reporter: capital gazette rob hiassen was a creative writer. he crafted stories. today his wifeia m spoke with us at their home. >> there's the pain, the shock, the horror with theve absolute nd pride in my husband that i feel the nee to share with others. >> reporter: rob hiassen was a realap new man. and a mentor. some of those he helped alo the way thought of him as a philosopher and a poet. rob's brother karl is a long-time columnist for miami herald and well known author. >> everybody that worked with w himl remember him as an incredibly gifted and generous journalist. >> reporter: hiassen's close friend kevin worked with rob for 15 yearst sitting n to him at the "baltimore sun." >> i can't believe that rob hiassen, a guy who i thought would be around foresr, gone. i've lost a friend and we've all lost a f greatend and a great colleague too. >> reporter: maria and her husband rob both began at radio reporters. they have three children who are now adults. >> no matter what that sophomoric violent man did, i charged with doing, the memory of

third victim is robert hiassen. victim is john mcnamara. >> reporter: 170 people evacuated seen with their hands up. >> it was very, very scary. you would never think something would happen to you at work. >> reporter: we've learned from authorities that they've identified the suspect as 38-year-old jarrod ramos and he may have targeted the paper over a lawsuit he filed for defamation. >> we're hearing that the police chief said the shooting was personal for some of these officers. why is that? >> reporter: the police chief saying this is their hometown newspaper. he said officers with his pament work with reporters at the "capital gazette" on a daily basis. he said they have friends who work for that newspaper. so the shooting here today very personal for police officers as well. >> let's talk about that lawsuit that you mentioned there for a moment, it was filed back in 2015 from what i recall. and what else are we learning about it? >> reporter: right, that it was after he was charged with harassment, the newspap

. >> reporter: capital gazette editor rob hiassen, he was a creative writer. c fted stories and encouraged young people to go into reporting. today his wife maria spoke with us at their home. >> there's the pain, the shock, the horror with the absolute love and pride in my husband that i feel the need to share with others. >> reporter: maria and her husband rob both began as radio reporters. they have three children who are now adults. >> i know that every day he went to a j in a noble profession, despite what certain poleicians may l to say. and he did the best with a staff that was cut aut that's just the nature of journalism these days in print. ey put out a product that he was proud of. >> reporter: his close friendrk with him 15 years sitting next to him. >> i can't belie rob hiassen, a guy i thought would bround forever is gone. i've lost a friend and we've all lost a great friend and a great colleague. >> rob hiassen was a real newspaper man and a mentor. some of those he helped along the wayhought of him as a philosopher and a poet. reporting from his

one of the journalists killed in maryland, rob hiassen, was remembered by his brother. the author posted a photo on facebook. rob on the left. carl hiassen wrote, rob was an editor and columnist at the paper and one of the most gentle and funny people i've ever known. he spent his whole life as a journalist and he believed profoundly in the craft and mission of serving the public's right to know the news. the committee to protect journalists released a statement saying it's appalled by the shooting. the group says violence against journalists is unacceptable and we welcome the thorough investigation into the motivation behind the shooting. stay with us here at ktvu news for continuing coverage of this newspaper shooting and investigation. you can also get updates anytime of day by going to our website, ktvu.com. >>> well, rosemary orozco is in for steve this morning. and sounds like -- are we still going to get a heat up tomorrow or today? >> yeah. this weekend is going to feel about like the last week. today is warmer. saturday is the hottest day. temperatures are comi

