Maryland Shooting | Smithsburg Shooting [2022]

TOPICS:
A Smithsburg Maryland shooting has left multiple people dead

Posted By: Ryan Miner June 9, 2022

A Maryland shooting on June 9, 2022, at a small Smithsburg manufacturing plant left three dead.

Joe Louis Esquivel, 23, of Hedgesville, W.Va., was indicted by a grand jury on June 29, 2022.

Esquivel faces 34 charges, including three counts of first- and second-degree murder.

He’s charged with murdering Mark Alan Frey, 50, of Waynesboro, Pa.; Charles “C.J.” Edward Minnick Jr., 31, of Smithsburg; and Joshua “Josh” Robert Wallace, 30, of the Hagerstown area.

Smithsburg Shooting on Bickle Road 

Multiple news outlets reported that a shooter opened has opened fire inside the Columbia Machine factory in Smithsburg, Maryland.

The factory is formally known as Bikle Manufacturing Inc.

Smithsburg, Maryland, is located on the eastern side of Washington County, Maryland, near Interstate 70.

Smithsburg Maryland 2022

Maryland Shooting Leaves Three People Dead | Smithsburg, Md | June 2022

The shooter opened fire inside the manufacturing facility, killing three people and critically wounding another. 

Investigators are working to determine the shooter’s motivation.

Sheriff Doug Mullendore is the Washington County, Maryland sheriff

The Smithsburg Shooter 

Police said the suspect was shot and injured during a confrontation with a Maryland State Police trooper at the intersection of Mapleville Road and Mount Aetna Road on Maryland State Route 66.

The trooper and the shooter were transported to an area hospital.

There are reports that Meritus Medical Center in Washington County went on lockdown.

Washington County Sheriff’s officials could not confirm information about the trooper’s injuries.

Local authorities have not released the identity of the shooter.

Shooting Updates 

Washington County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Sergeant Carly Hose made the following statement on the shooting incident:

On June 9, 2022, at approximately 2:30 p.m., the Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to Columbia Machine, located at 12912 Bikle Road, Smithsburg, Maryland, of reports of an active shooter.

Units immediately responded and located four victims, three of which were deceased, at the scene.

One was critically injured and was transported to the hospital.

The suspect had fled the scene before law enforcement’s arrival.

A description of the suspect was quickly released to responding officers.

The suspect encountered a Maryland State Police trooper on Mapleville Road (Beaver Creek, Maryland) and Mount Aetna Road.

They did exchange gunshots – between the trooper and the suspect.

Both [the suspect and the trooper] were hit and transported for medical treatment.

Multiple federal agencies, including the F.B.I. and the A.T.F., are responding to assist in this investigation.

There is no confirmed active threat to our community due to this incident – and more information will be released as it becomes available to us.”

You can follow the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page for updates on the incident.

Smithsburg, Maryland Shooting Eyewitness Video & Media Footage 

Columbia Machine Shooting 

Columbia Machine Inc. is a leading U.S. manufacturer of concrete products and equipment.

The company is recognized in over 100 countries and six continents as a leader in “quality, innovation, durability, and customer service,” according to its website.

They serve customers in over 100 countries.

Columbia Machine provides equipment for concrete product plants – from mixing and batching to automatic cubing and splitting.

The company was founded in Vancouver, Washington, in 1937.

Maryland Officials React To Shooting 

Congressman David Trone 

Maryland Congressman David Trone represents Smithsburg, Maryland, in the United State House of Representatives.

Mr. Trone Tweeted Thursday afternoon that he’s actively monitoring the situation.

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan 

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan was briefed on the shooting and is monitoring the situation.

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot 

Mr. Franchot is running for Maryland governor in 2022.

Former Robin Hood CEO and Maryland Gubernatorial Candidate Wes Moore 

Former Maryland Attorney General and Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate John King 

Former U.S. Education Secretary John and Maryland Gubernatorial Candidate John King 

Former D.N.C. Chair and Maryland Gubernatorial Candidate Tom Perez 

Larry Hogan Reacts to Maryland Shooting in Smithsburg 

Governor Larry Hogan issued a brief statement on the afternoon of June 9 that read:

“I have been briefed on it – but it’s an ongoing situation.

And we don’t have all the facts, and I don’t – I’m not sure they’re ready to put out all the facts without notifying the next of kin.

My understanding is that potentially three people were killed.

The State Police responded and pursued the suspect.

The suspect fired and shot the state trooper in the shoulder, who then returned fire and shot him back.

And I don’t know the status of the shooter.

It’s an ongoing, developing situation.”