Two people are shot dead and a third injured at a grocery store in Baltimore

Two people are shot dead and a third injured at a grocery store in Baltimore before police find person with ‘self-inflicted gunshot wound’ at an apartment nearby

  • Gunfire heard around 7am at Royal Farms Store on Middleborough Road in Essex
  • Two people died at scene, before person shot themselves in a nearby apartment 
  • Baltimore County Police have not yet said whether the two incidents are linked  

Two people were shot dead and a third injured at a Baltimore County grocery store early Sunday, minutes before police found a person with a ‘self-inflicted gunshot wound’ at an apartment nearby. 

Gunfire was heard just before 7am at the Royal Farms Store on Middleborough Road in Essex, with witnesses finding one victim lying on the floor inside the store and a second inside a blue car parked outside. 

Around 15 minutes later officers were called to Hartland Ridge Apartments five minutes away from the store to a report of a fire and a person shot. Officials have not yet said if the person is dead. 

Gunfire was heard around 7am at a Royal Farms Store on Middleborough Road in Essex, Baltimore County. Images from WBAL

Around 15 minutes later officers were called to Hartland Ridge Apartments five minutes away from the store to a report of a fire and a person shot. Officials have not yet said if the person is dead

Around 15 minutes later officers were called to Hartland Ridge Apartments five minutes away from the store to a report of a fire and a person shot. Officials have not yet said if the person is dead

Baltimore County Police Department said the gunshot wound was self-inflicted but have not yet confirmed if both incidents are linked. 

The department confirmed two people had died at the store and a third had a ‘non-fatal’ injury. Officers were dispatched to the store shooting at at 6:43am and the apartment complex at 6:56am.

A police spokesman said: ‘Officers were dispatched just before 7am. Also not far away, detectives are investigating an apartment fire, including what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

‘We are investigating right now to see if or not both incidents are connected. We will release more information when appropriate.

‘Our main priority is to inform next-of-kin and to gather more information about what happened.’

Firemen and police at Hartland Ridge Apartments, where residents reported hearing shots followed by a fire

Firemen and police at Hartland Ridge Apartments, where residents reported hearing shots followed by a fire 

Witnesses found one victim lying on the floor inside the Royal Farms store and a second inside a blue car parked outside

Witnesses found one victim lying on the floor inside the Royal Farms store and a second inside a blue car parked outside

Recent figures revealed that violent crimes and homicides dropped by 20 percent in Baltimore in the 12 months to March even as they rose in most other major US cities.

Today’s incident comes seven days after a gunman killed 10 people at a grocery store in Bolder, Colorado in an as-yet unexplained massacre. 

Ahmad Alissa, 21, opened fire at the King Soopers grocery store shortly before 3pm, shooting dead two people outside then another eight once inside the store.

He has been described by family as a ‘loser’ who has had temper problems for much of his life. 

He has been charged with 10 counts of murder and one of attempted murder and made his first court appearance Thursday.  

Baltimore County Police Department said it was still investigating whether the store shooting (pictured - the scene) and the incident at the apartment were linked

Baltimore County Police Department said it was still investigating whether the store shooting (pictured – the scene) and the incident at the apartment were linked