Pressed to Kill
Inside Newspapers' Worst Mass Murder
by Tom Marquardt
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Pub Date Mar 18 2025 | Archive Date Mar 31 2025
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Description
For all Tom Marquardt knew, Capital Gazette just had an unhappy reader. What he didn’t know was that the unhappy reader was about to become a mass murderer.
Marquardt, the former editor of Capital Gazette newspapers in Annapolis, MD, was a target of a 38-year-old loner who sought to avenge a 2011 article that reported the reader’s conviction of sexually harassing a former high school classmate. For years the man sued the editor, the reporter and the newspaper for defamation, then took to Twitter (now X) to lash out against the editor and reporter. Representing himself in court, his lawsuit rambled and failed to persuade a judge who easily dismissed it. He spent the next three years silently plotting his attack.
On June 28, 2018, he blasted his way through the locked doors of Capital Gazette offices and killed five employees. He called 911 to confess, then hid under a desk while waiting to surrender to approaching police.
Marquardt spent two years reviewing police and court files, eyewitness accounts, the killer’s interview with a state psychiatrist and video footage to chronicle in stunning detail what lead up to the crime and how the killer escaped detection.
“Pressed to Kill: Inside Newspapers’ Worst Mass Murder” is a chilling account of the worst mass murder at an American newspaper, but more so it is about the lives of those who died, their heroism on that day, and the remarkable response from a community who rushed to its side.
Advance Praise
“Pressed to Kill offers more than just a recount of a murderer’s path to destruction; it serves as a poignant testament to the lives irrevocably altered in its wake. Tom Marquardt’s account delves deep into the prelude of harassment and litigation that foreshadowed the shooting, illustrating how the shooter’s vendetta against the Capital Gazette spiraled into a deadly rampage.” — Kristen Ziman, former Aurora, IL, police chief who experienced a mass shooting and who later served on the Justice Department’s panel that investigated the mass school shooting in Uvalde, TX
“I found Pressed to Kill emotionally compelling and so factually accurate – from the case details to the astonishing reality of gun violence in America. You have done a deep service to both the victims of that horrible day and your chosen profession.” — Dr. J. Reid Meloy, Ph.D, board-certified forensic psychologist, threat assessment consultant and author of “International Handbook of Threat Assessment (Oxford University Press)
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9781627205757 |
| PRICE | $37.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 304 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Morgan V, Reviewer
I had moved to Maryland in 2019, after this had occurred and had not heard about this awful story. When I came across it on NetGalley I wanted to know more.
I think the author, former editor of the Capital Gazette, did a good job telling us what happened and sharing the tragedy of the staff, community of Annapolis and even himself. I can’t imagine how the victims feel even to this day.
It’s hard for me to write a review and rate on a true story that is so heartbreaking. My rating is no reflect on the story that was told but instead how it was told. The author did a good job sharing all the information within this case and showing the demon that did this while not giving him the pleasure of being named. The mass murderer will not get to see his name in this book and enjoy the story that he wanted people to write for him to take credit for.
Thank you Apprentice House Press of Loyola University Maryland for letting me read this before it’s been released.
Kathleen R, Reviewer
“Pressed to Kill: Inside Newspapers’ Worst Mass Murder” by Tom Marquardt is a non-fiction book that recounts the tragic events of the 2018 shooting at the Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland.
This book provides a detailed and harrowing account of the shooting, including the gunman’s motives, the victims, and the heroic actions of some survivors. Marquardt examines the impact of the tragedy on the Capital Gazette staff, the Annapolis community, and the broader journalism industry. The book delves into the history of escalating harassment and threats faced by the newspaper, highlighting the dangers journalists face in today’s climate.
The book discusses the dangers of online hate: It underscores the increasing prevalence of online harassment and threats against journalists and the need for greater protection for those who serve the public interest. It also emphasizes the vital role of a free press in a democracy and the courage of journalists who continue to report despite facing threats.
The resilience of the human spirit: Despite the horrific tragedy, the book also highlights the resilience of the Capital Gazette staff, the Annapolis community, and the journalism community in the face of adversity.
“Pressed to Kill” is an important book that offers a sobering look at the dangers faced by journalists. It is a must-read for anyone interested in journalism, freedom of the press, and the fight against gun violence. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book o preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Collyn B, Reviewer
read if you like:
📚 non-fiction
📍 Annapolis, MD
📰 the story behind the Capital Gazette murders in 2018
summary:
I decided to take a break with a quick non-fiction, and I’m so glad I did. PRESSED TO KILL tells the story of the 2018 Capital Gazette murders, what led to the fateful day, and what happened following it. It’s written by the former editor of the paper, who led the paper when a 38 year old began harassing a reporter over an article they had written about the man’s conviction of sexual harassment in 2011. Following the article, the man sued the paper, the editor and the reporter, and sent threats on Twitter towards the team. The stalking went on for several years, before a three year period where the shooter began plotting his crime. Then, on June 18, 2018, he stormed the newsroom, killing five and injuring several before he was arrested.
The book follows the lead up to the crime — everything the editor and paper did to stand up for their reporting, and fight back against the would-be-shooter’s various lawsuits. It is scary to read how many signs there were that something would happen, and how little law enforcement was able to do about it until an actual crime had been committed. It also provided insight into the process around independent reporting, and the risks some take to report unpopular news. It outlines the shooting itself in painful detail, which may be difficult for some people to read. Following it, it describes the trial and ultimate conviction of the shooter, and closes out with general reflection on gun control laws and protection in the United States. In this day and age, it is both a terrifying and necessary tale of what happens when threats aren’t taken seriously, and the desperate need for gun reform in this country.
Thanks to Apprentice House Press of Loyola University Maryland and NetGalley for the advanced copy. I recommend checking this book out when it releases on March 18.
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