Governor Hogan Announces All Flags To Fly At Half-Staff For Gazette Shooting

Bryan Taylor
WMAL.com

WASHINGTON – Governor Larry Hogan has ordered Maryland flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of the victims of the Capital Gazette shooting in Annapolis.

The Governor saying in a statement “There is no amount of clarity that will ever explain or nullify the pain that comes with losing so many lives for so little reason; journalism is a noble profession upon which our democracy depends, and we will fight to defend it.”

Thursday, the suspect entered the Capital Gazette offices and opened fire with a pump-action shotgun that police say was purchased legally about a year ago. The suspect is currently being held without bond.

The five people killed consisted of four journalists and one recently-hired sales assistant: Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith and Wendi Winters.

The flags will remain lowered until sunset on Monday, July 2.