Suspected Capital Gazette Shooter Doesn't Appear In Court

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP/WJZ) - A man charged with killing five people in The Capital newsroom in Annapolis, Maryland, was scheduled to be in court Monday, however he did not appear.

Instead Jarrod Ramos' public defender filed the motions in the case on Ramos' behalf ahead of the hearing.

The initial appearance in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court was set after a grand jury indicted Ramos on 23 counts, including murder, attempted murder and assault.

County police say Ramos used a shotgun to blast his way into the newsroom on June 28. Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith and Wendi Winters were killed.

The Capital newspaper had written about Ramos pleading guilty to harassing a former high school classmate in 2011. Ramos unsuccessfully sued the writer and the newspaper's publisher for defamation.

Police arrested Ramos in the newsroom. They say he blocked an exit before shooting his way through the entrance.

Another status conference will be held within 30 days.

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