Five shot dead as gunman storms newspaper office
FIVE people were shot dead in a gun rampage at a newspaper office in America yesterday.
A gunman fired through a glass door at The Capital Gazette headquarters as terrified journalists cowered under their desks.
Phil Davis, a crime reporter for the paper, confirmed that several people had been shot. He hid under his desk as the attack began and wrote on Twitter: ‘A single shooter shot multiple people at my office, some of whom are dead.
‘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.
‘There is nothing more terrifying than hearing multiple people get shot while you’re under your desk and then hear the gunman reload.’
Last night a city spokesman in Annapolis, Maryland, said a 20-year- old man was in custody but could not confirm he was working alone.
The building is usually open to the public, fuelling fears the shooter could have easily planned his attack beforehand.
John McNamara, who worked for the Gazette and is the editor of the local papers the Bowie BladeNews and the Crofton-West County Gazette, was reportedly one of the victims. However, it is not clear whether he was among the injured or fatalities at the attack.
TV news reports showed people could be seen leaving the building with their hands up, as police officers urged them to escape through a car park while armed teams converged on the building. Carlos Wallace, who works at a petrol station near the newspaper’s offices, estimated that ‘dozens of dozens’ of law enforcement vehicles and ambulances had raced toward the scene with sirens blaring. He said: ‘The road is blocked off. It’s like dozens of dozens of emergency all types, vehicles, explosive police vehicles, cars battering of ram vehicles.’ The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said it was responding to reports of the shooting at the Baltimore Sunowned newspaper headquarters. Marc Limansky, spokesman for the Anne Arundel County Police Department, said last night that officers were searching the building.
He said the situation was ‘active and ongoing.’ Lt. Ryan Frashure, from the same force, told local radio officers were ‘doing everything to get people out safe’.
He said they must look for other dangers, such as bombs and other shooters. The police department tweeted yesterday: ‘Confirming active shooter at 888 Best-
‘Shot through glass door’
gate Road in Annapolis. Building evacuated. Officers continuing to search building.’
The Capital Gazette is a daily newspaper that serves the city of Annapolis. Its sister newspaper, The Maryland Gazette, is one of the oldest American newspapers. It was founded in 1884.
Maryland governor Larry Hogan said he was ‘absolutely devastated’ at the tragedy.
Officials said President Donald Trump had been briefed on the situation.
White House spokesman Lindsay Waters told reporters, ‘our thoughts and prayers are with all that are affected.’