28 June 2018•Update: 29 June 2018
By Safvan Allahverdi
WASHINGTON
At least five people are dead and several others “gravely injured” after a gunman opened fire Thursday in the newsroom of the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland.
“There are five fatalities that we know of,” Anne Arundel County Acting Police Chief Bill Krampf said at a press conference near the investigation scene.
Officials said one suspect -- a white male who is believed to have used a shotgun in the attack -- has been taken into custody and is being interrogated but is not cooperating with investigators.
At another press conference, city officials said police, who evacuated about 170 people from the building, discovered what they thought was an explosive device and said the item "has been taken care of".
Phil Davis, a reporter for the Gazette, said on Twitter that “a single shooter shot multiple people at my office, some of whom are dead.”
Davis said the gunman shot through the glass door to the office and opened fire on multiple employees.
“I’m a police reporter. I write about this stuff -- not necessarily to this extent, but shootings and death -- all the time,” Davis said.
“But as much as I’m going to try to articulate how traumatizing it is to be hiding under your desk, you don’t know until you’re there and you feel helpless.”
The shooting prompted a massive police response. It was not immediately clear about the conditions of the victims as police were still confirming the number of people who were injured.
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan said he was “absolutely devastated to learn of this tragedy in Annapolis,” adding he was in contact with authorities and Maryland State Police who were on the scene assisting county police.
"We must unite to end the violence,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen tweeted.
President Donald Trump was briefed on the shooting while in Wisconsin for a rally.
"Prior to departing Wisconsin, I was briefed on the shooting at Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. Thank you to all of the First Responders who are currently on the scene," Trump said on Twitter.
Federal agents from Baltimore’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were also on the scene.
