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Subscribe to RSSPolice chief Nate Harper makes a public plea for people to stop communicating with the suspected gunman in an ongoing hostage situation at a local office building so that his team can finish negotiations and bring the ordeal to an end.
Updated at 2:31 p.m. ET: An armed man who took a hostage inside a Pittsburgh high-rise building has released his hostage and surrendered, authorities said.
Pittsburgh Police Chief Nate Harper identified the suspect as 22-year-old Klein Michael Thaxton. Harper said Thaxton entered the 16th floor office of a benefits administration firm around 8 a.m. and asked for the man he eventually took hostage.
Police had evacuated the downtown Pittsburgh building, Three Gateway Center, and surrounded it with county, state and federal agents.
During the standoff, Harper made a public plea for people to stop communicating with the suspect on social network sites. The suspect had been posting Facebook updates as police tried to negotiate with the suspect. The Facebook page was later removed, NBC News has confirmed.
“No one has been hurt at this time. There have been no shots fired at this time. The individual walked in to the investment office and started asking questions," Harper said.
It is not clear if Thaxton, who police said is in his 20s, was an employee in the building. Police said he was a former member of the military and has a criminal background.
Follow breaking news alerts on the hostage situation in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh police chief Nate Harper says the man behind an ongoing hostage situation at a local office building has been identified as somebody with a military background.
Thaxton's mother was taken into the building had tried to reach out to him.
The 16th floor had been placed on lockdown, and parts of the building have been evacuated.
Workers were seen walking away from the Gateway Center complex, which is a high-rise building complex with four buildings. Police were urging people to stay away from the scene. Bus routes in the area have been rerouted and the Fort Pitt Bridge is closed.
Thaxton has had run-ins with the law before. Police reportedly took him into custody last year after a lengthy chase that ended with him jumping from the roof of an auto body shop in Pittsburgh.
Gene J. Puskar / AP
Police block off the area around Three Gateway Center, building left rear, where they are negotiating with a man who claims to have a bomb, in downtown Pittsburgh on Friday.
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Leave a Comment:
I hope they get the situation under control quick and no one gets hurt or killed.
No doubt the trustee of the family trust made off with all the funds.
Happens every day.
.
Hope the swat team saves the hostages and is able to safe the culprit and get him medical attention.
Good News he isn't a walk in and start shooting and killing psycho.
Bad News he is a walk in take hostage at gun point psycho.
I am surprised MSNBC did not say he was an NRA card carrying Republican.
No one told him that crazies these days do mass murder suicides. Hostage taking is sooo 90's.
Here we go again, all politics and NRA's fault. You've always gotta blame someone right Paul & your followers?!
He died in a car crash. What kind of car was it?! A Chevy. Those stupid Republican NRA Card carrying Chevy Builders!
She choked on her food. What kind of food was it?! A Keebler Cookie. Those stupid Republican NRA Card carrying Cookie bakers!
They drowned. What kind.............................. Pffft!
How are the other floors safe enough not to evacuate? He calims to have a bomb and a gun, so wouldn't you think that a bomb or a gun could penitrate the floors, ceiling, or walls? Wow.
This just in...He is a card carrying, Tea Party, Republican member of the NRA, KKK and John Birch Society.
Looked at his facebook page and keeping up on the Pittsburgh news site.
He is basically a vet who can't support himself so he's gotten desperate. Want to be political in your blame? Blame all the senators that shot down the vet bill.
Guy is a depressed, frustrated vet that took things to the wrong place and that's all it seems.
Former military with a criminal background. Not a good combo! I wonder if the criminal background was pre military or post military.
Creek Dog: I read and reread Paul's comment and it does not appear that he is blaming the NRA, et al.
It looks like he's giving the proverbial jab at NBC News (formerly know as MSNBC) because of their obvious direction of "lean". With all of the changes in their reporting style over just the past few months, if they "lean" any farther, they'll be lying flat. ~_o
Look at what NBC has done to The Weather Channel... What freakin' weather!!! It's all a bunch of dumbass reality shows now. Wake Up With Al??? Gimme a break. I go to news channels for (manufactured) news, and The Weather Channel for, (wait for it now), WEATHER. What a concept.
