As reports of at least five fatalities broke Thursday following the Capital Gazette shooting in Annapolis, MD, CNN’s Brian Stelter called it potentially “the deadliest day in American journalism in several years.”

The massacre unfolded during the afternoon, when a gunman entered the building, shooting through an office door an opening fire on workers, according to the Capital Gazette‘s Phil Davis.

“It is clear that something happened in the newsroom, something horrible,” Stelter said, adding that ” it’s a moment that I think so many journalists have feared for a long time regardless of whether this newsroom was targeted or not, this is a fear on many journalists’ minds.”

Stelter praised the paper as “special” for its reputable reporting as it is currently covering the day’s events itself using journalists who’ve survived.

“It’s an outstanding local paper,” he said. “It’s the kind of newspaper that people want in their lives.”

Stelter also recalled the August 2015 Roanoke, VA shooting in which a TV news team was gunned down while filming a live broadcast. WDBJ’s Alison Parker and Adam Ward were killed.

While both shootings have disturbed the press and the public, Stelter noted it’s a rare occurrence.

“Thankfully, attacks on journalists are uncommon in the U.S.,” he said. “We do not see fatalities very often like this.”

Watch the clip above, via CNN.

[Image via screengrab]

Follow Amy Russo on Twitter: @amymrusso

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