SMITHSBURG, Md. — Investigators said the West Virginia man who killed three people and injured two others at a manufacturing facility in northern Maryland on Thursday had shown up for a normal work shift, later opening fire on employees in a breakroom.
The gunman, a worker at the factory who was also injured, was in custody and charges were expected, said Washington County Sheriff Doug Mullendore. His identity was not released, nor was a motive.
A Maryland State Police trooper was among the injured after exchanging shots with the suspect, Mullendore said Thursday. Authorities said the trooper's injuries were not life-threatening and he was released from the hospital late Thursday.
Here's what we know.
What happened?
Deputies responded to a 911 call at about 2:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon. When they arrived at the Columbia Machine factory in Smithsburg, they found four employees had been shot, three of them fatally.
According to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, the suspect arrived at the manufacturing facility as usual for his work shift and "worked throughout the day." He then left the building to get a semi-automatic handgun out of his car and re-entered the building.
"The suspect proceeded to the area of the breakroom and begin to fire upon employees," the sheriff's office said in a release on Friday.
The suspect fled the factory in a car before deputies arrived, but a state trooper chased after him and they exchanged shots on the road.
Harleigh Routzahn, who said she saw the suspect flee in a car, told FOX 5 DC she heard authorities ordering the gunman to get out of his vehicle. Then gunfire erupted about "50-60 yards away" from her.
She said she "froze" and her head started racing.
"I was trying to get behind my car, where I knew that I would be safe and blocked away from the ricocheting of these bullets," Routzahn told the station.
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Who was the gunman?
The suspected gunman is a 23-year-old man who lives in West Virginia and was employed at the factory, Mullendore said.
A semi-automatic handgun was used in the shooting, but authorities haven’t detailed the caliber, make or model. Mullendore the gun was recovered after the shootout with the state trooper. According to the sheriff's office, more firearms were found in the suspect's home in West Virginia.
The suspect was in custody but still getting medical treatment as of Friday morning. Charges are pending against him, authorities said.
The sheriff's office said his identity and more information would be released after he is served with charging documents.
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Who are the victims?
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office identified the victims late Thursday as Mark Alan Frey, 50; Charles Edward Minnick Jr., 31; and Joshua Robert Wallace, 30.
Brandon Michael, 42, was found injured. All were employees at Columbia Machine, Mullendore said.
The injured employee's father, Nelson Michael, said he was still in the hospital Friday but didn't have any information on his condition.
"He’s surviving,” he said. “I’m glad he’s alive, but it’s going to work on his nerves. I know that.”
State police said the injured trooper was not being identified at this time. "He is a 25-year veteran of the department and is assigned to the Criminal Enforcement Division Western Region," a news release said.
A prayer vigil was scheduled 2 p.m. Sunday at Shiloh United Methodist Church for victims of the shooting and other recent mass shootings across the country.
"The fabric of our community as a whole is affected as well by the local loss, and fear and frustration that these tragedies occur weekly throughout our country," the Hagerstown Area Religious Council wrote in a news release.
Where did the shooting take place?
Columbia Machine is a manufacturing facility that provides concrete products equipment to customers in over 100 countries, according to its website. It is headquartered in Vancouver, Washington.
Its location in Smithsburg is about 75 miles northwest of Baltimore near the Pennsylvania border.
Rick Goode, the CEO of Columbia Machine, said in a statement that the company was "deeply saddened" over the tragedy.
"We are working closely with local authorities while the investigation continues. Our highest priority during this tragic event is the safety and wellbeing of our employees and their families," the statement reads.
David Creamer, a member of Smithburg’s volunteer fire department who has lived in the town since 1988, said the last fatal shooting he could recall in the town was roughly a decade ago.
“This stuff doesn’t happen here,” said Creamer, 69. “Everybody pretty much knows everybody. It’s a family atmosphere. We watch out for each other.”
U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen lamented the deaths that happened so soon after other recent shootings and vowed action.
“Today's horrific shooting comes as our state and nation have witnessed tragedy after tragedy, and it's got to stop,” he said in a statement. “We must act to address the mass shootings and daily toll of gun violence on our communities.”
Contributing: Sherry Greenfield, Tamela Baker, Julie E. Greene and Michael D. Garcia of the Hagerstown Herald-Mail, part of the USA TODAY Network; The Associated Press
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