Oh, for the good old days when they gave you a forecast, local, regional and country wide radar, and any pertinent watches and warnings... :/
If he was an NRA card carrier they would have said that Paul as part of the facts. Just because some news offends you doesn't mean it shouldn't be reported. They only report facts here and if sometimes the facts are against a right winger...oh well. And when do gunmen ever get described like that anyway?
why is this news? hostages are so selfish. I want to know how lindsay lohan is doing!
Let me guess he's doing it because of the anti Muslim video.
There are so many sick people in this place. Some of them are stress related grudges. especially those from the military, losing their homes and family, you name it low income finances large debts, send them to the end of life rope. I'm hoping this ends with no casualties on either sides.
I can't type who I would take hostage and what I'd do with her...hehehe.
Hey, an old man can dream can't he? (it's Push Free Speech week).
I hope SWAT is able to keep the hostages safe and take out the perp.
This is another reason police forces should consist of combat-seasoned veterans... they know what the perps have been trained to do.
This situation is developing less than a mile from where I sit.
My own issues (one of them being that roads are closed off and I can't get home) seem trivial--almost nonsensical--in comparison to those of the hostage and his family.
Let 'em take as long as it takes to get that hostage released safely.
SWAT is there, what's the holdup? One shot-one kill; end of situation
From what he posted on facebook, sounds like his father is tired of spending his "hard earned money" on him and doesn't want him around anymore....
Do you think he will be voting for Obama again?
cowtowntrucker - He may have a bomb, according to the article. If they do it your way, they walk in, shoot, the guy blows up. Lots of people die. Things are not as simple and easy as they seem from the comfort of your computer.
Creek Dog
I think Paul was saying that it was a surprise that MSNBC (a liberal news outlet) didn't immediately claim that this was an nra/right wing nut. He wasn't saying that the guy taking hostages was, just that MSNBC is left enough to make the assertion.
I live about 20 minutes from there and have a lot of friends that work in that area. Hope everyone gets out safely and no police officers are harmed (we've lost too many good ones to this stuff in P-Burgh over the last few years).
cowtowntrucker,
It's not that simple. There's a hostage.
Anyone who threatens life and limb without provocation is scum. I could care less about Michael Thaxton. I *do* care about the innocent manager taken prisoner against his will.
If Thaxton is still talking, keep him talking. At some point this is going to end. I'd prefer it ends with the innocent person involved still breathing.
Incidentally, I'm sitting a few blocks from where this is taking place.
Thaxton says he has a bomb. If the threat is real, you'll forgive me for hoping it doesn't go off.
whoknow & Spiddas,
Copy that.
Paul and followers, my apologies.
I did not see it that way and jumped to conclusions until it was brought to my attention. It was obvious what my post was leaning on.
Thanks and have a nice weekend...
Situation under control. No one hurt. Good work Pittsburg police. Another vet possibly suffering from PTSD left out in the cold. And the Republicans made sure not to fund more jobs for them this week. Alleviating some of the compounding stresses for these men and women giving up so much to keep us safe. Shame on Republicans in the Senate. Much like they won't fund more police and firefights for cities like Pittsburg. Thank goodness both the military and the police are professionals and succeed against all odds stacked against them by Republicans who refuse to fund them.
Paul,
"I am surprised MSNBC did not say he was an NRA card carrying Republican."
I don't think MSNBC is allowed to use such filthy language. :)
The "facts" are sometimes skewed or partial. They have been know to "Dan Rather" info.
If it were true you could bet your whole paycheck that they wouldn't consider it filthy language. But you forgot the adjective "white". That's another thing you can bet your paycheck on - if the race is not specifically mentioned by MSNBC/NBCNews one readily knows the race.
Yes, my first thought as well. Hopefully there are no casualties and they apprehend this nutjob.
According to the link in the article, this guy was already involved in a carjacking in Pittsburgh back in March, and obviously he was out scott-free 6 months later to commit this crime. Maybe the authorities/justice system just give him a slap on the wrist again and set him free, and see how he fares next time he wants to pull a gun on somebody.
I appreciate the fact that he's a vet, but that makes him no less dangerous than anyone else. They'd better get him incarcerated and under psychiatric treatment for a good long time.
I guess it is safe to say that Mommy and Daddy didn't give this boy enough attention when was a baby, huh?
Another brain dead psycho on the loose. Hope he is the only one to get hurt.
