Five people were killed and at least two others were wounded when a gunman opened fire on a local Annapolis newsroom.
The suspect has been identified by police sources as Jarrod Ramos, a Marylander who had previously sued the paper for defamation.
-
![]()
Suspect in Capital Gazette shooting seen on camera escorted out by police in handcuffs -
![]()
Police in Maryland say shooter in Capital Gazette office shooting used shotgun, preparing to search residence -
![]()
Shooting at Capital Gazette office was targeted, police say -
![]()
Threats sent over social media to Annapolis newspaper, police trying to confirm who sent them -
![]()
Police say estimated 3 people in hospital after shooting at office, 170 people evacuated -
![]()
Police provide some details on suspect of shooter, weapon used at office housing newspaper -
![]()
Police provide update on shooting at office housing newspaper, say possible explosive device removed -
![]()
Police respond to scene of shooting at Annapolis newspaper office in Maryland -
![]()
Police guard news outlets in New York after Maryland shooting
The victims were identified late Thursday night as: Wendi Winters, Rebecca Smith, Rob Hiaasen, Gerald Fischman and John McNamara.
All were employees of the paper, police said. Four were identified as journalists, while the other was a salesperson.
Here’s what we know about the victims.
Rob Hiaasen
Rob Hiaasen, 59, an editor and columnist at the Capital Gazette was killed during the shooting, his brother Carl confirmed on Facebook.
“I am devastated and heartsick to confirm the loss of my wonderful brother Rob today in the mass shooting in the newsroom at the Annapolis Capital Gazette,” he wrote.
“Rob was an editor and columnist at the paper, and one of the most gentle and funny people I’ve ever known. He spent his whole gifted career as a journalist, and he believed profoundly in the craft and mission of serving the public’s right to know the news.”
As an editor and columnist at the paper, he wrote about many things from spirit animals to snow snorkeling.
“We called him Big Rob because he was so tall, but it was his remarkable heart and humor that made him larger than all of us,” Carl wrote.
He previously lived in Florida. The Miami Herald reported that Hiaasen was a warm and witty voice in the media world.
Wendi Winters
An award winning journalist, 65-year-old Wendi Winters focused on local and community news, according to the Capital Gazette’s website.
“My mother was a wonderful woman and a fantastic reporter,” her daughter, Geimer, told the Baltimore Sun. “Her life was a gift to everyone who knew her and the world will not be the same without her. We are grieving and trying to make sure all of us can be together to celebrate the life of our mother.”
-
![]()
Annapolis mayor commends response by police to shooting at Capital Gazette office -
![]()
Police in Maryland name victims in shooting at office of Capital Gazette in Annapolis -
![]()
Witness in shooting at office of Capital Gazette describes aftermath, escape from Annapolis building -
![]()
Threats sent over social media to Annapolis newspaper, police trying to confirm who sent them -
![]()
U.S. Congressman calls shooting at Annapolis newspaper office in Maryland ‘saddening’ -
![]()
At least 5 killed after shooting at Annapolis newspaper office, suspect in custody
She also previously ran her own fashion company in New York.
She frequently called herself a “proud Navy mom,” and the Sun reports that she came from a military family.
In her last post on Twitter, she shared a Capital Gazette production about murals in Newtowne 20, a housing initiative in Annapolis.
“Spreading beauty one artwork at a time today …” she wrote.
Gerald Fischman
Gerald Fischman, 61, was an editorial writer for the Capital Gazette and handled editing on Saturday for the Sunday edition of The Capital (a Capital Gazette publication) for more than 25 years – since 1992.
He graduated from the University of Maryland’s journalism school and was honoured annually during his time there with regional writing awards, states an obituary posted on the Capital Gazette’s website.
The post goes on to laud Fischman’s intelligence, saying he tried out for Jeopardy twice and could “set local politicians on edge.”
WATCH: U.S. lawmaker for Maryland reacts to shooting at office housing newspaper in Annapolis
“Gerald was a phenomenally smart man,” former two-term Anne Arundel County Councilman Jamie Benoit said.
“He asked tough questions and exposed every weakness in my legislative record. He treated council races like they were presidential races.”
His colleagues affectionately poked fun at the way he preferred to hang his blinds and the post-it notes he’d leave on their desks each morning asking them to check his facts.
“He was the consummate newspaper professional,” Kathy Flynn, former features editor told the Gazette for his obituary. “He took ultimate care, he made sure that every sentence was exactly what he wanted to say.”
John McNamara
John McNamara was hired by the Capital Gazette twice – the first time as a copy editor, and the second as an editor after a brief stint at the Prince George’s Journal.
He would go on to work for the Capital for another 24 years.
An obituary on the Capital Gazette’s website states that he went by “Mac,” and was a newspaper jack-of-all trades.
“At a small paper like that, you have to be versatile,” said former Capital Gazette editor Gerry Jackson, who hired him back over 20 years ago.
“He could write. He could edit. He could design pages. He was just a jack of all trades and a fantastic person.”
On his Facebook page, family members, friends and long-time readers posted condolences under his final post.
“Sad and Senseless. Condolences to family and friends. RIP. Thank you for your Journalism,” one commenter posted.
Rebecca Smith
Rebecca Smith, 34, had recently been hired in the sales office of the Capital Gazette, though she’d already proven herself.
“She was a very thoughtful person,” Advertising Director Marty Padden told the Capital for Smith’s obituary.
“She was kind and considerate, and willing to help when needed. She seemed to really enjoy to be working in the media business.”
On her Facebook page, Smith posted photos of herself, her fiancé and her fiancé’s daughter at their home in Baltimore County. She was a regular attendee at her fiance’s softball games and was a regular attendee at tournaments.
“She was the absolute most beautiful person. The biggest heart and a great loss to this world,” Kelli Peleska, who played softball with Smith’s fiance, told the Capital.
In her most recent Facebook post, she describes herself as an ‘Endo Warrior” – a survivor of endometriosis. She also described herself as a “Dog Mom. Softball Fiancé. Bonus Mom to the best kid ever.”
Comments