SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) — Police shot and killed a man upset with the Discovery Channel network‘s programming who took two employees and a security officer hostage at the company’s headquarters Wednesday, officials said. All three hostages escaped safely.
Police spent several hours negotiating with the gunman, who was upset about the network’s programming, after he burst into the suburban Washington building about 1 p.m. waving a handgun and with canisters strapped to his body.
Montgomery County Police Chief Thomas Manger said one explosive device detonated on the gunman’s body when they shot him, and they were working to determine whether two boxes and two backpacks he also had with him were explosives. The 1,900 people who work in the building were able to get out safely.
Manger said officers were monitoring Lee on building security cameras and tactical officers moved in when they saw him pull out the handgun and point it at one of the hostages.
A law enforcement official speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing said authorities had identified James J. Lee as the likely suspect.
A different official, who spoke on condition of anonymity for the same reason, said Lee previously protested outside the building, where he was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct in February 2008, according to court records.
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.
At one point, a crowd of more than 100 people gathered around Lee, 43, who referred to money as “just trash” and began throwing fistfuls of it into the air.
At the trial, The Gazette of Montgomery County reported, he said he began working to save the planet after being laid off from his job in San Diego. 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.”
A lengthy posting which could be seen Wednesday on a website registered to Lee expressed anger against the Discovery Channel and said it promoted overpopulation.
He said it and its affiliates should stop “encouraging the birth of any more parasitic human infants.” Instead, he said, the network should air “programs encouraging human sterilization and infertility.”
“NO MORE BABIES! Population growth is a real crisis,” he wrote.
He also railed against “programs promoting War” and said solutions should be found for global warming and automotive and factory pollution.
“I want Discovery Communications to broadcast on their channels to the world their new program lineup and I want proof they are doing so,” he wrote. “I want the new shows started by asking the public for inventive solution ideas to save the planet and the remaining wildlife on it.”
Discovery Communications Inc. 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.
After Lee’s arrest, a magistrate ordered a doctor’s evaluation, but court records do not immediately indicate the result. Lee was convicted by a jury and served two weeks in jail. He was also ordered to stay 500 feet away from Discovery headquarters.
Adam Dolan, a sales director in Discovery’s education division, told The Associated Press by phone that he was heading to lunch with a co-worker when he heard there was a situation in the building.
He was told to go back up to the top floor, lock the door and turn off the lights. Eventually the workers were herded down a stairwell and told to go home.
“Everyone was very scared, but at the same time … I think people were calm and collected and responded as one would expect in this situation,” said Dolan, 28.
When he got to the bottom floor, he saw shattered glass near the company’s daycare and suspected it was broken to get the children out. He later got an e-mail that all the children were safe and had been taken to a McDonald’s.
Dolan said the company has unarmed security guards who won’t let anyone into the building without a badge.
Melissa Shepard, 32, of Peterborough, N.H., a consultant who works there during the week, said she was on the third floor in a large room with several other workers when someone announced over a loudspeaker that there was a situation in the lobby and people should stay at their desks.
After some time, they were told to move to the other end of the building. She said she was among a dozen workers who huddled into an office, shut the door and turned off the lights.
Then she said someone knocked on the door and told them to leave the building. She said there was some confusion as they were told to go to an upper floor or down the stairs.
“Finally, I screamed, ‘tell us where we need to go…I just want to get out of there,’” she said. “I was shaking…I was like what do we do what do we do?’”
Authorities descended on the area, and people were being kept away from the main drag of the downtown area where the building is located amid restaurants and shops. Traffic was jammed.
___
Associated Press Writers Kathleen Miller in Silver Spring; Matthew Barakat in Rockville, Md.; Matt Apuzzo, Eileen Sullivan and Nafeesa Syeed in Washington; Ben Nuckols in Baltimore; and Jacob Jordan in Atlanta contributed to this report.
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fraco
Posted on September 2, 2010 at 2:07pmAfter reading the Manifesto Mr. Lee, it seems about normal for the Al Gore crowd, liberals, socialist and any Democrat and anyone who voted for Obama.
Report Post »MOE3
Posted on September 2, 2010 at 8:07amI’m not blaming Al Gore for this nutt job but Al did say “I want to call you to action but I have to begin by telling you what you know, in all candor – the United States government in its entirety, largely because of the opposition in the United States Senate to taking action on clean energy and a solution to the climate crisis, has failed us.” Thats a pretty dangerous statement Al. You need to retract. Al and the left would jump at the opportunity to blame anything on the right. Let the truth speak for itself.
Report Post »Pocono Countryboy
Posted on September 2, 2010 at 7:13amAt least the LEO’s put him out of his misery (and ours). If he had lived after being shot or had been captured his name and BS manifesto would have been all over the lamestream media for months –years even– while the trials and appeals went on. This way at least he‘s gone and we’ll only have to listen to it for a couple days at most.