Why not call him a terrorist ? I mean if he had brown skin and a Muslim name, you would call him an Islamic terrorist.....we all would, I would for sure.
Wrong Sam, Obama continues to call the Ft Hood Terrorist attack a "workplace violence" situation.
George-388802- Why would you wish anyone to get hurt? Because if this suspect were to be injured or killed, that would mean someone in law enforcement is going to pay a high price in that process. I can tell you from experience,anyone trained to deal with life or death situations that result in poor outcomes has to live with their actions. Even though those were justified to save lives. It isn't like one sees in Hollywood movies. Where someone shoots a person and the simply move on There is no standard scenario and right now, everyone involved could use all the prayers possible, for those willing to do so.
Well Sam, call him a terrorist because he does have brown skin. He may not have a muslim name but that doesn't mean very much anymore. The color of your skin doesn't even matter.
People better get accustomed to things like this as they will happen more frequently if Obama is re-elected and they soon find they aren't going to get what he promises.
I wouldn't! To me what is happening is a criminal act.
Which it probably was, just as today's act is. It is a criminal act and should be treated as such. The word "Terrorist" in this country is used to strike "Terror" in the hearts and minds of its citizens. It came into use after 9/11; coined by GWB jr.
This incident and the Ft Hood incident were probably both caused by Post stress trauma and it is a mental disorder and can be treated by mental health professionals. However, it is still a criminal offense,
OMG - What is with all the Terrorist talk?!?! Seriously everyone is a freaking terrorist anymore! What happened to criminal or psycho or just bad guy? Why do we have to use the term terrorist to describe every a-hole out there?!?!
Husker -
Did you read where the Fort Hood "PTSD victim" was shouting "Allah Akbar!" as he was shooting?
"criminal" and "terrorist" are not mutually exclusive terms.
Give him a gun
If he kills 50, shoots 100 unless he is a Muslim, he is not a terrorist and no need to worry.
Most definitions I've seen of "terrorism" require that the behavior have an ideological purpose/agenda, be it political or religious or some other ideology. We don't know if this situation is truly terrorism or not. We don't have the information. There is debate if the Fort Hood shooter was actually a terrorist or not. Is shouting "Allahu Akbar" always and only done prior to an Islamist attack? Is it used in other situations? Do any of you know? Or are you just making assumptions?
cchance
Perhaps the Japanese yelling "Banzai" during Banzai Attacks because they were actually gardeners trimming Bonsai Trees with their bayonets?
Looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, darn good cchance it's a duck?
Sorry, could not resist the cc in good cchance! LOL ;*)
Homeland Security's list of what thy define as terrorism has grown. Here's what it looks like currently:
Alternative media
Anarchist extremism
Animal rights extremism
Anti-abortion extremism
Anti-immigration extremism
Anti-technology extremism
Aryan prison gangs
Black bloc
Black nationalism
Black power
Black separatism
Christian Identity movement
Cuban independence extremism
Decentralized terror movement
Denial-of-service attacks
Direct action (including lawful acts of civil disobedience)
Environmental extremism
Ethnic extremism
Extremist groups
Green anarchism
Hacktivism (technology-enabled social/political activism)
Hate groups
Jewish extremism
Leaderless resistance
Left-wing extremism
Lone terrorists
Mexican separatists
Militia Movements (including conspiracy theorists)
Neo-Nazis
Patriot Movement
Phineas Priesthood
Primary targeting(directly supporting/funding terrorists)
Puerto Rican independence extremists
Radical Norse mysticism practitioners
Racialists
Right-wing extremists
Single-issue/multiple issue extremist groups
Skinheads whose ‘dress may include shaved head/short hair, jeans, thin suspenders, combat boots or Doc Martens and a bomber jacket’
Sovereign citizen movement
Tax resistance movement
Violent anti-war extremism
Violent religious sects (includes those who stockpile food and weapons)
White Nationalists
White Power advocates
White Supremacists
Notice they left out Congressional Black Caucus, ACLU, AFL-CIO, SEIU, New Black Panthers.
Anticipated additions; Anyone voting other than Democrat, Chick Fill-A owner,manager or employee, anyone who claims "I Built That", anyone with a valid photo ID.
One and Done!
