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Gunman targets local daily newspaper office in Maryland, kills five

Calling it a ‘targeted attack‘, a gunman, armed with shotgun and grenades opened fire at a local newspaper office, Capital Gazette in Maryland, killing five and injuring several others, police reported.

Staff of the office at Annapolis said that the gunman shot through a glass door. US media have named the suspect held by the police for the shooting as Jarrod Ramos. He had earlier reportedly tried to sue the office for defamation in 2012.

Saying that a white, late 30s male suspect has been taken into custody, police did not confirm a motive and said he was being questioned. Investigations are underway looking into ‘violent threats’ made to the newspaper via social media.

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The deputy chief of Anne Arundel County Police said, “This was a targeted attack on the Capital Gazette. The gunman entered the building with a shotgun and looked for his victims as he walked through the lower level.”

Steve Schuh, the country executive reportedly told CNN that the police officers had arrived within ’60 seconds’ of receiving news and had found the suspect hiding under a desk. There was no exchange of fire.

The Capital Gazette publishes a number of newspapers, its daily known as The Capital. The daily has a history dating back to 1884 and is owned by The Baltimore Sun Media Group.

The victims identified by the police are Wendi Winters, Rebecca Smith, Robert Hiaasen, Gerald Fischman and John McNamara.

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