Suspect in Deadly Maryland Senior Living Center Shooting Was Fed Up, Friend Says

According to a fellow resident, the suspect in the deadly shooting at a Maryland senior living center Friday was fed up with the treatment of the people who lived there, the Associated Press reported. Police said two staff members at Gateway Village in Capitol Heights were killed in the shooting just after 9 a.m. ET., with one victim discovered in a hallway and the other in an office.

The resident, who identified himself as Donald, said the shooter was his friend and had spoken to him about "standing up" for the complex's residents.

"He told me, 'Don, nobody is standing up for these seniors. I can't take it no more. I've got to do something.' And obviously what he chose to do is wrong, but he did something," he told reporters.

Police said that they plan to look into the management of the Gateway Village facility during the shooting investigation, but Capitol Heights Police Chief Mark Cummings said he didn't know of any "ongoing situations" at the complex.

"We don't get a lot of calls to this facility. My officers actually patrol that area very much. We go in and talk to the residents," he said.

For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below.

Gateway Village is one of 310 communities in 25 states run by National Church Residences, which describes itself as "the nation's largest provider of affordable senior housing and services." Its website says the apartment complex about a half-mile east of the District of Columbia includes studio and one-bedroom units for "seniors age 62+." A county website describes the property as subsidized government housing for seniors with low incomes.

National Church Residences spokeswoman Cindy Young said they "are extremely heartbroken" that two staff members were killed.

"We are proud of the heroic and swift actions of our staff to ensure that our residents were protected and kept safe. Our hearts go out to the families of our two team members who lost their lives in this tragic and unfortunate incident," her statement said.

Cummings said the facility's residents can come and go without staff controlling whether they carry a gun.

"It's an open facility. It's a residence. So they don't manage what weapons or things are brought in," Cummings said.

The shooter prepared to surrender even before police arrived, Donald said, laying flat with his arms spread in a hallway, with the weapon pushed about six feet away from him. He said his friend told him to tell police that he wasn't a threat and that he knew he would be taken away.

Deputy Prince Georges County Chief Lakina S. Webster said the suspect was taken into custody without incident.

County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks said the priority now is caring for the approximately 89 residents of the facility, making sure they have medicine and food after many were evacuated.

"We are absolutely devastated about the loss of life today and if you think about it, the depravity. There is no good explanation for why this kind of occurrence happens again and again," Alsobrooks said.