Update: Gunman Killed by Police at Discovery Channel Headquarters' Hostage Crisis

[JamesG]

Discovery Communications Headquarters Invaded By Gunman
by TV Squad Staff
posted Sep 1st 2010


The Discovery Communications headquarters building in Silver Spring, Md. has been shut down after a gunman possibly bearing explosives took a hostage, CNN reports.




A SWAT team and emergency officials have surrounded the 10-story building, and the Discovery Channel sent an e-mail to all employees in the building telling them they "have reason to believe there is an armed gunman at One Discovery Place."


Montgomery Co. Cpl. Dan Friz told news station WJLA that the suspect was carrying what appeared to be an "explosive device."


Discovery Communication employee Lisa Lucas told the local ABC 7 News that, "We heard, Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop" around 1:20PM ET.










According to a local news station's Twitter update, the gunman allegedly posted an online manifesto demanding that Discovery Communications channels -- including Discovery, TLC, Animal Planet, the Science Channel and more -- air certain types of programs.

The document details how "The Discovery Channel MUST broadcast to the world their commitment to save the planet" and urges the company "to do the following IMMEDIATELY."

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/09/01/di...tage-situatio/

[JamesG]

Police Kill Hostage-Taker at Discovery Headquarters
Sep 1, 2010
by Joyce Eng


Police fatally shot an armed man who had taken hostages at Discovery Communications headquarters, ending a nerve-rattling standoff that held much of Silver Spring, Md., paralyzed Wednesday afternoon.



Montgomery County Police Chief J. Thomas Manger told reporters that a device went off and released smoke during the confrontation, but that three hostages were safe. He had earlier declined to comment on reports that the man may have had explosives strapped to his body.

Police searched the building afterward to ensure that he left no explosives behind.






The building, which houses 1,900 Discovery employees, was at least partly evacuated after the man entered the Silver Spring complex. It was unclear whether he fired any shots. People were forced to remain in place for hours as police tried to negotiate with the man.




NBC said law enforcement sources identified the suspect as James Jay Lee, a longtime protester of the Discovery Channel who was convicted of disorderly conduct in 2008.

DCist reported that Lee was arrested at a protest outside the Discovery building on Feb. 21 after reportedly throwing money to draw a crowd.











Court records show that a James Jay Lee arrested on the same date and location was sentenced in March to six months probation and ordered to pay a $500 fine.

His attorney in the case, former public defender Johanna Leshner, told TVGuide.com that Lee dismissed her to represent himself. He also represented himself in an unsuccessful appeal.



The court records describe Lee as a 5'10, 235-pound 43-year-old. They listed a Silver Spring community outreach and support program for the homeless as his mailing address.

The director of homeless services for the center, Interfaith Works, told TVGuide.com on Wednesday that Lee had not received mail there in more than two years.











On a website called Savetheplanetprotest.com that promoted the February 2008 protest, a man who identified himself as "Lee" called on people to join him in protesting.

"The Discovery Channel produces a lot of shows about saving the planet that all have one thing in common," the site said. "They don't work."

The site claimed Discovery promotes pollution, overfishing, and overpopulation, among other complaints.



A phone number for the site was out of service and an email was returned as undeliverable Wednesday.




Thomas Leonard, a man who said he was Lee's brother-in-law, told Fox News that Lee had once had "a small family trust" and had feigned a terminal illness to fool relatives. He said Lee was now estranged from his family.

"He kind of wormed his way out of some of the family's money," Leonard said.



The building is home to several of Discovery's networks, including the Discovery Channel TLC, Animal Planet and the Science Channel. Discovery is planning to launch a cable network with Oprah Winfrey in 2011.

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Gunman-D...g-1022561.aspx

[browneyes106]

I read about this awhile go. I can see where the guy had some of those thoughts. Plenty of people complain about the Duggars promoting overpopulation lol.

[Janice]

Originally Posted by browneyes106

I read about this awhile go. I can see where the guy had some of those thoughts. Plenty of people complain about the Duggars promoting overpopulation lol.

And plenty of people think it's just fine, which is why their show is in its 5th year on TLC. As for this loon, I've hated some of the programming on certain channels. Nick@Nite comes to mind. I'd say this was an overreaction.

[catlover79]

At least the hostages all got out safely, thank God.

[MrCleveland]

I feel that The Disney Channel should go back to its roots, but I'm not going to raid The Walt Disney Studios!

Nor go to The Turner Center and say "Either bring back 'Looney Tunes' or DIE"!

Nor invade Viacom and say "I WANT MY MTV, NICKELODEON, VH1, AND TVLAND BACK TO WHAT THEY WERE OR HEADS WILL SPIN"!

I have more dignity than that!...

[angiefan]

I heard about this.