A white male walked into the offices of Capital Gazette Communications near Annapolis with a shotgun and opened fire, killing five people and injuring two others, Anne Arundel County Police said.
Deputy Chief William Krampf said the two injuries were “superficial,” possibly related to broken glass from the gun blasts.
The victims were identified as Robert Hiaasen, Wendi Winters, Rebecca Smith, Gerald Fischman and John McNamara.
Laurel resident Jarrod Ramos, 38, was taken into custody by police and later charged with five counts of first-degree murder. Ramos had previously sued the company for defamation and lost.
Krampf said the shooter targeted the news operation at 888 Bestgate Road specifically.
“He entered with the building with a shotgun and looked for his victims as he walked through the lower level,” he said.
Cops and courts reporter Phil Davis described how the man shot through the glass door of the newsroom and began firing on employees.
A single shooter shot multiple people at my office, some of whom are dead.
— Phil Davis (@PhilDavis_CG) June 28, 2018
Gunman shot through the glass door to the office and opened fire on multiple employees. Can't say much more and don't want to declare anyone dead, but it's bad.
— Phil Davis (@PhilDavis_CG) June 28, 2018
There is nothing more terrifying than hearing multiple people get shot while you're under your desk and then hear the gunman reload
— Phil Davis (@PhilDavis_CG) June 28, 2018
Shortly after the shooting started, an intern tweeted out a plea for help.
Active shooter 888 Bestgate please help us
— Anthony Messenger (@amesscapgaz) June 28, 2018
A mother and son, who both declined to give their names, said they arrived at the building for a doctor’s appointment and heard three shots. Police told them to get down.
The mother said she “saw a lady laying on the ground.”
“She was shot in the stomach and that’s all I remember, I was running so fast,” she said.
Police found canisters from smoke grenades used by the suspect. The bomb squad determined they were not active grenades, and police spokesman Lt. Ryan Frashure said they do not anticipate finding more potential explosives.
No gunfire was exchanged when police apprehended the suspect, said Frashure.
Officers from several local departments arrived in the area within a minute to a minute and a half after the shooting was reported, a coordinated effort that Frashure said prevented the incident from being more deadly. Nearly 170 people made it out of the building safely and were directed to a reunification center at nearby Westfield Annapolis Mall, he said.
At least 10 different agencies, including some federal organizations, helped with the initial investigation.
Police are working to obtain a warrant to search the suspect’s home. Krampf told reporters about threats made to the Capital through social media but declined to offer specifics. Investigators are working to confirm the owner of the account that sent the messages, he said.
Authorities have reopened the area around the building, but Krampf said the office building where the shooting took place will remain closed for an undetermined amount of time.
Both Gov. Larry Hogan and Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh praised first responders for acting quickly to apprehend the suspect.
“It’s a tragic situation, but there were some very brave people who came in and kept it from being worse,” said Hogan.
Comprised of The Capital, the Maryland Gazette and several other local papers, Capital Gazette Communications is now owned by Baltimore Sun Media Group. Police also responded to The Sun’s building at 501 N. Calvert St. shortly after the shooting started near Annapolis. On the scanner, there was some confusion among police officers about whether there was a shooting at The Sun.
Baltimore Police Department spokesman T.J. Smith told The Sun‘s Colin Campbell police sent the SWAT team in to clear the building. There was never any threat, he said.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen tweeted his support to Davis, the crime reporter.
Phil, I can’t imagine what you and the entire Capital Gazette team are going through right now. Journalists shouldn’t have to fend off bullets in the newsroom while doing their jobs—this is not normal. Stay strong. https://t.co/hchUMIaMN1
— Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) June 28, 2018
Hogan released the following statement.
Governor Larry Hogan released the following statement on today’s shooting in Annapolis: pic.twitter.com/C0cRBmf8Ot
— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) June 28, 2018
Another media briefing is expected tomorrow morning.
Chase Cook, a reporter with Capital Gazette who said he was not in the building at the time of the shooting, pledged this on Twitter:
I can tell you this: We are putting out a damn paper tomorrow.
— Chase Cook (@chaseacook) June 28, 2018
Joseph M. Giordano contributed reporting. This story will be updated.
Brandon Weigel
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