Maryland mass shooting - live: Suspect charged with murder in Smithsburg manufacturing facility shooting
The suspect has been taken into custody
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Your support makes all the difference.A 23-year-old suspect was named by officials and charged on several counts, including murder, after a shooting at a manufacturing facility in Smithsburg, Maryland led to three deaths and one person getting injured.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the death toll after violence broke out at Columbia Machine on Thursday afternoon.
The suspect was shot and injured during a confrontation with a Maryland State Police trooper, the sheriff’s office said. The trooper was shot in the shoulder but returned fire, hitting the shooter who was later hospitalised.
Authorities said on Friday that the suspect — a 23-year-old Hispanic male who was also an employee at the facility — has been charged with dozens of felonies, including murder.
According to the Washington County Sheriff’s office, Joe Louis Esquivel, 23, of Hedgesville, WV, has been charged with murder, attempted murder, assault and weapons charges in connection with the Smithsburg shooting.
The suspect, police said, used a semi-automatic handgun, however, the exact calibre, make and model have not been released.
“The motive for the shooting is still under investigation and there remains no active threat to the community,” the sheriff’s office said.
Everything we know about the Maryland mass shooting
The mass shooting at a Maryland factory left three dead and one injured.
The shooter was eventually captured after a shoot out that left a state trooper injured. The shooter was also wounded and is recovering in the hospital under police guard.
The Independent has compiled everything currently known about the shooting in the story below.
Maryland mass shooting: Everything we know
Latest mass shooting in Smithsburg, Maryland, has claimed at least three lives
Smithsburg mayor says liberties and safety must be balanced after mass shooting at factory
The mayor of Smithsburg, where a shooter killed three people at a Columbia Machine factory and injured another, told the Washington Post that he believes that individuals’ civil liberties must be balanced with the need for public safety.
“I think we are at a point where we need to balance those liberties versus the safety,” Mayor Donnie Souders said after the shooting.
ICYMI: Shooting suspect in custody
The shooting suspect, a 23-year-old man from West Virginia, has been taken in custody, police said after a video emerged of the gunman and troopers exchanging fire.
The sheriff’s office said they won’t name the suspect until he is officially charged.
“Units immediately responded and located 4 victims, 3 of which were deceased at the scene and one who was critically injured. The suspect fled the scene prior to Law Enforcement’s arrival.
“The description was quickly released to additional responding units and the suspect vehicle was encountered by Maryland State Police in the area of Maplesville Road and Mount Aetna Road, gunshots were exchanged between the suspect and the Trooper. Both were injured and transported for medical treatment,” authorities said.
ICYMI: Victims identified
The people killed in the mass shooting were all employees at Columbia Machine, police said.
The victims have been identified as Mark Alan Fry, 50; Charles Edward Minnick, 31; and Joshua Robert Wallace, 30.
The fourth person who was critically injured has been identified as 42-year-old Brandon Chase Michael, Washington County sheriff Doug Mullendore said.
Suspect used a handgun in the shooting
The shooting suspect, a 23-year-old Hispanic male, used a semi-automatic handgun to kill the victims, authorities said on Thursday.
However, the exact calibre, make and model were not released by the Washington County sheriff’s office.
“The motive for the shooting is still under investigation and there remains no active threat to the community,” the sheriff’s office said.
The suspect is in law enforcement custody at Meritus Medical Centre.
Support for tougher gun control laws in the US is at its highest level in a decade, according to a new poll.
ICYMI: Support for tougher gun control laws in the US is at its highest level in a decade, according to a new poll.
The study found 59 per cent of Americans think it is more important to control gun violence, compared to 35 per cent who want to protect gun rights.
Support for stricter gun control laws hits highest level in a decade; poll
Poll comes as Senators in Washington DC continue to discuss tightening firearms laws
Footage appears to show Maryland state trooper confronting gunman
Footage posted to social media appears to show the moment Maryland state troopers confront a gunman suspected of killing three people and wounding one other at a Smithsburg manufacturing plant.
The widely shared 45-second clip, which The Independent has been unable to independently verify, shows several vehicles travelling at high speed pulling to the side of the road.
Bevan Hurley has the story.
Footage appears to show Maryland state trooper exchange gunfire with suspected gunman
A Maryland state trooper was caught up in a gun battle with the suspect 8kms south of Smithsburg
Victim’s girlfriend speaks out
The girlfriend of one of the victims killed during a mass shooting at a Maryland factory shared her grief on social media Friday.
When news broke that a shooting had occurred at her boyfriend’s work, she asked her friends and family for prayers in a Facebook post.
“Please send lots of prayers!!! There was a shooting at Joshua Wallace work & I haven’t heard anything from him. Please send prayers, I’m so scared,” she wrote on the day of the shooting.
Eventually she would come to have her worst fears confirmed after learning Mr Wallace was one of the three workers killed.
On Thursday evening she shared a photos of herself and Mr Wallace on Facebook along with an announcement that he had been one of the individuals killed.
“I’m so sorry to say that Joshua Wallace was one of the ones who was killed in todays shooting.. my heart is completely shattered. I lost the love of my life today. I love you so much baby, I hate this. Our future is gone, you’re gone, I can’t believe your gone. God I love you so much,” she wrote.
She has launched a GoFundMe page here.
Smithsburg massacre suspect charged by police
Authorities said on Friday that the suspect — a 23-year-old Hispanic male who was also an employee at the facility — has been charged with dozens of felonies, including murder.
According to the Washington County Sheriff’s office, Joe Louis Esquivel, 23, of Hedgesville, WV, has been charged with murder, attempted murder, assault and weapons charges in connection with the Smithsburg shooting.
Three people were killed and one person was wounded after the shooting at a manufacturing facility in Smithsburg, Maryland on Thursday.
After killing Mark Frey, 50; Charles Minnick Jr., 31; Joshua Wallace, 30, and critically injuring another colleague, the shooter had reportedly fled in a Mitsubishi Eclipse before being stopped by state police about 10 miles away.
Smithsburg suspect worked full shift before killing three co-workers
Authorities said the 23-year-old suspect in the shooting worked a full shift on Thursday before allegedly killing three of his co-workers at a manufacturing plant in Maryland.
Washington County Sheriff’s office on Friday identified the suspect as Joe Louis Esquivel.
The suspect was also slapped with nearly two dozen charges, including three counts of first- and second-degree murder, three counts of attempted first-degree murder and a slew of assault and firearms-related offences.
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