Washington D.C. [USA], Jun 29 (NT): The White House on Thursday (local time) strongly destined the shooting incident at the 'Capital Gazette' newspaper office in Annapolis, Maryland. This incident claimed five lives.
Taking to Twitter White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders stated that this attack on "journalists doing their job is an attack on every American."
"Strongly condemn the evil act of senseless violence in Annapolis, MD. A violent attack on innocent journalists doing their job is an attack on every American. Our prayers are with the victims and their friends and families," Sanders wrote.
While US First Lady Melania Trump also expressed her grief and condemned the incident, calling it "tragic and evil."
"Today's violence at the Capital Gazette was tragic & evil. My heart goes out to all affected in this brutal & senseless attack, & I send thoughts & prayers for comfort to the friends, family & colleagues of those killed & injured," she wrote in micro blogging website.
According to multiple law enforcement sources the suspect in the shooting has been recognized as Jarrod Warren Ramos.
Ramos has a link to the 'Capital Gazette' newspaper. In 2012, he registered a defamation claim against the paper, but the case was dismissed by court.
Meanwhile Anne Arundel County Acting Chief William Krampf stated the shooting incident was a "targetted attack".
"The suspect, a white male in his late 30s, entered the building at 888 Bestgate Road, with a shotgun and looked for potential victims as he walked through the lower level," CNN quoted Arundel, as saying.
He further claimed that threats were made over social media to the Capital Gazette and the police are identifying the source behind these threats.
The suspect's fingerprints come into view to have been distorted, making it tricky to identify him that way, two law enforcement sources calimed.
He mutilated his fingers to avoid being identified as ANI reported. But the suspect was recognized using facial recognition software, as per to one law enforcement source.
The incident held at around 2:35 pm (local time) from 888 Bestgate Road near Westfield Annapolis Mall, where the newspaper office is situated.