Maine Gunman Held Fifth-Graders Hostage

55-Year-Old Man Arrested By State Troopers; No Students Were Hurt

(CBS/ AP)  A gunman who had been on the lam for a week held 11 fifth-graders hostage at a school Friday but was tackled outside a classroom without any harm to the children, police said.

Randall Hofland, 55, had released all the students and had turned over a gun to one of the former hostages before he was arrested at Stockton Springs Elementary School, authorities said.

He was taken to jail and all of the school's pupils, about 80, were taken by bus to an elementary school in neighboring Searsport, where witnesses were being questioned by police.

"These children are very brave. They did a tremendous job," Gov. John Baldacci said.

The gunman walked into a fifth-grade classroom around the start of the day. The teacher escaped to call the police, leaving the students alone with the gunman, according to reporter Amy Erickson of CBS affiliate WABI in Bangor.

"Initially there was 11 children and he let some go," State Police Lt. Gerard Madden told Erickson. "Then Detective Jason Andrews from the state police and several other troopers, deputies and police officers arrived, secured the school. And detective Andrews began talking to Randall at which time he let students go, then he himself came out and he was arrested."

Police made the arrest around 9 a.m.

A two-mile stretch of U.S. 1 was closed to traffic for a time during the search, which involved more than three dozen police officers, including the state police tactical team.

Schools in School Administrative District 56, including Stockton Springs Elementary School, were closed for the day after Hofland fled out of concern for students' safety.

The school serves kindergarten through fifth grade.

Searsport Police Chief Dick LaHaye said Hofland had lived in the area for about seven years, most recently in a trailer off a dirt road.

LaHaye said police had not had previous contact with Hofland, but he was aware of reports that Hofland may have posted comments on an Internet message board questioning whether police had the right to stop motorists at roadblocks.

"You might be able to draw the conclusion that he might have issues with those types of actions," LaHaye said.

Baldacci praised school and police for their fast response Friday. He said the school secretary called a "code blue" and then dialed 911. After being locked down on Oct. 24, the day after the traffic incident, the schools have been in a heightened state of security, he said.

Details of the school's emergency plan weren't immediately available. The Maine Department of Education began requiring schools to enlist local police, fire and emergency preparedness officials in creating emergency response plans in 2002.

[slim1h2o]

We''ve gone bonkers. Thats all there is to it.....



Any questions?

[shortestfuse]

sounds more like a prison than common sense for a school

[rbullock440]

Seems like he just wanted 15 minutes of fame. Nice pic!

[erichinnw]

I''m from that county in Maine originally, and they shut the schools down because there''s normally zero violent crime in area. For something like this to happen is extremely rare and upsetting, so it''s normal that the schools would close for students'' safety so they could be with their families.

[blackbabymom]

"Yous has all dat securities `cause you lives in da white skool dis`rick, Massa."

And yet, for all your common sense used for reasoning that the schools should remain open, he took fifth graders hostage in the school... good thing they didn`t close the schools, huh, white boy?
-----------
Posted by Nancy_Naive

NAIVE is appropriate. Another RACIST provoking the ire of solid standing citizens.

[peach652]

I''m not in favor of just anyone having a gun either... but I think the situation is so far out of control now, that trying to remove guns from the general public is impossible at this point. It''s too late. Nuts have guns, and there is nothing that can be done about it.

[chad55555]

Gun control is not the question here,unless your siding with Hitler.We have created a society of nuts,crazy people.In the last 50 years we took the only God America''s only God (Christian,started this country) out of school.We tell people do their thing and don''t forget police go crazy too and use their guns.And who will be the poster child for jerk of the year.THIS WHOLE PROBLEM GOES DEEPER THEN WE MAY REALIZE.Let''s reflect on what and when things started going wrong and FIX it.BLAME OTHERS IS
ALL SOME KNOW HOW TO DO. SOLVE PROBLEMS DON''T CREATE NEW ONES. My heart goes out to the kids and there families,Thank God no one was hurt...

[ccdsswrkr08]

The guns themselves are not the problem. People will find other means of hurting each other. Ok so we take away all the guns....what next, no one can have a kitchen knife?

[slim1h2o]

There are a ton of things we can do now. It will take time and it won''''t be easy but the solution suggested by criminologists is to reduce the prevalence of guns.


