UNITED STATES—A shooting at the Capital Gazette newspaper located at 888 Bestgate Rd. left five people dead and two others injured on Thursday, June 28. The shooting was reported to the Anne Arundel Police Department at 2:34 p.m.
CNN reported that the five who were killed have all been identified as Wendi Winters (Special Publications), Rebecca Smith (Sales Assistant), Robert Hiaasen (Assistant News Editor), Gerald Fischman (Editorial Page Editor), and John McNamara (Staff Writer).
Steve Schuh, an Anne Arundel County Executive, stated that the suspect, Jarrod Ramos, 38, was found hiding under a desk. Ramos refused to cooperate with police after being taken into custody. He used a shotgun during the attack. CNN reported that Ramos filed a defamation suit against the newspaper in 2012 over an article written about him in a criminal harassment case.
“Our community was shaken by tragedy today. The Capital and the Maryland Gazette are institutions that have served us well for so many years, and I have had the pleasure of working alongside the editors, reporters and photographers. Our law enforcement professionals responded swiftly and I thank them for protecting the public by eliminating the threat and taking the suspect into custody. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families,” said Schuh in a statement on Facebook.
Phil Davis, a crime reporter for the Capital Gazette, tweeted, “Gunman shot through the glass door to the office and opened fire on multiple employees.” He said that the newsroom resembled a “war zone.”
According to reports, authorities arrived on the scene within 60 seconds, prompting employees to hide from the gunman under their desks. There were a total of 170 people inside the building when the shooting transpired.
Staff Editor Paul Gillespie talked about the shooting with the Baltimore Sun. “I was curled up, trying not to breathe, trying not to make a sound, and he shot people all around me,” said Gillespie.
Police Chief William Krampf stated that the attack was targeted. “This person was prepared today to come in. This person was prepared to shoot people. His intent was to cause harm, and as I’ve stated before, the investigative part of this is going to be thorough, and it’s going to take some time,” said Krampf.
Evan Perez of CNN reported, “It appears that there had been some type of beef that he had, something that he believes that went wrong previously in an interaction with someone at that newspaper…either an editor or an executive at the newspaper.”
Capital Gazette reporter Chase Cook declared, “I can tell you this: We are putting out a damn paper tomorrow.”
President Donald Trump tweeted: “Prior to departing Wisconsin, I was briefed on the shooting at Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. Thank you to all of the First Responders who are currently on the scene.”
Written By Madison McKesson and Kelsey Thomas
