Yup, its clear that this guy needed to learn how to read because he seemed to completely ignore the little paper signs on the door that say GUN FREE SCHOOL ZONE. Obviously if the man could read then he would have left his gun in the car before going in to terrorize the children.
All went well in this story as the man was captured and none of the students or faculty at the school was injured. Clearly I am taking a somewhat sarcastic tone with my opening, but when will people understand that "gun free zones" simply mean there are hundreds, or perhaps thousands, of DEFENSELESS people inside?
FOXNews.com - Fugitive Gunman Tackled, Arrested After Holding Fifth-Graders Hostage in Maine - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News
Fugitive Gunman Tackled, Arrested After Holding Fifth-Graders Hostage in Maine
STOCKTON SPRINGS, Maine — A gunman who had been a fugitive for a week held 11 students hostage at an elementary school on Friday but was tackled outside a classroom and arrested without any harm to the children.
Police said Randall Hofland, 55, had released all the students and had turned over a loaded gun to one of the young hostages before he was taken into custody at Stockton Springs Elementary School.
He was taken to jail and all of the school's students, totaling about 80, were taken by bus to an elementary school in neighboring Searsport.
"These children are very brave. They did a tremendous job," Gov. John Baldacci said.
The gunman walked into a classroom in the small coastal town around the start of the day. State police were called at 8:42 a.m. (1242 GMT) and Hofland was arrested about 20 minutes later after he was tackled by a state trooper.
Hofland was the object of a manhunt that began on the night of Oct. 23 after he allegedly pointed a gun at a police officer who stopped him during a seat belt safety check in Searsport. Hofland drove off, eventually abandoning his car in a field.
Fugitive Gunman Tackled, Arrested After Holding Fifth-Graders Hostage in Maine
STOCKTON SPRINGS, Maine — A gunman who had been a fugitive for a week held 11 students hostage at an elementary school on Friday but was tackled outside a classroom and arrested without any harm to the children.
Police said Randall Hofland, 55, had released all the students and had turned over a loaded gun to one of the young hostages before he was taken into custody at Stockton Springs Elementary School.
He was taken to jail and all of the school's students, totaling about 80, were taken by bus to an elementary school in neighboring Searsport.
"These children are very brave. They did a tremendous job," Gov. John Baldacci said.
The gunman walked into a classroom in the small coastal town around the start of the day. State police were called at 8:42 a.m. (1242 GMT) and Hofland was arrested about 20 minutes later after he was tackled by a state trooper.
Hofland was the object of a manhunt that began on the night of Oct. 23 after he allegedly pointed a gun at a police officer who stopped him during a seat belt safety check in Searsport. Hofland drove off, eventually abandoning his car in a field.
