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Three people were killed and one was injured Thursday at a Maryland plant by a colleague who was also injured in a shootout with a US soldier, authorities said.
Deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Columbia Machine factory in Smithsburg around 2:30 p.m., amid reports of an active shooter.
“Smithsburg Police Department officers were the first to arrive and found an injured victim outside the business,” the sheriff’s office said. “As MPs arrived at the scene, 3 additional victims, all of whom died, were located inside the business.
The deceased victims were identified Thursday night as Mark Alan Frey, 50; Charles Edward Minick Jr., 31; and 30-year-old Joshua Robert Wallace. The victim has been identified as 42-year-old Brandon Chase Michael, authorities said.
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Washington County Sheriff’s Patrol Car. Several people were injured in the shooting on Thursday. (Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Maryland)
The suspect was identified only as a 23-year-old man from West Virginia.
He fled the scene before authorities arrived, but was spotted nearby by Maryland State Police. A shootout ensued and the shooter and one soldier were injured, authorities said. Both were taken to hospital for medical treatment.
Investigators found an unspecified semi-automatic pistol believed to have been used at both crime scenes.
Columbia Machine manufactures molds and production equipment, according to its website. Fox News turned to the factory. A sheriff’s official said investigators had not established the suspect’s motive or whether he worked at the plant.
Following the 15:50 local time shooting, a local hospital was also closed and closed a few hours later. The suspect remains hospitalized in the medical center.
The American representative David Throne, e-mil., Said that he was monitoring the situation.
“Our office is in contact with employees on site. “If you’re local, please stay away from the area as law enforcement responds,” he tweeted.
U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, also a Maryland Democrat, said he was watching the incident and turned to local authorities for support.
Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Baltimore and the FBI responded.
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