. >>> one of the journalist killed was rob hiassen. he was remembered by his brother, carl hiassen.posted a photo on facebook. carl hiassen wrote, rob was an editor and a columnist for the paper and one of the most gentle and funny people i've ever known. he believed profoundly in the craft and mission of serving the public's right to know the news. california senator tom o'hare is offered her condolences. she tweeted, i'm heartbroken by the shooting at the capital gazette. journalists lay such a critical role in our democracy and to often face risk at home and abroad. my thoughts are with the family, difference, and the paper. >>> the committee to protect journalists released a statement saying it's a poll budgeting. -- by the shooting. we welcome the thorough investigation into the motivations behind the shooting. stay with ktvu for continuing coverage of the newspaper shooting and you can visit ktvu.com for updates. >>> there's some new information about a hit-and-run crash that left a pedicab driver zero really -- severely injured. they are looking for a four door honda civic. t

robert hiassen, he was called big rob, his brother author carl hiassen, remembers his, quote, remarkable heart and humor. yesterday was hiassen's wife's birthday. john mcnamara was living his dream as a sports reporter. he was as they say in sports a multitool player who could do almost anything. rebecca smith is the youngest victim, she leaves behind a fiance and daughter who she absolutely adored. wendi winters, she spent the bulk of her career in fashion and public relations and built a reputation as a prolific freelance reporter and well known community resource there. one of her four children says her life was a gift to everyone who knew her. no kidding. we'll be right back. ordinary stains say they can do the job, but behr premium stain can weather any weather. overall #1 rated, weathers it all. right now, get incredible savings on behr. exclusively at the home depot. could light up the room? aveeno® positively radiant sheer daily moisturizer. lightweight hydration for positively radiant skin that lasts. aveeno®. naturally beautiful results®. ( ♪ ) your heart doesn't only belong to

and rob hiassen, creative writer and mentor. yesterday he lt his home for work after doing a dance for his wife on her birthday. >> i can't help but think what if head taken this day off for us to be together. >> reporter: they have three children allhe grown. son ben holds her hand during our interview. >> no matter what that sophomoric violent man did, is charged with doing, the memor of rob hiassen will live on. >> repter: the door to the building with the capital ac shooting take e is still blocked by police t oe. the sen loss here in annapolis will last a lg time. roris gordon, news 4. >> and the victims to the investigation now, whyid he target this newspaper and why did he do it so violently? tracee wilkins has been out here in annapolis a da she was here yesterday. she's been covering the investigation. she picks up the story from there. tracee. >> reporter: well, wendy, police believe they have some idea of what motivated all of this based on the suspected gunman's history waph this. but the gunman is not cooperating. a

editor gerald fischm fischman, sports reporter john mcnamara, sales assistant rebecca smith and rob hiassen. through it all, survivors reported on their all tragedy this morning. the paper rolled off the presses and on to stoops all around town. and this morning the "capital gazette" intern talked about leaving the newsroom when it was over. >> unfortunately we saw we had to pass two bodies of our colleagues, which was something that nobody should ever have to stomach. just unfortunate that somebody would come into a place that only reports truthful stories that are fact-based and unleash hell on the office. it was -- we tried to keep our eyes from off the ground, but inevitably we were -- we all as journalists, we're kind of curious and it was sickening. >> sickening. rene marsh is with us. you've been reporting on the ground. what is the sense you're getting from the community and what you can tell us. >> reporter: well, poppy, the sense i get is in this tight knit community, they are mourning, but it is not just this community, it is the entire state. the governor of maryland has ordered

and cap dital editor and report rob hiassen, a mentor. and his brother carl writing an emotional post on facebook, he spent his whole gifted career as a journalist and he believed profoundly in the craft and mission of serving the public's right to know the news. the attack on the journalists shaking the annapolis community including law enforcement officials who rushed in to help. >> we have friends at the capital newspaper. we speak with these men and women on a daily basis to get stories out that are important to the citizens of this county. >> reporter: and even after the tragedy, "the capital gazette" staff committed to continuing their jobs, keeping their community informed. >> something like this might happen in afghanistan or iraq. you don't expect it to happen in a sleepy office across the street from the local mall. but we're still putting out a newspaper. >> reporter: and just a note about one of those victims, rob hiassen. just yesterday before he went to work he left a birthday package for his wife at home. and he said she sh

