Editor’s Note: The original post said the thumb drive contained information relating to astrology–it’s really astronomy. I apologize for the mix up. The post has been corrected.
There’s a man in a panda suit who is occupying the Fox45 building in Baltimore. Based on reports from the station’s news team, the person claims to have an explosive device, along with a thumb drive that supposedly contains information that is similar in nature to the Panama Papers. Prior to the building’s evacuation, he wanted to get this information on air. The news director at Fox45 wouldn’t allow him to do that, but said he could leave the thumb drive with them–he refused. He was reportedly upset with the government, and set a car on fire in the parking lot prior to entering the building (via FoxBaltimore):
The man broke into the Sinclair-owned Fox affiliate at about 1:20 p.m. demanding the news station cover a story about some sort of government conspiracy. The man was wearing a surgical mask, sunglasses and a bizarre outfit described as an animal "onesie." The building was evacuated and security measures taken. Outside, a dark colored sedan was burning from its gas tank. The car belonged to the suspect who is also believed to have started the fire before walking into the lobby.
According to the station's security guard an unidentified suspect threatened to "blow up" the building. The suspect walked into the station's vestibule area and demanded to be let inside. The two conversed for about 45 minutes.
[…]
"Someone came into the front of the building and they apparently said that they had some information they wanted to get on the air," FOX45 News Director Mike Tomko told reporters. "I came down at one point not knowing the person was in the lobby, near the vestibule area. He talked to me and was wearing what appears to be a full body white panda suit, surgical mask and sunglasses. He had a flash drive, said he had information he wanted to get on the air. He compared it to the information found in the Panama Papers. I told him, 'I can't let you in, you're going to have to leave the flash drive here and slide it through the opening.' He wouldn't do that. Apparently he had made some threats before."
Theres an incident @FOXBaltimore 2000 W 41st St. The building has been evacuated. @BaltimoreFire & @BaltimorePolice on scene. Avoid the area
— Baltimore OEM (@BaltimoreOEM) April 28, 2016
Updates to follow.
#BREAKING: Man apparently in panda suit inside lobby of FOX 45 Baltimore claims he has a bomb. Pic @cbsbaltimore pic.twitter.com/XqW8Rzc2Og
— Tim Williams (@realtimwilliams) April 28, 2016
More from our security guard - guy holding something that looks like a trigger in his hand. Says he's upset w'govt pic.twitter.com/QSTwV5KVqS
— Shelley Orman (@ShelleyOFox45) April 28, 2016
Fox45 building has been evacuated. Suspicious person standing in lobby said he had a bomb.
— Karen Campbell (@KarenCampbellTV) April 28, 2016
News director: I told him I can't let you in. you're going to have to leave the flash drive here. he wouldn't do that
— Shelley Orman (@ShelleyOFox45) April 28, 2016
News director: He had a flash drive & said he had information he wanted to get on air -compared it to information found in the Panama papers
— Shelley Orman (@ShelleyOFox45) April 28, 2016
News director: man wearing full body panda suit, surgical mask, sunglasses. Made threats to another employee earlier pic.twitter.com/tx0ryFpfOh
— Shelley Orman (@ShelleyOFox45) April 28, 2016
Just heard several loud explosions. Officer tells me likely bean bag rounds. Scary. pic.twitter.com/41bzevEqmK
— Shelley Orman (@ShelleyOFox45) April 28, 2016
Hearing officer radio transmissions. Man refuses to take hands out of pockets, police trying to negotiate with him through robot
— Shelley Orman (@ShelleyOFox45) April 28, 2016
Hearing - "once suspect is cleared. We're going to have to get him medical attention right away."
— Shelley Orman (@ShelleyOFox45) April 28, 2016
UPDATE II: Bomb squad is on the scene, trying to use a robot to get the suspect to show his hands. A Baltimore Police sniper shot the suspect, a 20-year old male, when he refused to comply with orders from law enforcement. Suspect still has hand inside pocket.
Robot trying to get suspect to show his hands. pic.twitter.com/ekDM4i3qGm
— Shelley Orman (@ShelleyOFox45) April 28, 2016
Commissioner says he has a hand still inside his pocket. Don't know if that's on a trigger. Suspect appears to be conscious.
— Shelley Orman (@ShelleyOFox45) April 28, 2016
BPD: counter sniper shot the suspect. He's not dead. Situation is not secured. Officers using robot to approach him. Talk to suspect.
— Shelley Orman (@ShelleyOFox45) April 28, 2016
Suspect - 20 year old white male. No confirmed ID on who he is. Threat still exists. He's not been secured. @TJSmithMedia
— Shelley Orman (@ShelleyOFox45) April 28, 2016
Bpd: suspect is shot, not deceased. Not complying with officer orders. Still evolving situation. pic.twitter.com/GCg3UMmDph
— Shelley Orman (@ShelleyOFox45) April 28, 2016
Our exec producer @CaseyClarkjr describes watching man walk out pic.twitter.com/6YMVPTBrNO
— Shelley Orman (@ShelleyOFox45) April 28, 2016
The suspect has been separated from the device pic.twitter.com/PKzTZV18kC
— FOX Baltimore (@FOXBaltimore) April 28, 2016
UPDATE III: The suspect was shot several times by three Baltimore police officers. He’s in stable, but serious condition. The thumb drive containing what was suppose to be information as sensitive as the Panama Papers turned out to be related to astronomy. The “bomb” turned out to be candy bars wrapped in foil.
BPD: suspect's "bomb" was candy bars wrapped in foil connected with wires & some sort of motherboard looks like it's from fire extinguisher
— Shelley Orman (@ShelleyOFox45) April 28, 2016
Security guard #fox45: suspect says flash drive had info about "...black holes - the sun about it being liquid in gas..."
— JoyLepolaStewart (@jlepolastewart) April 28, 2016
#fox45 security guard viewed suspect's flash drive - says it contained info about astronomy.
— JoyLepolaStewart (@jlepolastewart) April 28, 2016
BPD- 3 officers fired at suspect. Shot several times. In serious but stable condition. Man is from Howard County
— Shelley Orman (@ShelleyOFox45) April 28, 2016
BPD: don't know suspect's history at this time.
— Amber Miller (@AmberMillerWBFF) April 28, 2016
BPD: In the process of clearing FOX45 building. Not sure if suspect was in building earlier today or this week.
— Amber Miller (@AmberMillerWBFF) April 28, 2016
#fox45 security guard viewed suspect's flash drive - says it contained info about astronomy.
— JoyLepolaStewart (@jlepolastewart) April 28, 2016
Security guard #fox45: suspect says flash drive had info about "...black holes - the sun about it being liquid in gas..."
— JoyLepolaStewart (@jlepolastewart) April 28, 2016
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