A man shot dead three people and injured several following opening fire at a factory in Maryland on Thursday followingnoon. Since the horrific Uvalde tragedy that reignited the gun debate two weeks ago, already 41 killings have taken place in the United States.
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Upon arriving at the manufacturing plant around 2:30 p.m. local time, officers found four people shot and wounded, three of whom had already died of their injuries.
The suspect fled in a vehicle before being found by Maryland State Police, reports the Associated Press.
An exchange of gunfire ensued between the man, whose age remains unknown, and a policeman who was shot in the shoulder. Both had to be taken to hospital for treatment of injuries.
The tragedy came to shake the small community of Smithsburg, a rural village of regarding 3,000 souls in western Maryland.
The manufacturing plant is in a sparsely populated area northeast of the city center, near a church, several other businesses and farmland, according to CTV News.
The authorities still did not know Thursday evening if the suspect and the victims were employees of the company where the shooting took place, specified several American media.
Photo AP
Police were called around 2:30 p.m. to the factory in Smithsburgpour, Maryland, to a shooting that occurred inside.
The dead are piling up
It comes just over two weeks following the worst school shooting in the past decade in the United States.
No less than 19 children and two teachers lost their lives in an elementary school in Ulvade, Texas. The shooter was shot dead by authorities.
Since that dark day of May 24, more than 40 mass killings have occurred in the country, according to an organization that compiles events of gun violence.
These shootings led to the death of 49 people, in addition to injuring more than 180 others, according to the organization’s website.
Gun debate
As the deaths pile up, the country is currently torn apart over the debate over gun control, which has become the leading cause of death among young Americans.
The 5 worst mass shootings in the United States…in June alone
1is june | Tulsa, Oklahoma
June 2 | Centerville, Texas
June 4 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- 3 dead
- 12 injured
June 5 | Saginaw, Michigan
June 5 | Chattanooga, Tennessee