Smithsburg mass shooting live updates: Police release new details; vigils set for victims
Three people are dead and three others are injured — including the suspect and a Maryland State Police trooper — after a mass shooting at a manufacturing company north of Smithsburg, the Washington County Sheriff's Office said.
Suspect charged Friday in mass shooting day before at Smithsburg-area business
Joe Louis Esquivel, 23, of the Hedgesville, W.Va., area was charged Friday night with three counts of first- and second-degree murder in the shooting deaths of three Columbia Machine co-workers in the Smithsburg-area on Thursday, according to a news release the Washington County Sheriff's Office sent Friday night.
Those victims were Washington County residents:
• Mark Alan Frey, 50, of Hagerstown
• Charles "C.J." Edward Minnick Jr., 31, of Smithsburg
• Joshua Robert Wallace, 30, of Hagerstown
Esquivel also was charged with attempted first-degree and attempted second-degree murder in the shooting of co-worker Brandon Chase Michael, 42, according to Sgt. Carly Hose, spokeswoman for the sheriff's office.
Hose said state police would handle charges against Esquivel for a trooper shot during a shootout after he fled the Smithsburg-area business. That trooper, not yet named, has since been released from Meritus Medical Center.
A Maryland State Police trooper was shot during a shootout after Esquivel fled the Smithsburg-area business. The shootout occurred near the roundabout of Mapleville and Mount Aetna roads, about 6.5 miles southwest of the first shooting site at the 12921 Bikle Road business.
According to Washington County District Court records online, Esquivel also was charged by the county state's attorney's office through a state police complaint.
Those charges include two counts each of attempted first-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder. Other charges include two counts each of first- and second-degree assault and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony/violent crime.
In both cases, the charges through the sheriff's office and state police, arrest warrants were issued Thursday and served on Friday, according to online court records.
Suspect worked through the day before shooting; more weapons found
The Washington County Sheriff's Office released some new details about the shooting, although the name of the suspect has not been released.
In the news release issued late Friday afternoon, police said the suspect's identity "will not be released until he is served with charging documents."
The person was wounded in a shootout with Maryland State Police troopers and is being treated at Meritus Medical Center, at last report. His condition and the nature of his injuries have not been disclosed.
He was previously described by police as a 23-year-old man from West Virginia.
According to the sheriff's office, the suspect reported for his normal work shift Thursday at Columbia Machine Inc. near Smithsburg.
At some point, he left the building, "retrieved a weapon from his vehicle, and reentered the business," the news release states. The person then went to the area of the breakroom and opened fire on employees.
Three people were killed. Another was injured.
The suspect left the scene in his vehicle, a bronze Mitsubishi Eclipse. Maryland State Police troopers encountered that vehicle on Mapleville Road, where shots were exchanged. The suspect and a trooper were wounded. The trooper, who also remains unidentified, was released from Meritus on Thursday after being treated for his injuries.
The sheriff's office also reported that, with the help of the Berkeley County, W.Va., Sheriff's Office and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, a search warrant was executed at the suspect's home in West Virginia.
Police said "additional firearms were located," but they provided no details about the weapons.
Prayer vigils for the victims of mass shootings
A prayer vigil will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Shiloh United Methodist Church, 19731 Shiloh Church Road, for victims of the mass shooting near Smithsburg and others across the country.
The church also will be open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for prayer and for another vigil Sunday at 11 a.m. with affected church members
"Members of Shiloh United Methodist Church and Trinity Lutheran Church in Smithsburg have been directly affected by these shootings, as have numerous people in our community," the Hagerstown Area Religious Council wrote in a news release. "The fabric of our community as a whole is affected as well by the local loss, and fear and frustration that these tragedies occur weekly throughout our country."
The organization invites "clergy, people of faith and the community" to mourn the victims and "to offer prayers and support the families and friends of the victims as well as those wounded and still with us, and to pray for healing for our community and country."
Also, a candlelight vigil is planned for 8 p.m. Saturday in Lions Community Park, 12835 Bikle Road. An announcement of the vigil, intended to "honor and remember the lives lost," was posted online by Whispering Hills and Smithsburg, MD, a private group on Facebook.
Columbia Machine CEO 'deeply saddened' by 'tragic event' in Smithsburg
Rick Goode, CEO of Columbia Machine, has issued a statement about the shooting in Smithsburg.
In it, he said the company was "deeply saddened" to report news of the incident.
"We are working closely with local authorities while the investigation continues. Our highest priority during this tragic event is the safety and wellbeing of our employees and their families," the statement reads.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with those that lost family members or were affected by this tragic event."
PHOTOS: Scenes from Smithsburg following mass shooting that killed 3 and injured 2 more
Maryland State Police trooper released from hospital Thursday night
The Maryland State Police trooper shot during an exchange of gunfire while responding to the mass shooting incident in Smithsburg has been released from the hospital, the Washington County Sheriff's Office said.
"We are also relieved to report that, per the Maryland State Police spokesperson, the Trooper that was injured in the exchange of gunfire with the suspect received non-life-threatening injuries and has been treated and released from Meritus Medical Center," the sheriff's office posted on its Facebook page late Thursday.
In a news release, state police said the injured trooper was not being identified at that time.
"He is a 25-year veteran of the Department and is assigned to the Criminal Enforcement Division Western Region," the release states.
The trooper was taken to Meritus on Thursday afternoon, as was the 23-year-old suspect.
The identity of that person, who is from West Virginia, was being withheld pending charges being filed in the case, police said. He remained under police guard at the hospital.
"Charges are pending consultation with the Washington County State’s Attorney’s Office," the state police news release says.
Police release names of victims, wounded
Police have identified the three people killed and one person wounded Thursday afternoon at Columbia Machine near Smithsburg.
Washington County Sheriff Doug Mullendore identified the deceased as Mark Alan Frey, 50; Charles Edward Minnick Jr., 31; and Joshua Robert Wallace, 30. He said Brandon Chase Michael, 42, was wounded.
Michael's condition wasn't immediately available.
Thursday's coverage: 3 dead, Maryland trooper and suspect among 3 hurt
Victim's identified: Smithsburg mass shooting victims identified: Here's what we know
The suspect is identified as a 23-year-old man from West Virginia. Further details weren't being provided because charges have not yet been filed, Mullendore said.
The suspect was shot during a firefight with Maryland State Police troopers on Mapleville Road.
Lt. Col. Dofflemyer with the state police criminal investigation bureau said the suspect was taken to Meritus Medical Center east of Hagerstown and was "being treated for his injuries."
The name and age of the Maryland State Police trooper who was injured also were not released. However, Dofflemyer said the trooper was taken to Meritus and was doing well.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Shooting in Smithsburg MD: More weapons found at suspect's home
