I’ve avoided getting too close to 888 Bestgate, the building where five friends were murdered in 2018. Eight years ago, I interviewed a public official there, and I still talk to them in my dreams. The past week marked my first return to Annapolis since the newsroom murders that shook our community.
The Capital was the newspaper of Annapolis when tragedy struck. In 2015, a harasser started plotting against us after we covered his Facebook harassment case. He plotted and planned, and on June 28, 2018, he took pictures through our windowed walls and bought a shotgun before blasting through our doors.
That day, five friends were murdered: Rebecca, Wendi, Rob, John, and Gerald. I protected John from a layoff and made Wendi the editor of herself to raise her low salary. We covered the community and the trial. Our coverage gave us power over the gunman who tried to silence The Capital.
Eight years have passed since that day. I drive by 888 Bestgate occasionally, trying not to look at it. My heart beats faster as I pass, but I’ve learned to shield myself from reminders of that day. As a journalist, my job is to ask questions and make sense of the answers. That’s how I live: by covering stories and asking more.
I’m older now, slower, but my grief remains close to the surface. Today, remember the five friends who lost their lives, as well as the survivors who thwarted the gunman’s attempt to silence a free press. Remember Annapolis’ response. The past has no power over me, but its landmarks still bring back emotions.
I’m changing, but I’m still the same journalist who covered that story. Time passes quickly and slowly, but always passes.
Source: https://www.thebanner.com/opinion/column/capital-gazette-mass-shooting-annapolis-june-28-LHNZVRYKOJDE3H6YKAXFNQXTRY