George... I hope NO ONE gets hurt. I guess Menken was right:
"Don't overestimate the decency of the human race." H.L. Menken
cchance... "Or are you just making assumptions?" I've been on this planet for over 70 years and, it seems to me that, assumption is the mother of all f**kups. Where are we going and why are we in this handbasket?
"The French Revolution provided the first uses of the words 'Terrorist' and "Terrorism'. Use of the word 'terrorism' began in 1795 in reference to the Reign of Terror initiated by the Revolutionary government."
Research is good for you... this is from:
terrorism-research (dot) com
New Black Panthers would fall under 'ethnic extremism'. also, if they had weapons they would fall under weapons stockpilers, and under single-issue/multiple issue extremists.
Industrial Strength - Thanks for confirming what I thought, that Representative Allen West is a terrorist. He's a member of the Congressional Black Caucus so, according to you, he's a terrorist. Come to think of it, that "If ballots won't do it bullets will" comment was nothing if not terrorism. And you've also confirmed the Bush and Cheney ties to terrorism since they accepted help from the ACLU. West, Bush, Cheney, what say we send all three to Gitmo?
So if people believe in a higher omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient being what is the use of prayers? God is already onsite and decided the outcome. Do you really think that God is awaiting the outcome of the "prayer votes" - enough thumbs up or thumbs down by the praying masses and god will change its mind?
Does god go by majority rule or by the electoral college method in its prayer voting? Whose vote counts?
So I guess it is like I said....everyone is a terrorist.....
or
so who will shoot more hostages?......................:)
Here's the video link.
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/live-video/
Hopefully, this can get settled without any trauma and the drama ends soon.
Police bullets only hurt bad guys, dont worry
SWAT team and special weapons and tactics officers
This brought to you by the Department of Redundancy Department
Air Pirate please tell that to the innocent bystanders at the Empire State building last month.
Please don't tap on the aquarium .... it annoys the fish.
This is so true.
In a situation like this, I think it is best to go with the advice of Officer Jack Traven: Shoot the Hostage....seriously though, this situation sucks and I hope the hostages are let go and unharmed.
If police bullets only don't hit innocent people (sarcastic), what do you think happens when some gun toting "good samaritan" starts shooting who doesn't have the training police do ?
Well, if we are to judge by the 9 bystanders hit by NYC policemen, maybe we should be hoping for some licenced to carry by-stander who actually spends time training to come along and practice true gun control: hitting what you aim at.
After NY, you might bet on the SWAT team.....LOL!
Well pilgrim there are no requirements to train , so every individual, old, babies, crazy, weak, ill trained will be shootin.
We certainly don't want any second ammendment gun owners to have to be trained or any other qualifications...just draw, close your eyes and start shooting
Hey Scooter
In USAF "special weapons" usually produced mushroom clouds! Sure hope Pittsburgh is blast proof! LOL
Wallace, time for your meds son, go sit down and let the normal people talk.
1. LOL
2. I think the psycho would shoot more. After all, he is insane...
3. The People who got hit by bullets in NY where shot by officers, NOT swat... get conspiracy theories out of your head man...
Don't give up yet. The police are still working on the spin that it was the criminal's fault for the errant police rounds. It can still happen.
a la NY police style.
and the lib anti gun nuts will wiegh in in...5....4.....3....
Yes skooturd, I reddy weighed in FYI, >>> I BLOKKED yur dummmmb azz!
denko95 - WHAT??? Is that English you are trying to use? Can hardly tell.
I hope the police are able to take the wackjob out with a shot to the head, we don't need any protracted trial and lengthy prison stay for him, best treatment is euthanasia.
I take it that to you it is alright to commit murder is certain cases? Why?
denko95,
Heh heh. Read where you blocked him. "YOU" only blocked him from yourself. Not the community. LMAO. Even if he's "collapsed" by the community, you can still open up the forum. If he's deleted, then fugetaboutit!
A.L.S.,
Very good question. Ironic how he called Scooter a dumbazz. LMAO.
Scooter,
You should've started counting from 3 - 2 - 1 - BAM! :-)
Husker - yeah, it is alright to kill in certain cases - I don't use your word, murder, because killing is not synonymous with murder, neither in my personal belief nor in the American criminal justice system.
If the criminal kills the hostage, that's murder. If the cops kill the criminal who is holding a hostage at gunpoint and threatening to commit murder and brandishing a weapon, that's just resolution of a hostage situation.