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Posted by elcantante1 at 01:24 PM : Oct 31, 2008


Or just shoot everyone that disagrees with you. Eh? Schoollord?

[pinewalker-2009]

This is a sad day for Mainers. Most of us in this relatively rural state do our best to abide by the law. This man clearly needs help, which he hopefully will receive under Maine''s current healthcare system and criminal justice system. Please thank whatever you hold Holy that this person did not do something more egregious and stupid. Post Script:Gun Control is NOT the answer. As previously stated, guns ARE in the world. There is NO stopping this fact. Taking guns away from law abiding people will only increase the frequency of random, idiotic, undesirable actions by the (Reletively) few deluded citizens of our great nation.

[gop_will_win]

Now if these 5th graders were allowed to bring their guns to school, this liberal would have never thought to hold them hostage. Stupid liberals!

[pinewalker-2009]

In Star Trek V "The Final Frontier", it was said that on Nimbus III the residents were forbidden weapons and so they soon fassioned their own. Pandora''s box has been opened people. All that remains is hope...and pray tell...reason!! Get rid of firearms, and people still have stone knives and clubs...LOL.

[pinewalker-2009]

According to myth, Cane killed Able with a rock. You want to get rid of guns to feel safer!?! Haa...**** Sapiens as a species that for all of our intellect, are fundi"mentally" flawed...can anyone else see that?

[ccdsswrkr08]

ccd said "The guns themselves are not the problem. People will find other means of hurting each other. Ok so we take away all the guns....what next, no one can have a kitchen knife?"

The guns are the main problem. Close to 70% of all homicides are gun related. Close to 60% of all suicides are gun related as well. That means we have more homicides and suicides with guns than with all the other weapons and methods COMBINED. We have more knives than guns yet guns are used to kill 30,000 each year while knives barely kill over a 1,000. See how weak the claims of gun owners are?



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Posted by elcantante1 at 01:59 PM : Oct 31, 2008

Check your statistics again. Are the people who are all the people who are using these guns to kill others and themselves LISCENSED gun owners? NO. And I''m really really curious, how do you propose we get rid of all the guns? Even if we make them illegal, that doesn''t mean people aren''t going to still have them (Like they do now) and still kill people with them.

[mbourn2]

Interesting...

92.2 percent of police officials in a national survey appearing in the July/August 1991 issue of Law Enforcement Technology. The National Association of Chiefs of Police''s latest survey of the opinions of American police executives yielded results consistent with its 16 previous annual surveys: %u201CWith regard to private citizens owning firearms for sport or self-defense, 93.6 percent of the respondents supported civilian gun-ownership rights. Ninety-six percent of the police chiefs and sheriffs believe criminals obtain firearms from illegal sources When asked if [giving] citizens concealed-weapons permits would reduce violent crime, 63.1 percent said yes.%u201D

2 J.L. Econ. & Pol''y 309, 317 (.Fall2006)

[yunarikku]

My kid goes to school in this district & the staff had plans in place and took the right precautions when this unfolded. The same thing goes for when he evaded cops at the start, they cancelled school so kids wouldn''t be outside or a potential target as they searched for him. This is MAINE ppl, owning a gun and hunting are the way of life here and have NOTHING to do with him doing what he did. He had a beef with the police (specifically the officer who pulled him over) and it escalated from there. That,and I believe one of his kids was in that class. At least the kids are all safe and HE is off the streets... that''s what important.

[simplemind2]

So is this nutcase - Randall Hofland, 55 going to appear on tonight''s Fox "Are you smarter than a 5TH grader" TV show then?

[usclimey]

Thank God the kids sorted this out for themselves rather than letting the blood-thirsty trigger happy local SWAT team to do it for them.

[pinewalker-2009]

Then PLEASE, by all means, advocate for banning rocks, even hands, arms, legs and teeth as all can be used to kill. Humans will not stop unless we can''t move. **** Sapiens, by and large, is a violent species that has assisted in the extinction of countless other species. The most dangerous prey, after all is one''s own kind.

[indiana_gal]

I just got my carry permit so that I can protect myself from nutts like this.

[pinewalker-2009]

Evolution has bred us to be THE apex predator of Terra. Even now, we pollute the oceans and seek to destroy the planet that has so generously supported us.

