The gunman who killed five people at the Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Md., is facing 23 criminal charges, including five counts for first-degree murder.
Anne Arundel County prosecutors filed an indictment Friday against Jarrod Ramos, 38, for attacking the newsroom with a shotgun June 28. If Ramos is found guilty of the murder charges, then he is likely to face a life sentence in prison. His first court date is set for July 30 in Circuit Court.
The Capital Gazette newspaper is part of the Baltimore Sun Media Group.
“The indictment by the Anne Arundel County prosecutor’s office is an important step in the recovery process,” company spokeswoman Renee Mutchnik told the Baltimore Sun. “We understand this is just the beginning and will continue to work with investigators.”
Ramos is being charged will killing Rob Hiaasen, 59, an assistant editor and columnist for the Capital Gazette; Wendi Winters, 65, who was in charge of special publications; Gerald Fischman, 61, the editorial page editor; John McNamara, 56, a sports writer; and Rebecca Smith, 34, a sales assistant.
Ramos is being held without bail at the Jennifer Road Detention Center. His grudge against the Capital Gazette began in 2011, when a columnist wrote about how he had pleaded guilty to harassment. Ramos tried to sue the newspaper for defamation and lost, before going on to harass staff on social media.
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