Trump orders US flags lowered to honor 5 slain at newspaper

The Associated Press
July 3, 2018 at 3:50PM
Carl Hiaasen, center, brother of Rob Hiaasen, one of the journalists killed in the shooting at The Capital Gazette newspaper offices, is consoled by his sister Judy, right, and Rob Hiaasen's widow, Maria, during a memorial service, Monday, July 2, 2018, in Owings Mills, Md.
Carl Hiaasen, center, brother of Rob Hiaasen, one of the journalists killed in the shooting at The Capital Gazette newspaper offices, is consoled by his sister Judy, right, and Rob Hiaasen's widow, Maria, during a memorial service, Monday, July 2, 2018, in Owings Mills, Md. (Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has ordered U.S. flags on federal property be flown at half-staff through sunset Tuesday to honor five people slain at a newspaper in Maryland's capital.

The order comes after Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley said Monday that Trump had declined his request to lower the flags.

Trump issued a proclamation Tuesday ordering the flags to half-staff through sundown.

Four Capital Gazette journalists and a staffer were killed Thursday when a gunman holding a grudge against the publication shot them in the newsroom.

Trump has repeatedly called journalists the "enemy of the people." He said the day after the shooting journalists shouldn't fear being violently attacked while doing their job.

The White House says Trump ordered the flags lowered as soon as he learned of the Annapolis mayor's request.

An American flag is placed next to five crosses representing the people killed in a newsroom shooting, at a makeshift memorial at the scene outside the office building housing The Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Md., on Sunday, July 1, 2018. Jarrod Ramos is charged with murder after police say he opened fire Thursday at the newspaper. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
An American flag is placed next to five crosses representing the people killed in a newsroom shooting, at a makeshift memorial at the scene outside the office building housing The Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Md., on Sunday, July 1, 2018. Jarrod Ramos is charged with murder after police say he opened fire Thursday at the newspaper. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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