Law enforcement officials stand near the scene of a shooting at Columbia Machine Inc. Photo / AP
Law enforcement officials stand near the scene of a shooting at Columbia Machine Inc. Photo / AP
A suspect opened fire at a business in western Maryland on Thursday, leaving three dead before the suspect and a state trooper were wounded in a shootout, authorities said.
The Washington County Sheriff's Office said in a news release that three victims were found dead at Columbia Machine Inc. inSmithsburg. The suspect then fled in a vehicle and was tracked down by Maryland State Police, according to the news release.
The suspect and a trooper were wounded in an exchange of gunfire, the sheriff's office said. Both were being treated for their wounds.
News photographs showed a large law enforcement presence, including emergency vehicles, at the scene.
We are actively monitoring the mass shooting in #Smithsburg right now, and our office is in contact with officials on the ground. If you're local, please stay away from the area as law enforcement responds.
The sheriff's office said it would release information as it was able, saying in a brief statement that the incident was rapidly evolving. It declined to elaborate on the exact number of victims or the extent of victims' injuries, although Hogan had said there were potentially three fatalities.
The address given by authorities for the shooting corresponded to a manufacturing facility.
US Rep David Trone, a Maryland Democrat, tweeted that his office was in contact with authorities in the area and actively monitoring the situation in Smithsburg.
Smithsburg, a community of nearly 3,000 people, is located about 75 miles (120 kilometers) northwest of Baltimore not far from the Maryland line with Pennsylvania.
