Washington County Sheriff Doug Mullendore said that three victims were found dead at Columbia Machine Inc. in Smithsburg and a fourth victim was critically injured.
The sheriff said at a news conference that the victims and suspect were all employees at the facility.
The sheriff identified those killed in the shooting as Mark Alan Frey, 50; Charles Edward Minnick Jr., 31; and Joshua Robert Wallace, 30. Mullendore said the wounded victim was Brandon Chase Michael, 42The sheriff's office issued a brief statement saying the shooting incident was rapidly evolving and that it would release information as it was able.
Family members of workers at the manufacturer were gathering at a fire station in downtown Smithsburg on Thursday evening, awaiting information on their loved ones. They declined to speak to a reporter. "Today's horrific shooting comes as our state and nation have witnessed tragedy after tragedy, and it's got to stop," he said in a statement."We must act to address the mass shootings and daily toll of gun violence on our communities."