The suspect in Thursday’s fatal shooting at the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland, was “there to kill as many people as he could,” local police revealed Friday.
The man, identified as Jarrod Warren Ramos, barricaded the back door of the newspaper before moving around to the front. He reportedly set off a smoke bomb before opening fire on the newspaper, Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh introduced Friday. Police said they found “evidence at the residence” that the assault was planned.
Ramos, a man with a troubled past and a long-standing vendetta against the Capital Gazette, killed five people with a legally-obtained 12-gauge pump-action shotgun. His weapon was loaded with buckshot. (RELATED: Annapolis Shooter Identified, Called Gazette His ‘Sworn Blood Enemies’)
“This person was prepared today to come in, this person was prepared to shoot people,” Anne Arundel County Deputy Police Chief William Krampf told The Washington Post, “His intent was to cause harm.”
Police arrived on the scene within 60 seconds and were storming the building within two minutes. The suspect had dropped his weapon and was hiding when the authorities found him, Timothy Altomare, the Anne Arundel County Police chief, told reporters.
“What isincredible to me is the courage they demonstrated going into the building without a moment’s hesitation knowing there was an active shooter,” Schuh revealed, “Our officers were on scene very, very quickly so he did not have time to reload or to continue with the firing.”
The suspect, charged with five counts of first-degree murder, has not been cooperating with the authorities. He appeared in court via video, and the judge ordered that he be held without bail.
“This attack shocked the conscience of our nation and filled our hearts with grief,” President Donald Trump said Friday in response to the tragic shooting, “To the families of the victims, there are no words to express our sorrow for your loss.”
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