ANNAPOLIS — June 28, 2023 marks 5 years since a gunman walked in to the Capital Gazette offices and opened fire.
He killed Wendi Winters, Gerald Fischman, Rebecca Smith, John McNamara and Rob Hiaasen.
At 9:30 a.m. today a wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the Guardians of the First Amendment Memorial in Annapolis in their memory.
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The memorial sits in Newman Street Park as a reminder of what happened on June 28, 2018 and the importance of freedom of the press.
Today's ceremony features music, poetry and remarks provided on behalf of family members, staff of the Capital Gazette, and other victims of gun violence.
Five wreaths will be laid to honor the five victims.
The memory of slain reporter Wendi Winters continues to inspire the Annapolis community to give blood.
Since the shooting, two blood drives every year are held in her memory as she was a long time volunteer with the American Red Cross.
This year they added a third. The blood drive is taking place on Saturday, September 9. Click here for more information on signing up.
Since the Wendi Winters Memorial Blood Drives started 5 years ago more than 2,100 units of blood have been donated in her memory.
Governor Wes Moore issued the following statement remembering the victims:
Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith, and Wendi Winters were taken from us far too soon.
These exceptional Marylanders committed themselves to elevating the truth and informing the public. They built careers strengthening one of the most important institutions in American life: a free press. It’s an institution that our service members swear to protect when they deploy; it’s an institution that is central to the ideas of our democracy; and it’s an institution on which our nation’s greatness depends.
All five victims of the Capital Gazette shooting should still be with us today. My heart is with the families who mourn. No words or tribute can ease the immeasurable loss they’ve endured.
This tragedy reminds us of how much work we still have to do to build safer communities and end gun violence. We must do everything we can to protect the sanctity of our neighborhoods, protect the future of our children, and protect the safety of our journalists–whether they cover stories at home or abroad."
Moore proclaimed June 28, 2023 as Freedom of the Press Day in Maryland.
