Five dead as gunman storms newspaper
FIVE people were shot dead in a gun rampage at a newspaper office in the United States yesterday.
A gunman fired through a glass door at the Capital Gazette headquarters in Annapolis, Maryland, 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 posted 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.’
A city spokesman said a man in his twenties was in custody but could not confirm if he had been working alone.
John McNamara, who worked for the Gazette and is editor of the local papers the Bowie Blade-News and the CroftonWest County Gazette, was reportedly one of the victims. However, it is not clear whether or not he was among the injured or fatalities in the attack.
TV news reports showed people 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.
Marc Limansky, spokesman for the Anne Arundel County Police Department, said last night that officers were searching the building.
Maryland governor Larry Hogan said he was ‘absolutely devastated’.
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 who are affected.’