[avigil2]

Any monster who holds kids hostage or any of the awful dreadful things (torture, sexual abuse, murder) are complete cowards.

[toolmangler-2009]

If gun owners have less guns so will criminals!~
Posted by elcantante1 at 02:30 PM : Oct 31, 2008



Nope!!! If it is against the law, most people will not own a gun, and most criminals will. (Criminals are like that). Anybody that knows me also knows that I am an excellent marksman that will not be disarmed.

[docpeter1953]

Pinewalker said "Then PLEASE, by all means, advocate for banning rocks, even hands, arms, legs and teeth as all can be used to kill."

But from all those you mentioned the only weapon killing 30,000 is guns not TEETH!~

Posted by elcantante1 at 02:40 PM : Oct 31, 2008
_____________

eliminate guns and humans will return to kinives and swords, bows and arrows, rocks and clubs, and hands. Guns are a convenience for killing. Why don''t we remove the killers before they kill?

[toolmangler-2009]

You just increased the chances of death in your home in exchange for the limited chance of being able to defend yourself with that gun.
Posted by elcantante1 at 02:39 PM : Oct 31, 2008



"WHY"???? were you planning on doing her next?

[toolmangler-2009]

Sorry elcantante1, I couldn''t resist.

[toolmangler-2009]

eliminate guns and humans will return to kinives and swords, bows and arrows, rocks and clubs, and hands. Guns are a convenience for killing. Why don''''t we remove the killers before they kill?
Posted by docpeter1953 at 02:43 PM : Oct 31, 2008



Well said and 100% agreement

[ccdsswrkr08]

People who kill, will always find a way to kill. Guns are the easiest way to do it, hence that''s how it''s being done. Like I said before, take away the guns, and people will just find another way. On average, 10,000 people a year are killed in gun related incidents, over 40,000 are killed in auto related incidents. So....are we going to get rid of cars too?

[generey]

Why not eliminate schools & then we would''nt have to worry about it????? DUH HUH!!!(Save money that way too!).

[toolmangler-2009]

Then you can''''t call yourself a "law abiding" person!~
Posted by elcantante1 at 02:49 PM : Oct 31, 2008



Why not!!! I haven''t broken any laws?. beside that I also said "Most people", I am not a fool nor will I ''***/U/ME, that criminals cannot not get guns to use against me. In this case, "Fool me once (and I am dead)" is the rule I will follow.

[toolmangler-2009]

***/u/me CBS censor jerks!!!!

[ccdsswrkr08]

elcantante1

While you make an excellent point about the statistics, I still cant help but feeling, if you take away the guns...people will just find another way. What will be the arguement when the same amount of people are dying, but just by other weapons? Will we take away anything that can be used as a weapon?

[toolmangler-2009]

I understand. To resist that kind of thing you need character.
Posted by elcantante1 at 02:54 PM : Oct 31, 2008


True, BS brings out my rougher side. Besides, I ''am'' a Character''

[docpeter1953]

docpeter said "eliminate guns and humans will return to kinives and swords, bows and arrows, rocks and clubs, and hands. Guns are a convenience for killing. Why don''''''''t we remove the killers before they kill?"

We do have to remove the killers but we also have to remove the weapon used more than all the other ones COMBINED. If we do not have guns they might use those weapons. But those weapons are called "less deadly weapons" because people less are killed with them. So we will have a net reduction in homicides and suicides.

Posted by elcantante1 at 02:52 PM : Oct 31, 2008
_________________

So we remove guns now, then knives, clubs, baseball bats, rocks, hammers, pieces of iron, glass bottles, ad nauseum removal.

Sir or madam, you are looking to live in a sterile world, where never a human can harm another. That world doesn''t exist on planet earth, get a reality check. We humans have been killing eachother for thousands of years, what makes you think we will stop now? Even if you believe in The Bible as complete fact, Cain slew his brother Able about 5,000 years ago.

Guns are just the latest invention of man for personal destruction. If a human could find another way of killing another quickly at a distance, and would not get blood on his hands he would.

Removing guns is not the total and end all solution. It doesn''t even come close to one. I have trained to seriously hurt others with my hands, the thing that keeps me from killing is my conscience.

