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Police identify victims in shooting at Maryland newspaper that left 5 dead

By Allie Goolrick, WSBTV.com
By Allie Goolrick, WSBTV.com

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Five people were killed and 2 others are injured in what police called a 'targeted attack' at a newspaper office in Annapolis, Maryland, according to the local sheriff's office. The shooter was arrested shortly after the attack.

A large police presence swarmed the building that houses the Capital Gazette on Thursday afternoon. Several other businesses are in the building but the suspect targeted the first-floor newsroom, police say.

Four people were killed in the newsroom, according to investigators. A fifth person died after being medically evacuated.

Police identified the victims Thursday night as Gerald Fischman, Robert Haissen, John McNamara, Wendi Winters and Rebecca Smith, all employees at the Capital Gazette. Four were journalists and one was a sales assistant, according to the newspaper's website.

Law enforcement sources identified the alleged shooter to ABC News as Laurel, Maryland, resident Jarrod Ramos. Police say Ramos used a shotgun to carry out the attack.

The sheriff said in a press conference that Ramos had posted threats on social media directed toward the newspaper.

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The Baltimore Sun, which owns the Capital, said that in 2012, Ramos filed a defamation lawsuit against the paper and a columnist over a July 2011 story that covered a criminal harassment case against him.

Police say Ramos was not carrying I.D. and 'mutilated his fingers' in an effort to thwart identification but they were able to determine his identity through facial recognition.

The Gazette's crime and court reporter tweeted about the attack in harrowing detail. Phil Davis tweeted that the gunman shot through a glass door at the office and opened fire on employees. Davis said he heard the gunman reload.

A witness told ABC News he saw a man holding a gun and the door to the newspaper was shattered.

The ATF and the FBI responded to the scene. Police evacuated more than 170 people safely from the building and searched for any other possible shooters or explosives.

Investigators found smoke grenade canisters used by the suspect inside.

The building has since been secured.

Fellow journalists have set up a GoFundMe account to pay for medical bills and funeral expenses.

Video showed people with their hands raised filing out of the office building.

President Trump has been briefed on the situation, according to ABC News. The president tweeted "my thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families."

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan tweeted that he was "absolutely devastated to learn of this tragedy" and urged people to stay away from the scene.

Cox Media Group

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