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The victims of a mass shooting at a Maryland concrete plant have been pictured – as their devastated families paid tribute.
Charles Edward Minnick, Jr., 31, Joshua Robert Wallace, 30, and Mark Alan Frey, 50, died inside Columbia Machine Shop in Smithsburg yesterday afternoon.
A 23-year-old Hispanic colleague went on a deadly rampage and shot them dead with a semi-automatic handgun around 2.30pm ET.
One man, Brandon Chase Michael, 42, was also injured in the shooting, with his current condition unclear.
Wallace’s girlfriend and Minnick’s relative led tributes on Friday morning after their devastating loses.
Toms wrote: ‘My heart is completely shattered. I lost the love of my life today. I love you so much, baby, I hate this. Our future is gone, you’re gone, I can’t believe your gone. God, I love you so much’
Charles Edward Minnick, Jr., 31, (pictured with his wife Lisa) was one of the three victims who died during the Smithburg shooting
Taylor Toms wrote of her boyfriend: ‘My heart is completely shattered. I lost the love of my life today. I love you so much, baby, I hate this.’
She added: ‘Our future is gone, you’re gone, I can’t believe your gone. God, I love you so much.’
Minnick’s relative Larry Specht put: ‘Please pray for my wonderful wife and family and the other famil[ies] involved with today’s shooting in Smithburg.
‘We lost a son today, he was more than a son, he was my little buddy. RIP CJ, we will miss you much.’
The shooter, whose name has not been released, also worked at the site and was in custody at a medical center as of last night.
The gunman reportedly used a semi-automatic weapon during the latest deadly attack to rock the US.
Charles (left), alongside two others, were shot dead by this Hispanic coworker, 23, whose name has not been released. Charles’ relative Larry Specht wrote that he would ‘miss’ his ‘little buddy’ in a Facebook tribute
Joshua Robert Wallace, 30, was also confirmed dead by his girlfriend Taylor Toms
The shooting began around 2.30pm, according to police. By the time authorities arrived to the scene, the suspect had fled in a red car.
Police caught up with the suspect roughly five miles from the factory on Maplesville Road and Mount Aetna Road and the group began shooting at each other.
The gunman’s red car was seen in NBC’s helicopter footage with the windshield shattered by bullet holes. A state trooper’s vehicle blocked the car on the road.
A state trooper, a 25-year veteran of the force, was reportedly shot on the shoulder and the suspect also obtained injuries. Both were taken to Meritus Medical Center for treatment.
The shooter’s motive is currently unknown, but police are expected to release more information regarding the shooting this afternoon.
The shooting reportedly took place inside a Columbia Machine Shop, an engineer manufacturing factory located on Bikle Road (pictured)
Emergency personnel at the scene of the shooting in Smithsburg where police confirmed up to three people were shot dead on Thursday
The gunman’s red car, with its door left open and markers on the ground, is pictured on Thursday afternoon blocked by a state trooper, five miles from the factory shooting
On Thursday afternoon, Democratic Congressman David Trone said that a ‘mass shooting’ took place and asked locals to stay away from the scene.
Gun Violence Archive, which tracks all mass shootings in the US, defines a mass shooting as four or more injured or killed.
‘We are actively monitoring the mass shooting in Smithsburg right now, and our office is in contact with officials on the ground,’ Trone tweeted.
‘If you’re local, please stay away from the area as law enforcement responds.’
The Smithburg shooting is the 254th mass shooting in the US this year, setting the country up to surpass last year’s total, according to CNN.
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