WBFF in Baltimore was evacuated on Thursday after receiving threats, Christine Boynton reported for the station. News Director Mike Tomko met with the man who had reportedly made threats to another employee earlier.
‘Someone came into the front of the building and they apparently said that they had some information they wanted to get on the air,’ 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.’
The station and staffers are live-tweeting updates, including a vehicle fire in the parking lot and the arrival of bomb equipment. These tweets begin with the most recent updates:
Police have removed suspects clothes, moved him into seat van and have left scene. pic.twitter.com/5xZncqCYau
— Jed Gamber (@TVJedEye) 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
HAPPENING NOW: RT @KaiJacksonFOX45 LIVE on #Periscope: BCP Commissioner Kevin Davis. #liveonFox45 https://t.co/zlTYCapA2D
— FOX Baltimore (@FOXBaltimore) April 28, 2016
Threat is not over. Police sending robot in. Don't know if bomb threat is real. Taking very seriously. pic.twitter.com/M51cNWVyfN
— Shelley Orman (@ShelleyOFox45) April 28, 2016
Chief meteorologist @Vytasweatherguy describes suspect in panda suit who was shot. "He's alive he's not dead" pic.twitter.com/sJDtumlfSK
— Adam Yosim (@Adam_Yosim) April 28, 2016
It appears the suspect is on the middle of 41st st. Down. Not moving
— Kathleen Cairns (@CairnsKcairns) April 28, 2016
Baltimore Police SWAT team is staging at Fox45. pic.twitter.com/WeOtooz5OU
— Kai Jackson (@KaiJacksonFOX45) April 28, 2016
Station security guard spent 45 min speaking with man making threats @FOXBaltimore pic.twitter.com/9fshzMv3WN
— Shelley Orman (@ShelleyOFox45) April 28, 2016
Bomb equipment arrives at Fox45. pic.twitter.com/FKGVru1e3K
— FOX Baltimore (@FOXBaltimore) April 28, 2016
Producer @McGrewFox45 talks about the news becoming news. pic.twitter.com/t4CZkaHGPs
— Shelley Orman (@ShelleyOFox45) April 28, 2016
Tim Prudente, Pamela Wood and David Zurawik covered the story for The Baltimore Sun.
He said employees were handling the situation well.
“They’re a little shaken but everybody’s safe,” he said.