…just sayin’
Report Post »bean691
Posted on September 2, 2010 at 5:17amWant some interesting reading from this guy? Found these gems while doing a search on his organization.
http://savetheplanetprotest.yuku.com/topic/353/t/Save-The-Planet-Protest.html
I am so glad no one was hurt, and so are the people who posted with him here.
Report Post »ati058
Posted on September 2, 2010 at 1:57amIt is very good news that none of the hostages or LEOs were hurt by this man’s delusional trek. Lee is responsible for his own suicidal death and to blame anyone else would be equally delusional. I pray for Lee’s family and those who loved him for the good parts of his lifetime.
Report Post »Cool Arrow
Posted on September 2, 2010 at 1:55amWith children crying themselves to sleep, fearing the demise of the Bipolar bears, is it any wonder that some of AlGore’s propaganda would affect a deranged individual?
Report Post »bjriverspeters
Posted on September 2, 2010 at 12:33amIn an article which appears in the LA Times it states that Lee “… said the network and its affiliates should stop “encouraging the birth of any more parasitic human infants.” Instead, he said, it should air “programs encouraging human sterilization and infertility.”
“NO MORE BABIES! Population growth is a real crisis,” he wrote.”
The article also states, “TLC’s other bountiful brood includes The Duggar family in “19 Kids and Counting.“ The network has also aired ”Table for 12,“ and ”Kids by the Dozen,” which featured a number of families with 13 to 16 children each.”
At least he’s not a racist like someone who recently called for killing Cracka babies. This fellow didn’t want ANY more babies. Actually, his thinking seems to run along the lines of John Holdren, Obama’s Science & Technology Advisor, who co-authored a science textbook in 1977 which dealt with the need to force countries into compulsory sterilization & abortion if they didn’t voluntarily limit their birth rate. Both cited concern for our ecological system as their reasoning.
Report Post »Brooke Lorren
Posted on September 2, 2010 at 12:30amSomehow, I bet the MSM will find a way to blame Glenn Beck or Tea Parties on this…
Report Post »Cynewulf
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 11:37pmI agree that Al Gore is not responsible for Lee’s actions. But, a couple of things: 1. It is important to remember that the Left will not say the same thing when some nutjob who happens to be on the Right pulls some stunt. Indeed, they suffer such a sever case of projection in this area that it would be funny if the topic were not so serious. I see no problem with proclaiming that the man was a Lefty loud and clear without actually blaming the Left for his actions. Kind of a brushback pitch if you will. A shot across the bow. 2. While Lee is the sole one responsible for his actions, it would be wise of us to recognize that his philosophy is not that uncommon. Back in the day (25 years ago, give or take) when I used to volunteer at Miami Metro Zoo, there was an undercurrent amongst the other students who volunteered there as well as some of the adults who worked there for a living that the planet would be better off without humans. Decades of this inversion (man is the least desired, in fact not desired at all, part of Creation rather than the crown of it) being taught in our schools has left its impact. Whether it be a lone crazy or a group of dedicated vandals on the hunt for that most dispicable of all creatures, the Hummer, or the idiot neighbor who rejoices when gas prices go up, the Right’s vacating the field of public education (not to mention journalism and entertainment) will be felt for some time to come.
Report Post »Ellie
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 10:42pmAl Gore et.al. are not responsible for James Lee’s actions.
Lee’s actions were clearly caused by him mixing up his own custom batch of crazy [powered fruit flavored beverage] for far too long. However, Al did give Lee an excuse to tint it green and the population bomb alarmists added the sweetness of self-justifiability that together pushed him to finally take the fatal drink. May he rest in peace.
Report Post »Freelancer
Posted on September 2, 2010 at 9:26amYou can‘t discount Gore’s cryptic message that “your government has failed you and it’s time to take action.” I think most of us knew it was a call to arms and if you read this nut job’s writings, he took it to heart and asked that others do the same.
Report Post »cep78070
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 10:02pmHow are those MD gun laws working… Too bad this guy forgot to follow the law so the law biding public was kept safe from the banned guns. Now had they been able to defend themselves… I will not be a victim.
Report Post »jabler
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 9:52pmInteresting article to pick to comment on this website. I think what you are saying is that a suggestion box is needed. I do agree with both of you. But as to the topic: Eco-agenda gunman: I am waiting for the gun control advocates to use this example.
Report Post »d1carter
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 7:52pmThe sign in problems are killing me…
faithwalker
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 8:13pmI agree completely
ati058
Posted on September 2, 2010 at 1:39amPlease explain what kind of sign in problem you are experiencing. Often i cannot stay signed in when moving to other articles on this site.
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