[toolmangler-2009]

Posted by ccdsswrkr08 at 03:02 PM : Oct 31, 2008



elcantante1 has way to much caracter to understand that POV.

[toolmangler-2009]

Removing guns is not the total and end all solution. It doesn''''t even come close to one. I have trained to seriously hurt others with my hands, the thing that keeps me from killing is my conscience.
Posted by docpeter1953 at 03:03 PM : Oct 31, 2008



But you must have Character also. ;) I am trained and proficient the the following, Knives, Bow and arrows, slings, Pistols, Rifles and bare hands. My conscience and a sense of right from wrong keeps me from being a beast. (Now if I could only get character)

[nobama4]

Guns kill the same way forks made Rosie O''Donnell fat.

Stop being a bunch of granola eating g a y s from Berkley, stop blaming inanimate objects, unlike in Disney cartoons "things" are not alive and capable of independent action.

Now I wait for some libtard community college drop out who works at Starbucks or Barnes & Noble to argue that inanimate objects like guns can go on shooting rampages with-out human assistance.

HAHAHAHAHAHA

[meinnv]

Since under the useless laws we have felons are barred from buying guns, one has to assume that all the guns they use were stolen from licensed gun owners. This would make licensed gun owners as dangerous as the local dealers.

Posted by usclimey at 02:24 PM : Oct 31, 2008

Not exactly true. What about street thugs who sell stolen handguns. Possibly stolen from the gun stores during a robbery, flood or riot. What about weapons the police have confiscated??

By the way, I don''t have a gun, though I feel if the authors of the constitution felt it was my right and so included it, it is my right. I am looking into getting a gun for my protection. Properly maintained, properly handled, and properly protected no gun has ever jumped up and killed anyone.

Killers will kill, they will use anything. What about those in prison making "shanks" out of a toothbrush??

[ccdsswrkr08]

ccd said "While you make an excellent point about the statistics, I still cant help but feeling, if you take away the guns...people will just find another way. What will be the arguement when the same amount of people are dying, but just by other weapons? Will we take away anything that can be used as a weapon?"

Not anything that could be to used as a weapon but we do have to target that "something" used more than all the other "somethings" COMBINED!~ Guns are designed to kill people. Criminologists say that a reduction in the total number of guns will reduce homicides and suicides. That''''s the way to go.



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Posted by elcantante1 at 03:18 PM : Oct 31, 2008

True, but aren''t knives designed to kill? While a knife has many other uses (unlike a gun...although with no bullets it does make an excellent paperweight), it''s original intent was to kill, or harm. Will we take away knives when they become the most used method of death?

[dragontat2]

If guns kill people, then pens misspell words.

I wish I had no use for guns. No one really needs one except for the fact that others have them. But banning them is not the answer.

[meinnv]

What we need to do is bring back "personal accountability". We as a nation can not stop the violence of others, but we can push for stricter penalities.

Homicides committed with a gun, any type of gun--automatic death sentence. If a child commits the crime, such as in Columbine, execute when he turns 18.

Knowing we''d be losing our life for pulling the trigger would make some, not all, but some re-think that. If I knew using a gun to kill someone who pi**ed me off would cause my death, I think I would go to anger management.

What separates us from animals is our compassion and ability to reason. When we commit heinous, barbaric crimes, we lose our humanity. What would we do with a pontentially dangerous animal?? We''d put it down.

[hissteps4u]

The teacher leaving the children shows me anyway that I would not want my kids in that school. While I understand the need to attempt to get away BUT about the children????? This was a horriable action. Police would have been nitified anyway her leaving the children alone was not the rational act of someone watching my children I would approve of.

This turned out OK but it could have easily turned out another way and the Kids seeing the teacher leave them helpless must surley cause them harm for some time to come

If I was a parent I wouold demand reeducation and the principle of keeping our children safe as can be she could have been a Hero by keeping the children calm with a reassuring face rather than bolted out when trouble arose as she did.

Not iMpressed with the calabor of teachers now adays.

[meinnv]

Think back to colonial times when even 12 yr old boys were in the militias.

Boys even younger than 9 had access to weapons for the purpose of hunting. Did they go on wild crime spees back then?

How many colonists had muskets back then? Did they commit random acts of violence against each other?

