Rosanna King, Who Survived 2006 Amish School Shooting, Has Died
Rosanna was wounded in the school shooting as a first grader – just 6 years old at the time. Many felt her survival was a miracle. From Lancaster Online:
An Amish woman who was wounded as a child in the 2006 mass shooting at West Nickel Mines School in Bart Township died Tuesday, according to sources familiar with the circumstances of her death.
Rosanna King, 23, died in her Paradise Township home, according to her obituary. She is the daughter of Christian E. and Mary Elizabeth Stoltzfus King and is survived by her parents and four siblings. King was a member of the Old Order Amish Church.
Rosanna passed away yesterday (September 3rd). Here’s what happened after Rosanna was severely wounded in the attack:
King, who was 6 years old at the time, was rushed to Hershey Medical Center after the shooting. She suffered severe brain trauma, and many thought she would not survive. Two days after the shooting, she was taken off life support and sent home at the request of her family.
King survived, and many in the community viewed her survival as a miracle, but her injuries left her unable to walk or talk, and she suffered severe seizures. LNP | LancasterOnline reported in 2011 that King was attending a school for Amish children with special needs.
Five other Amish girls lost their lives in the attack. Besides Rosanna, four others survived. The Amish famously offered forgiveness to the killer shortly after the tragic happening.
It sounds like Rosanna had a loving family, who faced the unthinkable with her and made it through with God’s grace.
In the aftermath, they never expected to have her for nearly 18 years after that horrible day. One hopes that those years were filled with many blessings to go along with the hardships. Rest in peace.
God be with the Amish
I feel a strong sense of lament especially when I read about violence towards Amish people, I generally hold their culture in high regard. Traditionally based on solid morals they become easy targets, I cant help but feel anger at unforgivable attacks but also respect their ability to forgive.
Roseanna King
OMG!! I remember hearing that several little girls had survived, including young Roseanna. But I never knew she’d suffered a terrible brain injury. I am in tears for her & her family/friends. Yes, 18 years is a blessing, but still . . . The Amish are much better people than I could ever be, as I don’t know that I could forgive something so awful. Rest in peace, sweet Roseanna. We will miss you!
We happened to pass the funeral location today
We are currently on an RV trip in Lancaster county. We had gone to a few stores in the southern part of the county. On our way back to our campground, we happened to pass through the Nickel Mine area and went by a farm that, according to signs, was having a funeral. There were already about a dozen buggies there, and more approaching from both directions. As we went a little further, we saw a relatively new brick school house. We assume that is the one that replaced the one where the attack took place, which was razed after the incident.
Sympathies
Our sincere sympathies for the family and friends of Rosanna King