able to recognize family members, smiled a lot and had limited physical movement. They said in 2007 that “the hardest part has been to see her suffer.”
She will be buried in the Bart Cemetery.
Roberts’ mother, Terri Roberts, regularly visited Rosanna King, inspired by the forgiveness the Amish community expressed to her and her family after the attack.
In a 2013 interview, Rosanna’s father, Christ King, said there were times when he asked himself if he had really forgiven the shooter.
“We have a lot of work to do to live up to what we are bragged up to be,” Christ King said back then. “Everyone was talking about this forgiveness thing, and I felt that was putting a lot of weight on our shoulders to live up to that.”
Roberts indicated in suicide notes left behind and during a last call with his wife that he had been tormented by unsubstantiated memories of having molested a couple of young relatives and by the death of his newborn daughter in 1997.
The schoolhouse was torn down 10 days after the killings and a new one was constructed nearby.
The Amish prioritize their deep Christian faith and family life, eschewing many modern conveniences. They wear traditional clothing and use horses and buggies for much of their transportation. They often speak a German dialect known as Pennsylvania Dutch.
Rosanna King died the same week a 14-year-old Georgia student was charged with using an assault-style rifle to kill two students and two teachers at his high school about an hour outside of Atlanta. There have been more than 600 mass killings in the United States since 2006.
In a heartbreaking turn of events, an Amish woman has passed away nearly two decades after sustaining severe injuries in a tragic schoolhouse shooting. The woman, whose name has not been disclosed to the public out of respect for her family’s privacy, was one of several individuals injured in the horrific incident that took place in a small Amish community in Pennsylvania in 2006.
The shooting, which shocked the nation and the close-knit Amish community, was carried out by a lone gunman who entered the schoolhouse and opened fire on the innocent children and adults inside. The woman, who was a teacher at the schoolhouse, was among those who were critically injured in the attack. Despite undergoing multiple surgeries and years of rehabilitation, she never fully recovered from her injuries and continued to suffer from chronic pain and health complications.
Throughout her long and difficult journey towards recovery, the woman’s faith and resilience never wavered. She was a pillar of strength for her family and community, inspiring others with her unwavering spirit and determination to overcome adversity. Despite the physical limitations she faced, she continued to live a life of purpose and meaning, serving as a shining example of forgiveness and grace in the face of tragedy.
Her passing has left a void in the hearts of those who knew and loved her, but her legacy will live on in the memories of those whose lives she touched. The Amish community, known for its strong sense of community and unwavering faith, has come together to mourn her loss and celebrate her life. They have rallied around her family, offering support and comfort during this difficult time.
As we reflect on the life of this remarkable woman, we are reminded of the power of faith, forgiveness, and resilience in the face of unimaginable tragedy. Her story serves as a poignant reminder of the strength and courage that can be found in the most unlikely of places. May her memory be a blessing to all who knew her, and may her spirit continue to inspire others to live with grace and compassion in the face of adversity.
