5:25 Update --- NBC reporting suspect James Jay Lee has died.
5:00 Update --- The police are now confirming that ALL 3 hostages are out and James Jay Lee is IN CUSTODY and was shot by police in the process. The police spokesman stated that a device went off but would not elaborate. The spokesman is also reporting that there are more devices in the building that have not been secured yet.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/...
Apparently an Asian man with an explosive device. There have been uncomfirmed reports of gun shots.
A man with what appears to be an explosive device on him has taken at least one hostage at the Discovery Building in downtown Silver Spring, Montgomery County Police said.
Cpl. Dan Friz said police received a call about 1 p.m., of shots fired in the lobby.
Tactical officers are on the scene and developing a plan to deal with the situation.
Here is the MSNBC link -> http://www.msnbc.msn.com/...
Updates: WaPo reports Children at a day care center in the Discovery Building have been safely evacuated to a nearby McDonalds. (3:30 reports that the children have been reunited with their parents).
Channel 5 news reports that the hostage is a security guard at the building
Channel 4 news reports the hostage taker's name is James Jay Lee and he has a history of protesting at the Discovery Channel HQ. He has a web site.
From the WaPo site - In March 2008, the Gazette reported that:
The California man who was arrested after throwing thousands of dollars into the air at a rally outside of Discovery Communications last month was told by a judge on Friday that he would be thrown in jail for up to 60 days if he came within 500 feet of the building.
James Jay Lee, 40, of San Diego was also given six months of supervised probation and fined $500 by Associate Judge Stephen P. Johnson, who quipped that if Lee was so keen on throwing money away, ‘‘you can give some to the state."
From KDuffy in the thread below, the Google cache of his web site
3:20 edt update: The police press update refers to hostages, don't know that this means more than the one or if they are just being careful.
From the WaPo page:
Several stores in downtown Silver Spring, including Toys R Us Express, Pier 1 and Borders, have closed their doors.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington also notified parents of children at St. Michael the Archangel School -- which is less than two blocks from the Discovery building -- that the building is on "lockdown status," according to an email sent to parents. All students were accounted for but all doors were shut and all shades were drawn, archdiocese officials said.
3:30 update
At a briefing for reporters, Montgomery County Police Chief Thomas Manger said that a ". . .small group of hostages," is being held by the suspected gunman who federal officials have identified as James Jay Lee.
3:45 update - police reporting most of the buildings 1900 workers have been evacuated.
5:25 Update --- NBC reporting suspect James Jay Lee has died.
5:00 Update --- The police are now confirming that ALL 3 hostages are out and James Jay Lee is IN CUSTODY and was shot by police in the process. The police spokesman stated that a device went off but would not elaborate. The spokesman is also reporting that there are more devices in the building that have not been secured yet.