Days after Capital Gazette covered Annapolis active shooter drill, gunman targets newsroom (original) (raw)

The Maryland state flag waves in the wind along State Circle near the Statehouse Monday, Aug. 9, 2004, in Annapolis, Md. (AP Photo/Matthew S. Gunby)

TOPICS:

Active ShooterAnnapolis, MarylandBaltimore–Washington Metropolitan AreaGeography of the United StatesMarylandThe CapitalKen WhiteSt. Mary's High School

The Annapolis Police Department and Annapolis Fire Department held a joint active shooter training on June 22.

The Capital Gazette covered the training, which was held at St. Mary's High School, posting a video on its website. Just days later, an active shooter targeted the newspaper itself.

RELATED:5 dead in Annapolis after gunman opened fire at Capital Gazette newspaper office

ABC7's Brad Bell reports that the police responded to the scene incredibly quickly, within a minute of the first shots being fired.

The training was held to improve communications between the departments "just in case... we have an active shooter here in Annapolis," Annapolis Fire Department Spokesperson Ken White says in the video. "With the increase of active shooter incidents we are seeing, the city has determined that it's important for us to hold this training so that in the event that something may happen, we will be well-prepared."

A real active shooter event began at 2:40 p.m. Thursday. Five people are dead.