3 killed, 2 wounded in shooting at Maryland machine plant; employee in custody

Three individuals had been killed and two injured, together with a state trooper, in a shooting at a machine plant in Smithsburg, Maryland, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said. The suspect, an employee, was additionally wounded and is in custody. 

Authorities responded to a reported shooting at Columbia Machine Inc. at round 2:30 p.m., the sheriff’s office mentioned in a press release on Facebook. Upon arrival, they discovered three individuals lifeless and one in vital situation.

During a press conference late Thursday, Sheriff Douglas Mullendore recognized these killed as Charles Edward Minnick Jr., 31; Joshua Robert Wallace, 30; and Mark Alan Frey, 50. 

Brandon Chase Michael, 42, was injured. They had been all present staff at Columbia Machine Inc.

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The suspect, who fled the scene, was positioned in a car by Maryland State Police. He exchanged gunfire with a trooper. Both had been taken to a hospital with accidents, the sheriff’s office mentioned. A semiautomatic handgun was recovered from the suspect’s car.

Maryland State Police Lt. Cnl. Bill Dofflemyer mentioned Thursday night that the trooper, who was recognized by Maryland State Police as a 25-year veteran of the division, is “doing well.”

During a Thursday afternoon press briefing, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan mentioned the responding trooper was shot in the shoulder.

The gunman — recognized by Mullendore as a 23-year-old Hispanic man from West Virginia, and a present employee of Columbia Machine Inc. — is in custody at the hospital, the place he’s nonetheless being handled. Charges towards him are nonetheless pending.

A motive has not but been decided.

Maryland State Police have positioned the troopers concerned in the shooting on administrative responsibility for the rest of the investigation.

The FBI and ATF are serving to with the investigation, the sheriff’s office mentioned.

Smithsburg is positioned greater than 60 miles northwest of Washington, D.C.

Andres Triay contributed reporting.