The Washington County Sheriff's Office said in a news release that three victims were found dead at Columbia Machine Inc. in Smithsburg.
A man opened fire on a factory in rural western Maryland on Thursday, killing three people, before wounding the suspect and wounding a soldier in a drive-by shooting, authorities said.
Three victims were found dead at Columbia Machine Inc in Smithsburg, the Washington County Sheriff's Office said in a news release, and a fourth victim was seriously injured. The suspect then fled in a car and was found by Maryland State Police, according to the press release.
The sheriff's office said the suspect and a soldier were wounded in the shooting. Both are being treated for their injuries.
Governor Larry Hogan, who was briefed on the shooting, said the man opened fire on soldiers before at least one officer responded and the suspect was wounded.
"The suspect shot the state soldier in the shoulder, then returned fire and shot him," Hogan told reporters.
The authorities had no information on whether the suspect and the victims were employees of the company where the shooting took place, Sergeant Sheriff. Carly Howes said at a press conference.
Relatives of manufacturer workers gathered Thursday night at a fire station in downtown Smithsburg, waiting for information on their relatives. They refused to speak to a reporter.
Several hours after the shooting, several law enforcement officers remained at the scene. Police had blocked the road through the Columbia Machine facility and a yellow stripe was blown out of the store by the wind.
Messages left requesting feedback from the company are not immediately returned.
Smithsburg, with a population of about 3,000, is located west of the Camp David presidential complex and about 75 miles northwest of Baltimore. The factory was in a sparsely populated area northeast of downtown with a church, various shops, and farmland nearby.
US Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, lamented the loss of life in his state soon after the other shootings and vowed to take action.
"Today's appalling shooting comes at a time when our country and our nation are witnessing one tragedy after another and it must stop," he said in a statement. "We must act to address mass shootings and the daily number of gun violence in our communities."
David Kramer, 69, is a member of the Smithburg Volunteer Fire Department and has lived in the city since 1988. Watch for alerts about shootings just before 3 p.m.
Kramer said the last fatal shooting he remembered in Smithsburg was nearly a decade ago.
"These things don't happen here," Kramer said. "Everyone knows each other very well. It's a family environment. We take care of each other."
Cramer was talking to neighbors during a minor league game Thursday night. He was wearing a T-shirt promoting a gun rights organization.
Se faire tirer dessus, a-t-il dit, "me fait me más puissant. J'ai juste l'impression que je devrais pouvoir protéger ma famille et mes voisins. Dans une société comme celle-ci, tout le monde. est your neighbor ""
Funeral homeowner Ashley Vegras, 29, lives less than a mile from the scene of the shooting. She was home with her two children when her fiancé called her to tell her about the shooting and urged her to keep the kids inside.
"The helicopters are out," he said.
Asked if she was shocked by the shooting, Figras said, "I feel like we come from an allergy-free era."
"You feel something, but it's the same thing I felt yesterday," he added while watching the minor league match. "It's unfortunate, but you just have to make sure the kids are safe to play baseball and move on."
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