Annapolis, MD – Police and emergency crews have responded to a call for four people shot at near Westfield Annapolis Mall on Thursday afternoon.

There has been heavy police and rescue vehicle traffic in the area, according to WBAL.

The Annapolis Patch reported that the incident began at about 2:35 pm on Bestgate Road, and that people have been seen coming out of the Capital Gazette building with their hands up.

There are unconfirmed reports that the shooter has been taken into custody at the Capital Gazette building, Annapolis Patch reported.

Justin Fenton of The Baltimore Sun tweeted that Baltimore police were doing a precautionary sweep of The Sun’s building.

FOX News reported that the sheriff had confirmed there were multiple fatalities.

Update:

The shooting took place inside the newsroom of the Capital Gazette, and the shooter has been taken into custody, according to The Baltimore Sun.

Anne Arundel County Police Lieutenant Ryan Frashure said officers were still working to evacuate the building during a news conference held at 4 p.m.

“This is going to be a long, long, long investigation,” Lt. Frashure said.

Details that were shared by Capital Gazette employees who survived the shooting sounded terrifying.

“A single shooter shot multiple people at my office, some of whom are dead,” wrote Phil Davis, a crime reporter at the Capital Gazette who tweeted some details of what happened from inside the building where the shootings took place.

“Gunman shot through the glass door to the office and opened fire on multiple employees. Can’t say much more and don’t want to declare anyone dead, but it’s bad,” Davis posted on Twitter.

In his next message, he indicated he had been hiding under his desk while the gunman went on his rampage.

“There is nothing more terrifying than hearing multiple people get shot while you’re under your desk and then hear the gunman reload,” Davis posted.

He said people were still hiding under their desks when police arrived and surrounded the shooter, according to The Baltimore Sun.

Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have responded to the scene to assist local authorities, The Baltimore Sun reported.

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