ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Governor Larry Hogan ordered Maryland flags lowered to half-staff in honor of the victims of the Capital Gazette shooting in Annapolis.
"With the lowering of the Maryland flag, we honor the dedicated journalists of our hometown newspaper in our state's capital. To the family, friends, and colleagues at the Capital Gazette and its parent company, the Baltimore Sun, you have the deepest sympathies of a state in mourning," Hogan said in a statement.
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"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," he said.
Four journalists and a staffer of the Gazette were killed in Thursday's shooting. They have been identified as the paper's assistant managing editor Rob Hiaasen; editorial page editor Gerald Fischman; features reporter Wendi Winters; reporter John McNamara, and sales assistant Rebecca Smith. The newspaper said two other employees had non-life threatening injuries and were later released from a hospital.
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Jarrod Warren Ramos is suspected in the killings. Authorities say 38-year-old Ramos was quickly arrested and faces five first-degree murder charges.
Hogan said the flags will remain lowered until sunset on Monday, July 2.