SMITHSBURG, Md. –
A man opened fire on a manufacturing business in rural western Maryland on Thursday and killed three people before the suspect and a state agent were injured in a shooting, authorities said.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release that three victims were found dead at Columbia Machine Inc. in Smithsburg and a fourth victim was seriously injured. The suspect fled in a vehicle and was located by Maryland State Police, according to the press release.
The suspect and an officer were injured in an exchange of gunfire, the sheriff’s office said. Both were being treated for their injuries. Gov. Larry Hogan, who was briefed on the shooting, said the man opened fire on soldiers before at least one officer returned fire and wounded the suspect.
“The suspect shot and shot the state policeman in the shoulder, who then shot and shot him,” Hogan told reporters.
Authorities had no information on whether the suspect and the victims were employees of the company where the shooting took place, according to the sergeant in the sheriff’s office. Carly Hose said at a news conference.
Relatives of the manufacturer’s workers gathered at a fire station in downtown Smithsburg on Thursday evening awaiting information about their loved ones. They refused to talk to a journalist.
Several hours after the shooting, numerous police officers remained at the scene. Police had closed the road in front of the Columbia Machine Inc. facility. and the yellow ribbon blew in the wind out of business.
Messages left to request feedback from the company were not returned immediately.
Smithsburg, a community of nearly 3,000 people, is located just west of Camp David’s presidential retreat and about 120 kilometers (75 miles) northwest of Baltimore. The manufacturing facility was located in a sparsely populated area northeast of the city center with a church, several businesses and farmland nearby.
U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, lamented the loss of life in his state so soon after other recent shootings and promised action.
“Today’s horrific shooting comes when our state and nation have witnessed tragedy after tragedy, and it must stop,” it said in a statement. “We need to act to address the mass shootings and the daily number of armed violence in our communities.”
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Associated Press writer Sarah Brumfield in Silver Spring, Maryland, contributed to this report.