He is currently being held without bond.
Hagerstown, Md. (KM) – The Washington County Sheriff’s Office has filed charges in connection with Thursday’s deadly mass shooting in Smithsburg. Joe Louis Esquivel, 23, of Hedgesville, West Virginia faces a long list of charges They are:
- Murder 1st Degree
- Murder 1st Degree
- Murder 1st Degree
- Murder 2nd Degree
- Murder 2nd Degree
- Murder 2nd Degree
- Assault 1st Degree
- Assault 1st Degree
- Assault 1st Degree
- Assault 2nd Degree
- Assault 2nd Degree
- Assault 2nd Degree
- Attempted 1st Degree Murder
- Attempted 2nd Degree Murder
- Assault 1st Degree
- Assault 2nd Degree
- Reckless Endangerment
- Assault 1st Degree
- Assault 2nd Degree
- Reckless Endangerment
- Handgun in Vehicle
- Loaded Handgun in Vehicle
- Handgun on Person
- Loaded Handgun on Person
- Firearm Use/Felony Violent Crime
He’s is currently being held without bond.
The Sheriff’s Office says the suspect worked at Columbia Machine on Bikle Road in Smithsburg. He arrived for his normal shift on Thursday morning, and worked throughout the day.
During the afternoon, he went to his car and retrieved a weapon. The suspect then went into the area of the company’s break room, and fired at his fellow employees. Three were killed and one was critically injured. The deceased are identified as Mark Alan Frey, 50, of Hagerstown; Charles Edward Minnick, 31, from Smithsburg; and Joshua Robert Wallace, 30, of Hagerstown. The injured employee is Brandon Chase Michaels, 42. His home down was not given. Michaels was taken to Meritus Medical Center.
In a news release, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office says Smithsburg Police first arrived on the scene, and found an injured person outside of the business. When they arrived, Sheriff’s Deputies found the three deceased employees inside the business.
The suspect fled but was apprehended following a shoot out with State Police in the area of Mapleville Road and Mount Aetna Road. . Both he and the trooper were injured, and taken to the hospital. The trooper was treated and released.
Authorities in Washington County say the Berkeley County, West Virginia Sheriff’s Office and AFT agents served a search warrant on Esquivel’s home in Hedgesville where they found additional firearms.
No motive has been determined in the shootings, and the investigation is continuing, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
By Kevin McManus