Capital Gazette Shooting: Maryland Officials React To Shooter's Sentence

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- As word spread of the prison sentence for Capital Gazette gunman Jarrod Ramos, so too did reactions from officials, who shared condolences for the five people he killed and the loved ones they left behind.

Ramos, 41, of Laurel, was sentenced Tuesday to five life terms without the possibility of parole, an additional life sentence and 345 years for the June 2018 shooting rampage at the Annapolis newspaper, which killed five people and injured two others.

Saying "justice has been served," Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan was among the state's first elected officials to weigh in on the outcome of the case.

"While we hope this brings some measure of closure to the families, the pain of that horrible day will always be with us," Hogan said. "Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith, and Wendi Winters are forever in our hearts."

Those slain in the June 28, 2018, shooting included: Fischman, a 61-year-old columnist and editorial page editor; Hiaasen; a 59-year-old assistant editor and columnist; McNamara, a 56-year-old sports reporter; Smith, a 34-year-old sales assistant; and Winters, a 65-year-old community news reporter.

"Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith and Wendi Winters. These are the names we will remember. They were violently taken far too early," said U.S. Sen Ben Cardin.

In a somber message, Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger tweeted that "there can never be true justice" for the mass shooting victims.

"The [Capital Gazette] survivors + victims' loved ones have shown extraordinary courage throughout these proceedings. There can never be true justice for Gerald, Rob, John, Rebecca + Wendi, but we can take comfort knowing the man who stole their lives will remain behind bars forever," Ruppersberger said.

Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley released a statement acknowledging Ramos' sentence, saying "justice has prevailed."

"Today we have turned a page in the long, sad process of the criminal justice system coming to a decision in the tragic Capital Gazette shooting. Like every day, my heart goes out to the victims' families. The criminal justice system can be slow and painfully hard on victims, but in this circumstance, justice has prevailed," Buckley said. "The final phase, the sentencing phase, has resulted in the outcome we had all hoped for - that he would never walk the streets and be able to inflict such horror on this, or any other community, again. It is a sad day, but a good day. I am hopeful that after more than three years since the shooting, our community can keep the memories of the victims alive while beginning to heal. I thank Anne Arundel States Attorney Anne Colt Leitiss and her team. They worked hard for this outcome on behalf of Rebecca Smith, Wendi Winters, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara and Gerald Fischman."

In a statement eulogizing the victims, Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman expressed his gratitude to the people who work in Maryland's criminal justice system:

"Our criminal justice system worked. Thank you to all of the first responders, arresting officers, detention officers, court employees, and prosecutors in the State's Attorney's Office. You have made our community safer and helped to restore balance to the lives of those closest to our five beloved truth-tellers - Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith, and Wendi Winters."

Ramos, who had an ax to grind against the newspaper over an article that detailed stalking allegations against him, pleaded guilty but not criminally responsible to 23 counts in 2019. But a jury disagreed, finding him criminally responsible during a trial in July.

In:
• Larry Hogan
• Anne Arundel County