Shooting in Capitol Heights, Maryland: Two dead and suspect in custody after gunfire erupts at senior living facility

TWO female staff members were killed after a gunman barricaded himself at a senior living building in Maryland on Friday.

Officers with the Prince George's County Police Department responded to a at Gateway Village in Capitol Heights, , at 9.10am.

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Police said two were killed in the shooting as officers swarmed the building searching for other victims.

National Church Residences later released a statement confirming that the two victims were employees.

"We are extremely heartbroken by the events that occurred this morning at our affordable housing property Gateway Village, in Capitol Heights, Maryland. We are proud of the heroic and swift actions of our staff to ensure that our residents were protected and kept safe," the statement said.

"Our hearts go out to the families of our two team members who lost their lives in this tragic and unfortunate incident."

A male suspect was taken into custody after the hours-long standoff. His identity remains unknown.

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"I was coming into the building, and we heard a 'pow' and then... I looked, and I saw his hand go up, and he shot twice, and I just ran," a witness told .

Witnesses reportedly told the outlet the shooter is a resident at Gateway Village; however, those claims are unconfirmed.

Another witness who spoke to the outlet said the shooter told him: "Nobody is standing up for the seniors, I can't take it no more, I have to do something. Obviously, what he chose to do was wrong, but he did something,"

Footage from the scene showed heavy police presence outside of the senior living facility.

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Police confirmed the scene is secure and there is no ongoing threat to the community.

The Prince George's County Police asked families of those who live at the senior center to gather outside at the firehouse at 6061 Old Central Avenue.

The nearby Capitol Heights Elementary School was placed on lockdown out of an abundance of caution. The lockdown has since been lifted.