Report: Capital Gazette Newsroom Shooter Messed Up His Own Fingertips To Avoid Identification

Five are dead and numerous others injured after a shooting in the Capital Gazette newsroom in Annapolis.

“The investigation has just started,” acting police chief William Krampf said. “We’re going to be quite a while in determining what occurred, why it occurred, how it occurred.”

Authorities said the suspect messed up his own fingertips in order to avoid recognition, but they identified him by facial recognition technology anyway.

Via NBC:

Senior law enforcement sources briefed on the investigation told NBC News that the suspect, a white man wearing a black T-shirt and olive-green pants, had been identified through the use of facial recognition software. The sources said earlier that he had somehow obscured his fingerprints, making identification difficult.

A senior official said the suspect is 39 years old. Local authorities were preparing to execute a search warrant for the suspect’s home. The suspect’s name has not been released, but sources told NBC News that he is from Maryland.

Anne Arundel County Police Lt. Ryan Frashure said the weapon he used was a “long gun,” but he did not elaborate.

CBS News has a similar report, although it says the suspect is in his 20s.

Two law enforcement sources tell CBS News the suspect used a shotgun, and a police spokesman described the weapon as a long gun. One law enforcement source says the suspect is a white male in his 20s and didn’t have identification on him. The suspect is refusing to identify himself. The suspect damaged his fingertips in an effort to avoid identification, a law enforcement source tells CBS News.

A senior federal law enforcement source says the suspect was also carrying fake grenades. Smoke bombs and flash bang devices were found in his backpack, a source said.

Krampf said officials discovered what they thought was an explosive device in the building, which has been “taken care of.” He said he didn’t expect to recover more devices.

Suspect in #Annapolis shooting damaged his fingertips to prevent his being ID’ed; as if, in the age of DNA, cops really need fingerprints-Like authorities on scene are saying: ‘amateur hour’. Kudos to locals for rapid response preventing an even worse tragedy-Wish they shot creep

— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) June 28, 2018

>>> A law enforcement source tells one of my CBS News colleagues that the Annapolis shooting suspect damaged his finger tips so law enforcement cannot identify him that way. That source says smoke bombs and flash bangs were found in a backpack.

— Katie Watson (@kathrynw5) June 28, 2018

Law enforcement official confirms in press conference that suspect is still not identifying himself. “We do know he’s a white male, adult male.”

— Katie Watson (@kathrynw5) June 28, 2018

Strongly condemn the evil act of senseless violence in Annapolis, MD. A violent attack on innocent journalists doing their job is an attack on every American. Our prayers are with the victims and their friends and families.

— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) June 28, 2018

Just arrived in Guatemala. We are monitoring the horrific shooting at the Capital Gazette in Annapolis. Karen & I are praying for the victims and their families. We commend the swift action by law enforcement and all the first responders on the scene.

— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) June 28, 2018

Prior to departing Wisconsin, I was briefed on the shooting at Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. Thank you to all of the First Responders who are currently on the scene.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 28, 2018

We’ll continue to update you as additional information becomes available.