No, because there were public executions. Even something as harmless as being a witch got you hung by the neck in the public sqaure.

Why the difference? Lack in personal accountability. There is so much "enabling" in today''s society. Because of the colors of our skin, our religion, our birth country. Everything has become an "enablement".

We need to be accountable for our actions. DO THE CRIME, DO THE TIME.

I do not want the rights that my family has fought & died for, taken from me. I lost family members in every single war, going back to the Revolutionary War to fight for my rights.

[docpeter1953]

Then he said "Sir or madam"

A "doc" could be male or female but "elcantante" could just be male. Do you know the difference between the two?

elcantante1 at 03:18 PM : Oct 31, 2008
___________

Yes I do, when i see them. I was being curteous to you because your handle is quite feminine

posted by

[docpeter1953]

Then he said "I have trained to seriously hurt others with my hands, the thing that keeps me from killing is my conscience."

So do you soak your hands in a basket filled with dirty, smelly socks or do you mean like chocking people to death? "LOL"

Posted by elcantante1 at 03:28 PM : Oct 31, 2008
____________

No I mean by striking them. You seem to be one sided and only wish to take out parts of what has been said. I also said that I don''t kill because I have a conscience.

What the he11/ You don''t have a comment about wanting to live in a sterile world, Cain slew Able, humans have been killing eachother for thousands of years. Don''t these prove you are wrong so are not worthy of response.

[meinnv]

I too am shocked a teacher would run off from the students to get help. You can bet had my child been there, I would have pulled my child out of that school and home-schooled them.

Of course I would have given my child a cell phone to text me, and I would have called the police.

Glad I am thinking about home-schooling my children when I do have them. But someone had said no school, no need to worry about this. Absolutely right.

Schools breed intolerance, hate, and low self-esteem. Perhaps we need to start home-schooling our kids and teaching them VALUES and HONESTY as well.

[nobama4]

A gun owner could go on a shooting rampage without a firearm the same way forks made Rosie O''''''''Donnell fat. The bullets do NOT come out of the trigger fingers of the shooters. In order to have a shooting you need guns. No guns=no shootings!~



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Posted by elcantante1





So someone who is a criminal, the only sort of person who goes on shooting rampages is a criminal (criminal defined as someone who does not obey the law) is expected to obey gun laws?

Your solution is to disarm law abiding citizens leaving them to be with-out defense from people who have no regard for law or human life?

Good thinking.


That is why half the country will not step over to the libtard side.

[meinnv]

Then he said "Killers will kill, they will use anything."

They use guns a lot more than your "anything" even though "anything" is easier to obtain than guns.

Posted by elcantante1 at 03:39 PM : Oct 31, 2008

By the way I am a female. Just thought you''d like to know.

And I have been around guns since I was 5 years old. My uncle made sure his 5 kids never got near them, and they haven''t died. He''s had guns in his house since before his kids were born (which were between 1970 & 1979). His last child has a mental disability and is kept from the guns as well.

It''s called responsibility. I have been firing weapons since I was 9. I haven''t killed anyone, nor do I desire too unless they pose a threat to me. If someone illegally enters into my home with a gun, I want to be able to defend myself, not be killed or raped.

[meinnv]

Also, please don''t mention gender when quoting someone. People tend to view it as ignorant or stereo-typing.

If you refer to me say "meinnv" said this, then goes on to state.....

Also killers will use anything, that has been proven. Lizzie Borden used an ax, gave her mother 30 or 40 whacks, then gave her father 31 or 41. Can''t remember that. But we all know she used an ax.

Why weren''t there more killings in colonial times when even children had FREE access to guns??

[nobama4]

In the PRESENT guns are used to kill more people than all the other weapons and methods COMBINED. Accept that reality. The deadly weapons you defend so much are designed to kill people. That''''s why they are used to kill so many.



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Posted by elcantante1





Less than 10,000 people a year are murdered, with about 1500 from firearms, out of 300 million.

50,000 die in car accidents. Ban them?

Millions die from Malaria caused by mosquittos, a can of insect repellant could save them. So is it safe to say that our lack of action buying bug spray kills more people than guns?

Yep.


Oh and BTW, about 2 million times a year (FBI stat) guns are used in legal self defense, saving lives.


You and Hitler agree, gun control makes life so much easier for tyranny.