A man who walked into a Baltimore television station wearing an animal jumpsuit and what police said was a "surgical-style mask" was shot by police Thursday afternoon.The man is still alive, police said, but his condition is unknown.
Police spokesman T.J. Smith said officers were called around 1:20 p.m. about a person in the lobby wearing "some sort of outfit," and displayed wires and other things in his jacket that looked like an explosive.
A vehicle was also set on fire with a rag inside the gas tank, Smith said.
<aside class="trb_ar_sponsoredmod" data-role="delayload_item" data-screen-size="mobile" data-load-method="trb.vendor.yieldmo.init" data-load-type="method" data-withinviewport-options="bottomOffset=100&topOffset=1000000" data-adloader-networktype="yieldmo">
</aside><aside class="trb_ar_sponsoredmod trb_barker_mediaconductor" data-role="delayload_item" data-screen-size="desktop" data-load-method="trb.vendor.mediaconductor.init" data-load-type="method" data-withinviewport-options="bottomOffset=100" data-adloader-networktype="mediaconductor" data-vendor-mc=""></aside>There has been no explosion and no detonation, but police were communicating with the man through a bomb squad robot, Smith said. The robot was also in use to move his hand away from his pocket.
Security guard Jourael Apostolides said the man walked into the
FOX 45 news station's vestibule, insisting he had information to share with the station. He was dressed in what appeared to be a full-body animal jumpsuit and boots, Apostolides said.
Apostolides said the man was wearing what looked to be a bomb or something fashioned to look like a bomb. He said he discreetly called 911.
Apostolides didn't let the man into the lobby but took a flash drive from him; the guard said it contained video of the man talking about space and the government.
Baltimore police confirmed they were investigating a bomb threat shortly before 2 p.m. at 2000 W. 41st St. in North Baltimore, the offices of the station.
Just after 3 p.m., the man walked out of Channel 45 onto 41st Street where there were several police officers. A police sniper shot the man, who is still alive, police officials said, and the man's hand was and still is in his pocket.
"He still poses a significant public safety threat," Police Commissioner Kevin Davis said.
Additional details about the incident from police were not immediately available.
Employees evacuated the station and milled around outside, including reporters and photographers. The station continued to broadcast in an automation mode while the situation unfolded, said news director Mike Tomko.
Tomko, in phone interview at 2:25 p.m. said a bomb squad had arrived and was unloading a robot. He said the station will air a newscast at 4 p.m., in their regular time period.
He said employees were handling the situation well.
"They're a little shaken but everybody's safe," he said.
If not yet back inside, Tomko said they will carry a broadcast from WJLA, the Sinclair-owned sister station in Washington. Or, they will use one of their trucks equipped for remote broadcasts and do the show from the street, Tomko said.