ABOUT THE LEGACY OF THE CAPITAL GAZETTE TRAGEDY

With the finding Thursday by an Annapolis jury that the Capital Gazette gunman was indeed criminally responsible for the brutal, calculated murders three years ago of five employees at the newspaper, the legal chapter of this horror story largely comes to a close. The shooter, whose only expressed regret was not killing more people, will most certainly be consigned to spend the rest of his life in prison at his sentencing, still to come.

Society has long recognized that prison is no solution to mental illness and that there is nothing to be gained by imprisoning those who are truly unable to judge right from wrong, no matter how heinous their actions. That was not the case for this gunman, however, which was obvious to many from the start.

The sanity of the shooter won’t bring back his victims: editor and columnist Rob Hiaasen, a married father of three who is forever frozen at 59; editorial page editor Gerald Fischman, who had a “wicked pen” and wry wit, 61; sports writer John “Mac” McNamara, whose one-liners were legendary, 56; sales assistant Rebecca Smith, who was engaged to be married, 34; and community correspondent Wendi Winters, whose three weekly columns brought neighbors closer together, 65. And it won’t lessen the pain their parents, spouses, children, friends and colleagues feel at their loss.

In the names of these five, we will continue to search for truth, expose misdeeds and bring light to all.