In lieu of shooting him, what would you suggest? Wait until he gets hungry enough to come out on his own and hope he doesn't kill his hostage in the meantime?
Killing the hostage taker is still premeditated murder, even if he is banishing a gun. Swat can and should shoot him to disable him, not murder him.
Murder is defined by the American Legal Dictionary as "The unlawful killing of another human being without justification or excuse."
The key words here are "unlawful" and "without justification." Neither criteria applies to this case. One of the main factors considered in murder cases is the presence of malice. The cops would be performing a duty of the job they are paid to do, not acting out of hatred for their target.
Whatever. Murder is premeditated whether or not it is without justification or excuse in my book. However, I guess we should use human law. Sorry for my misunderstanding of what you were saying. Thank you again.
Wow...a disagreement that was settled peacefully on here. I can honestly say that I've never seen that. Kudos BEC and Huskergal. Restored some of my faith in humanity
Husker gal, you fail. Human law? No such thing, just some made up crap people like you want to spew to say you are still right instead of deal with and take responsibility for your failures. That is the problem with this country, too many that don't want to be responsible.
I hope that this veteran either gets the help he needs or gets put out without further misery and without injury to the hostage(s).
Huskergirl... you don't get to make up your own definitions for murder, sorry. The definition is already pre-defined for you.
mur·der [mur-der] noun
1. Law . the killing of another human being under conditions specifically covered in law. In the U.S., special statutory definitions include murder committed with malice aforethought, characterized by deliberation or premeditationor occurring during the commission of another serious crime,as robbery or arson (first-degree murder), and murder by intent but without deliberation or premeditation (second-degree murder).
Too late, they already have Scooter
You're half right Mike, we did settle the argument of the definition of murder. I interpret Husker's point of view to be that the taking of a human life is never justified. I disagree with her on that, but I know that I could not change her opinion anymore than she could change mine.
I am just a stickler for precision in language.
The hostage taker is banishing his gun and SWAT isn't in there yet?
Must be getting paid by the hour on overtime.
if he is, i suggest he contacts his HR department as soon as possible. he's going to have some explaining to do.
Yeah... it's one of the pleasures of my HR job. Wondering when I'll get the nutjob who cracked and comes a-gunnin'. We're pretty much the chick in horror movies that runs in high heels and back in to the house. Obvious casualty.
I think all employees should be allowed to carry guns on their side while at work, don't you? Second ammendment.
As we always say during those horror movies: Girls who go outside in willowy nightgowns wearing high-heeled slippers to investigate strange noises get what they deserve.
Meanwhile, Keep_it_cool, I hope none of those wackjobs ever land in front of your desk. Closest we came here was a certified wackjob who threatened a supervisor with a box cutter - not a bright idea. No one misses the wackjob.
Does this have to do with the stolen Rottweiler? I thought so.
Goodness just today one of my employees said that an applicant took out a knife for his sales pitch. lol Wonder what he'll be like to fire one day. Although, I've gotten some really big dudes to back down and can fight pretty decently. Hard to fight a gun.
No wallacet1947. I do not think we need to have people having guns in the work place. People should have the right to work without intimidation of violence. This is private property and we CAN AND DO ban weapons in the workplace.
"Hi John, we need to talk about your recent performance. You're typically our most reliable employee. Is there anything that could be distracting...." KA-BLAMMO!
Like I need 1,000 dead bodies from a shoot-out to explain.
Great idea. <eyeroll>
keep_it_cool Yes, we know that it's all about the drama and trials and tribulations of the poor HR workers. And the most terrible thing about a situation with 1000 dead would be poor pitiful you having to explain it to someone; not the employees and families who suffered the loss. (sarcasm intended)
You obviously are a graduate of the new HR school of thought, not the former personnel management professionals that actually assisted managers and employees.
Justifiable homicide?
Stop the stupid negotiation crap, put a bullet in his head. The reason crime is so bad in this country id there's no consequence. Cops have to spend more time worrying about some guilt piece of garbage and protecting their rights as criminals. Stop prison overcrowding today - shoot a criminal.
You have to be a libturd. Put a bullet a bullet in his head when Obama got one of our Ambassadors killed for lack of protection and they had warning of it. But you protect him like your life depended on it....on second thought it probably does.
