In a shocking attack on a local newspaper building in Maryland a gunman opened fire on Thursday killing five and leaving several others injured
MARYLAND, U. S. – In a shocking attack on a local newspaper building in Maryland, a gunman opened fire on Thursday, killing five and leaving several others injured.
According to officials in Annapolis, the shooting took place at the Capital Gazette newspaper and soon after a large number of police forces arrived the scene.
Anne Arundel police spokesman Lt. Ryan Frashure said that at about 2.40 pm on Thursday, the suspect reportedly fired first shots, and entered the building.
Soon after the alert was raised, officers raced to the scene, and arrived at the building within 60 seconds.
The office of Gazette, which is a local newspaper owned by The Baltimore Sun, was immediately evacuated by the local police.
Frashure said that no gunfire was exchanged between the suspect and the officers and the man was immediately taken into custody.
Addressing a news conference on Thursday, Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh said said, “We’ve had a terrible shooting incident here this afternoon.”
Further, William Krampf, acting chief of police for Anne Arundel County said at the conference that the suspect had been arrested, and that he had gunned down five people and left several others seriously injured.
Local reports noted that the suspect had sued a shotgun during his attack, but the police spokesman said the weapon used by the suspect was a long gun.
Reports quoted law enforcement sources as saying that the suspect is a white male in his 20s.
The man, who has refused to reveal his identity to investigators is said to have suffered a minor injury on his fingertips.
Further, officials said that they had not found any identification on the man.
According to a senior federal law enforcement source quoted in a report in CBS, the suspect was also carrying fake grenades when he launched the gun attack.
Later, police sources also stated that they had found smoke bombs and flash bang devices inside his backpack.
Speaking to reports, Krampf also said that officials discovered what they thought was an explosive device in the building, which has been “taken care of.”
Investigators are now collecting evidence at the building where in the incident occurred.
Krampf stated that over 170 people were safely escorted out of the building and were brought to a re-unification center that had been set up at a nearby mall.
The local law enforcement response was aided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and FBI.
Commenting on the incident, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan called it a “tragic situation,” but praised the local law enforcement for their quick response.
A spokesperson of the University of Maryland Medical Center meanwhile confirmed that one person had been brought in for treatment post the incident.
Further, two others that were injured in the incident were being treated at the Anne Arundel Medical Center.
U. S. President Donald Trump took to Twitter and said that he had been briefed about the incident and that his “thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.”
