Tipsheet

Mass Shooting In Maryland Newsroom, Multiple People Shot

Matt Vespa
Matt Vespa  |  June 28, 2018 3:11 PM

We have reports of a shooting at a Maryland newsroom. Fox News is reporting that there are multiple fatalities and an arrest might have been made. Ron Bateman, Sheriff of Anne Arundel County, spoke with Shepard Smith recently and gave him a preliminary report. We’ll keep you updated.

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LATEST (Lauretta): Local police officials revealed Thursday evening that the shooting was a "targeted attack" on the Capital Gazette and that the paper had received threats prior to the shooting. They say the suspect was in his thirties but they will not release further details until Friday morning as their investigation is still ongoing.

The suspect has also been identified as 38-year-old Jarrod Ramos. He sued The Capital in 2012 for defamation, which was dismissed in court.

The victims have been identified as well:

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UPDATE: The shooting occurred at the offices of the Capital Gazette. It’s owned by the Baltimore Sun. It’s been around since 1884. Anthony Messenger, an intern at the Capital, tweeted about the shooter, pleading for assistance on Twitter.

UPDATE II: ATF is responding to the scene. The bomb squad is reported en route to fully secure the area. There are reports that at least six people are reported to be shot. President Trump has been briefed on the incident.

UPDATE III: Gov. Larry Hogan has responded to this tragic shooting, saying he’s “absolutely devastated.” Phil Davis, a crime reporter for The Capital, is tweeted, “A single shooter shot multiple people at my office, some of whom are dead…[the] 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,” he added. The Capitalis also reporting on this incident as well. 

UPDATE IV: NYPD has dispatched units to the headquarters of all major newsrooms in the city out of caution. CBS News is reporting that four people are dead. Shooter has been apprehended, according to Annapolis officials.

UPDATE V: Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh said several people have been killed. He thanks first responders who arrived at the scene within 60 seconds. Suspect is still being interviewed by detectives. 

UPDATE VI: The number of casualties has been updated. At least five people have been killed. It's now one of the deadliest attacks on journalists in American history. Trump responds, saying thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. He also thanked the first responders. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPDATE VII: Jim DeButts, editor for the Capital Gazette, tweeted that he was “devastated and heartbroken,” but that his reporters are passionate, they will continue to report the news, and nothing will prevent them in accomplishing that goal. That is their mission.

Correction: Fingertips angle has been corrected by CBS News. Shooter's fingerprints were not damaged.

The initial version of this story published Thursday evening reported that the suspect had "damaged" the tips of his fingers in an attempt to prevent identification, citing a law enforcement official. On Friday, Anne Arundel County Police Chief Timothy Altomare said that there was a lag in identifying the suspect using fingerprints, and that facial recognition technology was used. But he said that "there was no alteration to his fingerprints." This story has been updated.

UPDATE VIII (Lauretta): CBS reports that "One law enforcement source says the suspect is a white male in his 20s and didn't have identification on him. The suspect is refusing to identify himself. The suspect damaged his fingertips in an effort to avoid identification," according to a law enforcement source.