Heck, Bush had warning that 911 could happen, so he went off reading books and had zero clue what to do after 911. Documentaries showed the White House under Bush that day made up the reaction as they went along, no plan at all. They didn't know what was happening or how to respond.
Any person in the Middle East as an American knows the day they get therer they are a potential target.
Libs don't generally advocate killing people, so ten bucks you're wrong on that one. but, thanks for bringing politics into it!
Don't liberals GENERALLY want to do away with any kind of death penalty and anything that may bring discomfort to criminals besides jail? (btw this is not an attack) TC you're just plain dumb
Because bj billie took a pass on taking out bin laden when he had the chance.
I hope the hostages come out of this unharmed. What is wrong with people these days?
In most cases today it is Post traumatic stress disorder cause by the two wars started after 9/11. It is just easier for people to get guns today than it was after the world wars and Korea. People believe it is their right to own all types of guns including military Assault weapons. I do not think the founding fathers would be thrilled if they knew what kind of weaponry they granted what they granted to the state militias for defense are no in the arms of the people. Old English is hard to understand because grammar has changed so much in the last 200+ years.
Started because of 9/11 huskergal and PTSD has been around for a long time. It just didn't have a name.
There is a misunderstanding here. What I said was:
It is easier for people with post traumatic stress to get guns than it was after the world wars and Korea is the point I as making.
Thank you for bringing it up so that everyone who misunderstood will get clarity.
Just shot my first AR this weekend.... AMAAAZING :)
Huskergal, how do you figure it is easier to get a gun today than it was after WW1, WW2, and Korea? Back then the soldiers were mailing home Jap, German and Russian guns by the truckload. I know where tons of them are, but amazingly none of the folks that I associate with are anything like what you seem to want to paint a picture of. Just cause you said it, does not make it true.
Buddy... What's wrong is, people don't think things through anymore these days. Just jerk your knees and react. Sad commentary on this country. Sad but, unfortuately, true. Remember; "if you saw it it on TV it must be true!
"Emergency crews, including a police SWAT team and Special Weapons And Tactics officers. 10 years old wrote this and 11 years old read proof it?
Sounds like YOUR their proof reader!
No one ever accused NBC news or the Associated Press of being intelligent, but they are most certainly fear-mongerers. They'll switch over to coverage of Kim Kardashian if she farts or something, though.
millions out of work and we have a self appointed critic in the crowd
Jim-Ohioan I think YOU mean YOU'RE.
Jim-Ohioan: It's read proofer, didn't you get the memo? My 10 years old knows that! - Giggle...
Kim farted? Tell me more, will this effect her wardrobe line?
I heard her "Circle" was expanding, first time I heard of it referred to as a cirle, box yes, circle no.
The defference can be important. It's the difference between :
Knowing your $hit . . .
and
Knowing you're $hit!
I read that her circle/box IS industrial strength. Back to the subject story, I hope it all works out and no innocent deaths occur.
It's a disgruntled Pirate fan that cannot handle 19 seasons of September collapse or it's Clint Hurdle recruiting new players at gun point....Ah! Mate - Captian - Clint Hurdle should be walking the Pirate plank.
Yours Truly....Willie Stargel
Talk like a Pirate Day was September 19th.
And I am sad to have missed it. Heard about it 9/20. What a bummer.
SWAT stands for Special Weapons and Tactics. Just goes to prove how little the mainstream media actually knows about police and anyone else who goes into harm's way to protect their sorry asses. Good news is, if he's taken hostages he wants something and probably doesn't want to actually kill anyone. As ass puckering as hostage situations are, they're by far better than an active shooter scenario where SWAT doesn't even have time to get the callout.
Well, with a SWAT team and SWAT officers there, he's double covered. I don't know the diiference between the two, but apparently MSNBC thinks there's one.
SWAT officers can be found at the business end of a donut.
Where's the business end to something that is round?
Actually, the only thing it "proves" (that word doesn't mean what you think it means) is that the intern assigned to write this "Breaking Story" doesn't know the difference. But then again, I guess I should expect an idiot who rants about the "mainstream media" to also be dumb enough to think he can extrapolate patterns from an isolated incident.
NICE! Put him in his place with a simple yet eloquent post.
So, basically you are calling him dumb for thinking that the people who are supposed to write the story actually wrote the story? I think you are the idiot...