the gazette's sister paper "the baltimore sun" wrote tributes to the victims, gerald fischman, rob hiassenjohn mcnamara, rebecca smith and wendi winters. their front cover, the "capital gazette" refusing to let the tragedy from covering the story. sources say the suspect hasn't been cooperating and he had to be i.d.'d through facial recognition. we know years ago the "capital gazette" reported his alleged threats to police and he also filed a defamation lawsuit against the newspaper in 2012 and lost. diane and kendis. >> yeah, our kenneth moton reporting from annapolis for us, thank you. and this attack, by the way, is the 154th mass shooting in the united states so far this year. >> a recent study found about half of mass shooters have some sort of personal grievance. in this case, the former editor said the suspect repeatedly threatened him but they didn't have enough to bring charges. we spoke with former fbi agent steve gomez about what, if anything, could have been done to prevent this attack. >> the fact that he made threats, that should have now put him on the radar with law enforce

they are wendy winters, rebecca smith, robert highest and --hi s --hiassen and john mcnamara.t 2:30 p.m. in the afternoon the gunmen went in the building behind me, shooting in the newsroom, a remarkable part of the story is first responders responding 60 seconds to two minutes, bill davis who is a report here, we counted what that was like, he was in the newsroom, take a listen. >> people working in an office, doing their job, had no reason to the best of our knowledge to think someone like this would have a motive to gun down employees who were just doing their job that day. >> reporter: responding quickly, governor larry hogan in a shooting a few months ago in a school at the capital gazette. his hometown paper governor hogan issued a statement sending thoughts, prayers and condolences to the family and saying there is no place in our society for this kind of hatred and violence. the individual responsible must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. this morning we are learning the "capital gazette" is defined of this incident, going to publish their paper, you see

on the left there is rob hiassen, the paper described him as a generous mentor. gerald fischman. he's described as a quirky voice of the community newspaper. for john mcnamara that the paper says sports reporting was his dream job. wendi winters is said to have been a prolific writer who criminal code her -- chronicled her community. rebecca smith, she loved spending time with her family and was new to the paper. phil davis continued to report during the active shooter situation. he tweeted, there is nothing more terrifying than hearing multiple people get shot while you're under your desk and then hear the gunman reload. president trump tweeted, quote, i was briefed on the shooting at capital gazette in annapolis, my shots and prayers -- thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. thank you to all of the first responders. we will go live to annapolis, maryland, for an update. >>> 5:07. happening today, hearing scheduled this afternoon regarding the ghost ship warehouse fire attorneys for the two defendants, derick almena and max harris, will continue negotiatio

bob hiassen taught news writing there too. you can imagine the school there is heart broken by their deaths because they not only taught so many student, they mentored so many young journalists who come through these smaller papers on to bigger newspapers so it's tough. really, really tough. >> norah, the whole story is heartbreaking. you know, we said at the top of the show, you get up, you go to work, you think it's going to be another day. you think another day on the job. and by the time the day is over, your life has totally and irreparably changed. i saw survivor, one of the reporters yesterday, last night on anderson cooper, she said, i know people are praying for us, we keep hearing people offering their prayers. prayers are not what we need right now. that's not what we want. that's not what we need. something needs to be done. and she was a victim who had been hiding under her desk. the whole thing is just so tragic and unnecessary. >> right. wanting more than prayers. action. just as you said. the other thing intere

his wife, maria hiassen spoke out about the loss of her husband ..and how being a journalist...onnected him to his humanity. take a listen... maria hiassenhusband killed in shooting--alt--widow of robert hiaasen<"this is a loss to me to my children to my family and to this community this is huge he realized this big world is fouled up you can't be a journalist cant not see that but he under stood to remember your humanity and to look for the human being behind the story."> (pam) robert (pam) (pam) robert hiaasen was just one of five people killed in the gazette shooting. the other four are editorial page editor gerald fischman, special projects editor wendi winters, reporter john mcnamara and sales assistant rebecca smith. (ken) our fire coverage continues tonight -- at cal- fire's air attack base... firefighters say, they are ready to take off at a moments notice.. if a new fire breaks out. kron 4's rob fladeboe was in hollister at the air attack base.. he has details on their plans. nats (air tankers in action) already in action fighting fires in lake county and beyond, air ta

