Springfield chef’s sister in Maryland office building during mass shooting

SPRINGFIELD — The chef and owner of Seasons Bistro and Grille in Springfield had no idea just how close his family came to a mass shooting in Annapolis.

Doug McGregor said he had just returned from shopping for the restaurant at 28 S. Limestone St. when he received a group text from his sister saying that everything was OK, that she and her husband were fine.

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“I didn’t know what she was talking about,” McGregor said from his restaurant Thursday evening.

Further texts revealed there had been a mass shooting, and that his sister and brother-in-law had been meeting with their attorney on the second floor of the same building.

“Actually, the NPR station I was listening to started reporting on it.”

His sister and brother-in-law did not see anything, but a secretary in the lawyer’s office reported hearing shots and later saw through the window what appeared to be a suspect in custody, he said.

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“Relief” is how McGregor said he felt knowing that his family members were not hurt.

“It hits really close to home ... I don’t know what to think right now,” he said.

His sister and brother-in-law told him they are worried about their children, who were home safe with a baby-sitter. “They know their children are going to have questions and they’re hoping they can answer them.”

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