Five dead, explosive device found in US newsroom shooting

An explosive device has been found at the site of a deadly shooting at a Maryland newspaper in the United States, as officials question one suspect in custody.

Police respond to a shooting reported at Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis.

Police respond to a shooting reported at Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis. Source: AAP

Five people have been shot dead and several others have been "gravely injured" in a shooting at a newspaper in the Maryland capital of Annapolis.

"There's five fatalities that we know of. There's several other persons that are gravely injured," deputy police chief of Anne Arundel county Bill Krampf told reporters.

Lieutenant Ryan Frashure, a spokesman for Anne Arundel County police, later said preliminary information puts the number of people injured at three.

Suspect in custody

Mr Schuh said the authorities are still trying to establish a motive as they question the alleged shooter, who is in police custody.

Authorities have not named the suspected shooter, but say he is a white adult male.

A law enforcement official said the crime is not being treated as a terrorist incident. 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is on the scene assisting local authorities, the official said.

Reporter heard the 'gunman reload'

Reporters in the Capital Gazette newsroom at the time described the terrifying experience. 

Crime reporter Phil Davis tweeted that a "gunman shot through the glass door to the office and opened fire on multiple employees." 

"There is nothing more terrifying than hearing multiple people get shot while you're under your desk and then hear the gunman reload," Davis said.

Anthony Messenger, a Gazette intern, according to his Twitter account, tweeted: “Active shooter at 888 Bestgate please help us." He also wrote that an editor was shot.

One law enforcement source told CBS News the suspect is a male in his twenties, who had no identification on him. Two law enforcement sources told CBS News the suspect used a shotgun.

Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh said he was heartbroken over the news of multiple deaths.

"Those fatalities are so sad," he said. "And I don't know what to say other than our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families."

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