Maryland newspaper shooting: Man charged on five counts

A man has been charged with five counts of first degree murder after a gunman carried out a rampage with a shotgun through a newsroom in the US, in one of the deadliest attacks on a media outlet in the country’s history.

Jarrod Ramos, 38, from Laurel, about 40 kilometres west of Annapolis, has been charged with five counts of first degree murder, The Capital Gazette newspaper group reported.

Ramos is accused of entering the Capital Gazette newspaper offices in Annapolis on Thursday and opening fire through a glass door, then spraying the newsroom with gunfire, according to police and a witness.

Acting Police Chief of the Anne Arundel County Police Department, William Krampf, said Assistant Editor Rob Hiaasen, 59, was among the victims.

Wendi Winters, 65, Rebecca Smith, 34, Gerald Fischman, 61, and John McNamara were also killed. Ms Smith was a sales assistant and the others were journalists.