KILLER
Had threatened paper
The grudge-harboring maniac accused of killing five Maryland newspaper staffers picked off his victims one by one, and made sure the couldn’t escape, authorities said Friday.
Suspected gunman Jarrod Ramos shot his way into the Annapolis office of the Capitol Gazette Thursday afternoon, killing five and wounding two others.
Ramos, 38, was held without bail after his arraignment on five counts of murder Friday.
“We brought to the judge’s attention the evidence that suggested a coordinated attack, the barricading of a back door and the use of a tactical approach in hunting down victims in this case,” Anne Arundel County State Attorney Wes Adams said.
Those who tried to escape only found themselves in Ramos’ crosshairs, Adams explained. “I will say this: The fellow was there to kill as many people as possible,” County Police Chief Timothy Altomare added.
Police said Ramos used a pumpaction shotgun to kill 59-year-old Rob Hiaasen, an assistant editor and columnist for the newspaper; 65-yearold Wendi Winters, a community correspondent; 61-year-old Gerald Fischman, the editorial page editor; 56-year-old John McNamara, a staff writer tasked with covering high school, college and professional sports; and 34-year-old Rebecca Smith, a recently hired sales assistant. Two other people were wounded.
Ramos legally bought the weapon within the past 18 months, even though he has a criminal record and a history of violent behavior, including making threats against the newspaper, cops said.
“There’s a real gap in Maryland law in that it treats semi-automatic rifles and handguns fairly comprehensively, but not shotguns,” said David Chip-