you also worked with rob hiassen. what do you want people to know about rob? >> yeah, oh my god.oved rob so much. when i moved off the paper, i was so nervous about telling him that i was going to move on because the paper meant a lot to me, gave me a chance, and he was so supportive, and i was so nervous. when i told him, i started to cry a little bit. i felt so bad about leaving. and he looked at me and he said you know what, i don't think i want to see you here in another year or two because he knew that i was ready to leave, and he wanted me to achieve in my career whatever i can, and i was so moved by that because in journalism a lot of times it is about what you can do for the paper, what you can do for the television station. but that was never him. he really cared about us more than our stories, and he cared about our stories so much. >> that's huge. that's huge. and you shared a story with us as well, another memory about your car and your keys being locked inside your car and rob sort of came to the rescue. tell us about that. >> oh my god. that's one of my favorite mem

let's start with bob hiassen. >> i didn't work with him for a long time, he had come just before i retired, but bob was an incredible mentor to people in the newspaper. he was a calming voice in that newsroom, also an aspiring voice. an incredibly gifted writer with a sense of humor. it's difficult to write humor, good humor. but through his column he definitely did that, but he was just a joy to be around. >> what about wendi winters? >> wendi winters, an incredible person who i had hired just to do your typical community news stories, freelance stories involving everything from the soapbox derby to a local cooking contest, stories that were inconsequential but were well read because we're a local newspaper. she wrote so much that she became the most prolific writer in the newsroom, and we hired her on as a reporter. but a very charming person who would bring me and the others in the newsroom a cake every christmastime. very friendly to the staff. really wanted to immerse herself in news journalism. certainly was not ready to retire. >> john mcnamara? >> john mcnamara was a diehard terps

gerald fischman, editor, john mcnamara, sales sinlt, rebecca smith, and editor and columnist robert hiassen all killed, police say, by the suspected shooter, 38-year-old jarrod ramos seen here being led away in handcuffs right after the shooting. other cell phone videos capturing the chaos. survivors evacuating the building. >> five more. five more coming. >> reporter: marjorie rock was on the second floor recording the video. >> put your hands up. >> there were about seven large officers, heavily armed, heavily armored screaming at us, get your hands up. get your hands up. get your hands up. >> reporter: authorities believe ramos held a deep grudge against the paper. back in 2011 is it reported on ramos harassing a woman online. he pleaded guilty to that harassment. that woman's attorney speaking to our pierre thomas about that day in court. >> how angry was he? >> incredibly angry. the malice dripped off this man in court. >> reporter: ramos sued the paper for defamation but it was dismissed. reporte hell awaits and to two editors it would be nicer to see them cease breathing. one of thos

quickly finally the story of the defiance we will mention victims heroes journalists's names robert hiassenrebecca smith john mack merah a press conference later we will bring more as we get it back to you. maria: thank you i love what a tragedy thank you very much on scene more from cash room of the treasury department adviser to the president to president trump, stay with us a win for nike biggest apparel company to open record high snaechd quarterly earnings expectations up 10% right now more on market reaction stay with us. ♪ ♪ ♪ you shouldn't be rushed into booking a hotel. with expedia's add-on advantage, booking a flight unlocks discounts on select hotels until the day you leave for your trip. add-on advantage. only when you book with expedia. hi.i just wanted to tell you thdependability award for its midsize car-the chevy malibu. i forgot. chevy also won a j.d. power dependability award for its light-duty truck the chevy silverado. oh, and since the chevy equinox and traverse also won chevy is the only brand to earn the j.d. power dependability award across cars, trucks and suvs-thr