CRIME & COURTS
Gunman Shot and Killed After Hostage Standoff at Discovery Channel Building
Published September 01, 2010
| FoxNews.com
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Police block the street in front of the headquarters of the Discovery Channel networks building in Silver Spring, Md., Wednesday Sept. 1, 2010. Police say a gunman has taken at least one person hostage in the building. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
A man known [Note: He's known.] for protesting the Discovery Channel's environmental programming stormed the network's Maryland headquarters carrying a handgun on Wednesday, holding three people hostage for hours until he was shot and killed by police, according to authorities.
The hostages -- two Discovery Communications employees and a security guard [Note: Security guard taken hostage as well. What kind of training did he have for such an event?] -- were unhurt after the four-hour standoff. Montgomery County Police Chief Thomas Manger said tactical officers [Translation=SWAT.] moved in after officers monitoring the man on building security cameras [Gathering intel - looking for opportunity, patterns, escalation, cues.] saw him pull out a handgun and point it at a hostage.
The gunman was identified by Discovery Communications as James Jay Lee of San Diego, Calif., a man well-known to the building's employees [Note: Well-known to the building's employees- the true 1st responders?] because of his history of protesting the network [Known history = major indicator of future behaviors based on context.].
Manger said the gunman had been wearing "what appeared to be metallic canister devices" when he entered the building. [Who and why let him in? What layers of protection were in place? What about those cameras? The security mentioned previously? What's the protocol for such things?]
"The man told everyone to just stay still," Manger said. [Who is in charge here?]
A website registered to Lee criticized Discovery and announced plans for the protest [Part of the threat assessment? PINS here?] in January 2008: "These guys have been very sneaky and deceptive as to their contribution to the planetary problems. Just look at their 'new' show about saving the planet, 'Planet Green,' to me, it's just another show about more PRODUCTS to make MONEY, not about actual solutions. We can't let them get away with doing it anymore." [Threats, intimidations, manipulations, escalations?]
Lee is believed to have distributed a manifesto outside the Discovery building several weeks ago that called on the network to "broadcast to the world their commitment to save the planet." [Indication of? How does this fit? Is this a red flag in conjunction with other potential PINS?]
"All programs on Discovery Health-TLC must stop encouraging the birth of any more parasitic human infants and the false heroics behind those actions," the list of demands read. [Indication of a world view that values life or indicates something of concern?]
"In those programs' places, programs encouraging human sterilization and infertility must be pushed. All former pro-birth programs must now push in the direction of stopping human birth, not encouraging it." [Not all threats will result in an attack but what other PINS are here to give us a more accurate prediction of a situation that might escalate to violence?]
Some witnesses reported that the man fired a shot before declaring, "Nobody is going anywhere," police said. [Fired a shot = tool of intimidation. Opportunity here? Seeking certainty? Significance? Frustrated? Communicating perhaps..."Listen to me!"?]
Employees at the Discovery Channel building were told to take cover in locked offices, according to local press accounts. [I would be interested in having this strategy explained to me in the historical context of columbine, and other incidents with a potential bomber. Why stay in the most dangerous area? Why not leave? Historically it is those who evacuate who have the greatest chance of survival. The Presidents Secret Service agents evacuate the President when shots are fired or danger is present. Why not these people? What am I missing? Does "sitting duck" mean anything to you? ]
A company e-mail sent to employees reportedly said: "Don't Return to 1DP Until Further Notice...No employee should return to 1DP for any reason." [Interesting choice of words.]
Manger said most of the 1,900 people who work in the building were able to get out safely while the hostage standoff was unfolding. [This is a victory. High praise for someone here.]
Witnesses from a building across the street told Fox News that authorities rushed four stretchers into the building. [Courageous professionals headed into danger.]
Children at a day care center located inside the Discovery Building were reportedly safely evacuated [Children evacuated. Bravo.] to a nearby McDonald's restaurant. Some babies were wheeled out of the building while still in their cribs.
Police sources have reportedly said that Lee previously protested outside the building, where he was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct in February 2008, according to court records. [More PINS. Would be absurd to call this event a surprise now wouldn't it?]
Police reports indicate he paid homeless people to join his protest and carry signs outside the building. He gave one individual $1,000 for what he considered a prize winning essay. [PIN?]
At one point, a crowd of more than 100 people gathered around Lee, who referred to money as "just trash" and began throwing fistfuls of it into the air. [Pin?]
At the trial, Lee reportedly said he began working to save the planet after being laid off from his job in San Diego. [Hello PIN.] He said he was inspired by "Ishmael," a novel by environmentalist Daniel Quinn and by former Vice President Al Gore's documentary "An Inconvenient Truth."
Thomas Leonard, Lee's brother-in-law, told Fox News that Lee became a "darker type of character" after some deaths in the family and said he believed Lee was capable of killing. [PIN]
Leonard described Lee as "talented but misguided" and said his "spirit took a nose-dive" in recent months. [PIN]
"He's been very hurtful to loved ones who have tried to help him over the years," Leonard said.
Discovery Communications LLC operates cable and satellite networks in the U.S. including The Discovery Channel, TLC and Animal Planet. Discovery shows include "Cash Cab" and "Man vs. Wild," and TLC airs "American Chopper" and "Kate Plus Eight."
Animal Planet also airs the controversial series "Whale Wars," about attempts by environmentalists to disrupt the Japanese whaling industry.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
[I leave you with a quote from my brilliant teacher.]
Author Gavin de Becker says, "There is a process as observable,
and often as predictable, as water coming to a boil.
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