# Gunman and hostage at Discovery HQ **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 1, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunman-and-hostage-at-discovery-hq/552290 "2010-09-01T18:07:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunman-and-hostage-at-discovery-hq/552290/1 "2010-09-01T18:07:30Z")
It seems that there is a gunman, possibly with explosives, and a hostage situation in the Discovery HQ in Silver Spring, MD. This is right across the street from me. Now I wonder if I’ll even be able to get home at a reasonable hour. [WTOP radio](http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=2042177) [CNN](http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/01/police-reports-of-armed-man-at-discovery-channel-headquarters/?hpt=T2) ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunman-and-hostage-at-discovery-hq/552290/2 "2010-09-01T18:32:36Z")
I know, right? Rush hour is going to suck. Glad I’m working at home today (about 3/4 mile west of there). ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunman-and-hostage-at-discovery-hq/552290/3 "2010-09-01T19:39:12Z")
Oooh, he has a manifesto: > [@](#): > > All programs on Discovery Health-TLC must stop encouraging the birth of any more parasitic human infants and the false heroics behind those actions." > “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.” Seems a sensible enough platform – I wonder why on earth he decided to eschew intelligent argument and embrace terrorism? ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunman-and-hostage-at-discovery-hq/552290/4 "2010-09-01T19:42:29Z")
a bit scary with a day care centre in the building. thankfully the kids have been taken from the building and are at a nearby mcdonalds. what is your building telling you, edward? ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunman-and-hostage-at-discovery-hq/552290/5 "2010-09-01T19:45:40Z")
> [@Larry\_Mudd](#): > > Oooh, he has a [manifesto](http://savetheplanetprotest.com): > > Seems a sensible enough platform – I wonder why on earth he decided to eschew intelligent argument and embrace terrorism? Because the rest of it is loony. I also fixed your link, you had 3ts in it. At least the trains are running from what I understand so I can go home. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunman-and-hostage-at-discovery-hq/552290/6 "2010-09-01T19:47:58Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > what is your building telling you, edward? Our building isn’t telling us much. Though we do have the radio on. I’m in the NOAA complex which is across the Metro tracks, but I’m sure you could see from high up. I did just get an email saying the trains and Metro are running. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunman-and-hostage-at-discovery-hq/552290/7 "2010-09-01T19:48:37Z")
Manifesto link is crushed already. [Link to Google cache](http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:wRb2N5UYIwAJ:www.savetheplanetprotest.com/+savetheplanetprotest&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca). I’ve been pondering this for a few minutes and have fashioned a makeshift shoelace ligature around the base of my scrotum. (It’s not easy being green.) ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunman-and-hostage-at-discovery-hq/552290/8 "2010-09-01T19:52:16Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > At least the trains are running from what I understand … It’s good to know one’s station in life. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunman-and-hostage-at-discovery-hq/552290/9 "2010-09-01T19:53:51Z")
good to hear. i hope you will be able to follow the story from home in a few hours. they are showing a lot of overhead footage on cnn, so i’m sure we see your building. might not be a good time for you to wave or show a “hi unca cecil” sign (smile face) . ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunman-and-hostage-at-discovery-hq/552290/10 "2010-09-01T20:00:53Z")
_“The humans? The planet does not need humans.”_ 'Cept as authors… oh, and broadcasters… oh oh, and target audiences. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunman-and-hostage-at-discovery-hq/552290/11 "2010-09-01T20:06:17Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > I did just get an email saying the trains and Metro are running. Running, but probably skipping Silver Spring. Metrobuses serving that station have been rerouted. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunman-and-hostage-at-discovery-hq/552290/12 "2010-09-01T20:13:20Z")
I was just walking past that building last week with my family. My mother in law said “Wouldn’t it be cool to live up there in those apartments? You could hear the ocean\* all day.” Sure, MIL, but here’s the thing. You see, there’s this nutcase… \*NOAA has a fountain out front that simulates the ocean like a mini wave pool. It’s cool. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunman-and-hostage-at-discovery-hq/552290/13 "2010-09-01T20:19:32Z")
Any truth to the rumor that he was able to enter Discovery HQ with explosives by disguising himself as Jamie Hyneman? ---
**Author:** ![AmericanMaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@AmericanMaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmericanMaid)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunman-and-hostage-at-discovery-hq/552290/14 "2010-09-01T20:23:55Z")
I blame Avatar. I bet he was one of those audience members who had a depression realizing how Earth can never be so pristine. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunman-and-hostage-at-discovery-hq/552290/15 "2010-09-01T20:24:51Z")
Has Shark Week been harmed? ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunman-and-hostage-at-discovery-hq/552290/16 "2010-09-01T20:27:08Z")
> [@Larry\_Mudd](#): > > Manifesto link is crushed already. [Link to Google cache](http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:wRb2N5UYIwAJ:www.savetheplanetprotest.com/+savetheplanetprotest&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca). > > I’ve been pondering this for a few minutes and have fashioned a makeshift shoelace ligature around the base of my scrotum. (It’s not easy being green.) Well that was a fun read. I gather that he really doesn’t like babies. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunman-and-hostage-at-discovery-hq/552290/17 "2010-09-01T21:03:21Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Any truth to the rumor that he was able to enter Discovery HQ with explosives by disguising himself as Jamie Hyneman? OUCH. And it looks like they took him down. ---
**Author:** ![torie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@torie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/torie)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunman-and-hostage-at-discovery-hq/552290/18 "2010-09-01T21:09:08Z")
Yeah, they shot him. Is he dead? They’re not saying on CNN. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunman-and-hostage-at-discovery-hq/552290/19 "2010-09-01T21:11:15Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > And it looks like they took him down. Yes it does look like it’s over. He’s been shot, don’t know how bad. Seems like everyone else is ok. I was able to make it home no problem, but the big hole in the ground is the new transportation building. It was very quite at the station today, very odd. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunman-and-hostage-at-discovery-hq/552290/20 "2010-09-01T21:12:44Z")
The CNN banner is saying he is shot and “in custody” - normally, dead gunmen go to the morgue, not “custody”. So, presumably he is still alive. Of course, real time reporting like that is chaotic and sometimes wrong. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunman-and-hostage-at-discovery-hq/552290.md?page=2)