A situation is unfolding at Baltimore’s ABC affiliate WMAR after a man rammed his car into the building and has reportedly barricaded himself inside. Police are still trying to locate the man inside the building. According to eyewitnesses, the suspect is an agitated black male in his 20s. Above you can watch a vine of the truck ramming the building.
At around 4:45 p.m., Luke Russert reported that police had the man in custody. He was reportedly in the station watching the news of the situation.
Eyewitness tells me suspect is a black male in his 20s, was agitated and claiming to be God. #Baltimore
— Luke Russert (@LukeRussert) May 13, 2014
Here is what you need to know about this breaking situation:
1. The Suspect Rammed a Stolen Truck Into the Building
2/2: got into a landscaping truck and rammed the building like 3 times. I saw last 3 as he broke through into lobby. #Team2
— Brian Kuebler (@BrianfromABC2) May 13, 2014
At around 11:45 a.m., man reportedly rammed his truck into the lobby of ABC affiliate WMAR in Baltimore. CBS Baltimore reports the suspected rammed the building multiple times and “smashed up” the lobby.
Police have now confirmed that the truck was stolen from a landscaping company in Montgomery County, Maryland.
2. He Has Barricaded Himself Inside the Building
Scene outside WMAR right now. Police have media blocked off at St. Pius school pic.twitter.com/YyTBK0t6b7
— The Towerlight (@TheTowerlight) May 13, 2014
Police report that at some point immediately after the ramming, the man fled the car and barricaded himself in the building. People are being urged to stay away from the WMAR building at this time.
A SWAT Team has arrived at the WMAR building, and police have reportedly found weapons inside the landscaping truck that smashed through the lobby, although these have been determined to be landscaping tools.
Police have closed off the road around 640 York Road in Towson in Baltimore County where the station is located. A nearby school, St. Pius X School, has also been placed on lockdown.
3. Answered a Cell Phone & Hung a Sign Out the Window
The sign reads: "Just wait! pu—" @abc2news #team2 pic.twitter.com/Q45TCDweuw
— Christian Schaffer (@chrisfromabc2) May 13, 2014
The suspect reportedly hung a hand-written sign out of the window that said “Please Wait.” According to reports, he also answered an employees cell phone and spoke to her husband.
4. The Building Has Been Evacuated
According to CBS Baltimore, the building has been evacuated and the employees of WMAR are safe. The news director has now confirmed that all WMAR employees are accounted for.
5. The Suspect Reportedly Thinks He’s God
Here's a pic of the suspect police say rammed @abc2news with a big truck .. In custody now.. Via @joshfromabc2 #team2 pic.twitter.com/ilrFzPFJZ1
— Christian Schaffer (@chrisfromabc2) May 13, 2014
On Twitter, employees at WMAR are claiming the man first tried to get into the building claiming to be God.
