West Virginia man indicted in shootings near Smithsburg that killed three, wounded state trooper

Joseph Deinlein, The Herald-Mail
·2 min read

SMITHSBURG, Md. (AP) — A grand jury has indicted the West Virginia man accused of shooting and killing three coworkers at a Maryland machine shop and then shooting and wounding a state trooper who was responding to the incident.

Joe Louis Esquivel, 23, of Hedgesville, W.Va., was indicted June 29 in two separate criminal cases, said Christine Remsburg, Assistant State's Attorney for Washington County.

Esquivel faces a slew of charges, including three counts each of first- and second-degree murder in the shooting deaths of three co-workers: Mark Alan Frey, 50, of Hagerstown; Charles "C.J." Edward Minnick Jr., 31, of Smithsburg; and Joshua "Josh" Robert Wallace, 30, of the Hagerstown area.

The scene at Columbia Machine, located just north of Smithsburg, the day after a <a href="https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/story/news/2022/06/10/mass-shooting-smithsburg-md-2022-columbia-machine/7575875001/" target="_blank">gunman opened fire at the Washington County manufacturing plant</a>, killing three and injuring two others.

He also is charged with three counts each of attempted first-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder in the shootings of co-worker Brandon Chase Michael, 42; and Maryland State Police Detective Sgt. Phil Martin and for attempting to kill state police Lt. Vincent Upole, according to charging documents.

Charging documents state Esquivel arrived June 9 for his normal shift at Columbia Machine Inc. on Bikle Road north of Smithsburg. He allegedly worked until he left the building to retrieve a weapon, went back inside and fired on employees near a break room.

Court records:Columbia Machine shooter tried to commit suicide-by-cop

Law enforcement responding to a 911 call found a wounded person outside the business. The Washington County Sheriff's Office said deputies found three shooting victims inside, all of whom were dead.

Esquivel left the scene in a car and encountered Maryland State Police, according to charges. Martin, a 25-year state police veteran, was shot when police said Esquivel fired at troopers. At least one trooper returned fire, striking the suspect, state police said.

More on this case:West Virginia man charged with murder in Thursday shooting near Smithsburg

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: WV man indicted on murder, attempted murder in Smithsburg shooting