A female shooter is reported to have killed three people and injured three others after opening fire at a Rite Aid distribution warehouse in Maryland.

The gunwoman died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in hospital Thursday afternoon, less than six hours after she after opening fire at the facility in Aberdeen, 35 miles north of Baltimore after 9am EST Thursday.

The killer who had worked as a temporary employee at the warehouse, turned up with a handgun shortly after 9am EST and began firing.

Law enforcement officers attend the scene of Thursday’s shooting at a Rite Aid warehouse in Aberdeen, Md., Thursday (Picture: AP)

Law enforcement officers stand gathered outside the scene of Thursday’s shooting in Maryland, MD (Picture: WBAL)

The Rite Aid distribution center in Aberdeen, Md., pictured after Thursday’s shooting which reportedly killed three (Picture: WBAL)

Law enforcement officers cling to the side of an SUV at the Rite Aid warehouse in Aberdeen, Md. (Picture: WBAL)

Sheriff Jeff Gahler saying no shots were fired by law enforcement, sparking speculation that the woman shot herself before police arrived.




Dr Raymond Fang from Johns Hopkins Bayview Trauma Center said his facility was treating four people for gunshot wounds.

He would not confirm whether one of those was the shooter. Another person is being treated for gunshot wounds at a separate hospital.

Roads close to the affected area have been closed, with trains also halted from passing along nearby tracks.

A victim’s car covered in tape at the scene of the Rite Aid warehouse shooting (Picture: EPA)

FBI tactical agents were scrambled to the scene (Picture: EPA)

Alexie Scharmann, whose mother works at the office shared a harrowing message sent to her after the violence erupted with WBAL.

It said: ‘I love you both more than u will ever know.

‘There is a shooter in the building. I am hiding. I love you.

‘Be good and take care of daddy and the pets should something happen.’ She later heard that her mother had escaped unscathed.

Alexie Scharmann’s mother sent her this harrowing text message a shooting at her building Thursday morning (Picture: WBAL)

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan said: ‘We are closely monitoring the horrific shooting in Aberdeen.

‘Our prayers are with all those impacted, including our first responders. The State stands ready to offer any support.’

Thursday’s gun rampage comes less than a day after a gunman opened fire inside a courthouse in Masontown, Pa.

He injured four people being shot dead by police.

And in Middleton – a suburb of Madison, Wi., another shooter injured five inside a software office building.

He was also killed by police.