29 Jun 2018

As it happened - Deadly Maryland newspaper office shooting: Five dead, suspect not cooperating

10:26 am on 29 June 2018

A suspect is in custody but reportedly not cooperating after a shooting at a US local newspaper office where at least five people were killed, according to media citing police.

The mass shooting happened at Maryland's Capital Gazette newspaper headquarters in Annapolis.

A Capital Gazette reporter who was in the office at the time tweeted that the suspect fired directly into the newsroom through a glass door.

The reporter described the scene in the newsroom as being "like a war zone," with reporters hiding under their desks for safety.

A white male suspect, believed to be in his 20s, was apprehended inside the building, multiple media outlets reported.

According to the Baltimore Sun, police said an explosive device was found and "taken care of" in the newspaper offices.

For now, the Annapolis shooting is being treated as a local incident and not one that involves terrorism, a law enforcement official said. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is on the scene assisting local authorities, the official said.

The daily newspaper and sister publications has an editorial staff of around 45 supported by a sales and advertising team of about 10 staff, according to the company's website.

Live video images showed people leaving the building, walking through a parking lot with their hands in the air. Scores of police vehicles were on the scene.

- Reuters, RNZ