Please profread your stories. SWAT = Speical Weapons and Tactics. Your first line is redundant.
Breaking news with out any facts. Got to be first even when they don't know anything.
Let's hope they shoot better than New York Citys finest did recently when police gunfire injured nine bystanders. I do hope this situation is resolved with no injuries except for the gunman.
My suspicions is that the gun/bomb toting individual is a retiree who got screwed out of his retirement.
Yeah, the gold-colored Timex probably wasn't good enough after the economy wiped out his 401k.
"It is not clear if the suspect, who police said is in his 20s, is an employee."
So much for your suspicions. Reading comprehension is important.
He is only twnty something.....so I would guess not!
Didn't read the article. Did ya?
"It is not clear if the suspect, who police said is in his 20s, is an employee."
Wish I could've retired in my twenties.
No, I heard he is 22. Just another spoiled, selfish brat or some Jihadi nut job. I don't think retirees go around taking hostages or toting guns. I give you Ft. Hood, underwear bomber, Virginia Tech, Columbine etc.
Either a crazy criminal or a criminal financial institution or both
Wait...... a SWAT team AND Special Weapons And Tactics officers..?? that sounds serious...... Siri, what does SWAT stand for?
I don't understand these crazy ppl that think that taking hostages will get them what they want. It only ever works in the movies. Sure he may get away but the cops are going to find him in a matter of hours. By now they already know everything about him. I noticed a couple of comments about shooting him now, but they can't just go in and shoot him when they don't know what type expolisve device he is carrying. I hope all of the hostages make it out ok. My thoughts and paryers are with the victims, their families, and the police team putting thier lives on the line to save others.
I thought the police were finally responding to the Nutting family holding the Pirates franchise hostage for 20 years.
Things are getting crazy, in this country. What are the odds that the media will spin this as the result and backlash for an offensive video posted to YouTube instead of the terrorism that it is?
...
This is a no-brainer.
He is protesting the anti-muslim video.
...
Yes, lets blow things up and kill people to prove we aren't violent... flawed logic
You mean "to get revenge".
You mean you don't know it as the "religion of peas" (peace - and I am spoofing all the spell checkers who showed up! ;*)
They "don't need to do no stinkin' "revenge"
Newsreporter... "we are being asked to move back a block. I don't know why, but we are being asked to move"
1.) because the guy has a gun.
2.) they don't want future criminals to see their swat tactics so they can plan for it later.
lol, i think they read my comment on the air. haha
Funny. We will lose everything for the allusion of safety or security.
Lockdowns are used by inept police.
Yeah one would think that 70 shot at a movie is an illusion or 150 dead on an island is an illusion.
Then why complain about a dead ambassador...one man, big deal or one dead border agent?
Chistapsu
Your # 2 statement in that the SWAT does not want the perpetrator to see any SWAT tactics live on tv. That happened in Jacksonville FL approximately 3 years ago. The hostage taker was actually viewing the assault on live tv, until the SWAT Commander saw it too. In the blink of an eye, the tv cameras were shut down and moved far enough away that tv coverage was useless. Been that way ever since because the Media violates the officer safety and also the hostages safety.
"Updated at 10:56 a.m.: Emergency crews, including a police SWAT team and special weapons and tactics officers,"
Hold the next update for someone who can actually write a story!
Oh yes, This is "Breaking News"!!!? Brought to you by are good people at NBC... Lets try something more along the lines of : We really don't know anything.
Some guy with a gun and maybe he has a bomb we don't know; also with an unknown number of hostages, has held up on the 16th floor of a Downtown Pittsburgh office building. Some unknown source (from inside the building) may have told us something that may or may not be true about were he has moved said "unknown #" of hostages, gun and supposed bomb. With NO list of demands yet and no confirmation of any actual anything we bring this to you as breaking news scare...
Looks like the only thing we "MAY" know is that it's a man. So please feel free to start hating each other over what you say in are comment section because we really don't know... Please keep the sarcasm & hate mongering to a high because that is what the powers that be want from you... We will be back soon to tell you more of what we don't really know.
Just once I would love breaking news that is actually "Breaking News...
They could be reporting the FACT that the Libya and Egypt problems weren't from a video but rather planned by Al Queda. At least those in Libya we know were. But nooooo, NBC is going to put out facts about their almighty BOZO and that wicth from Oz that the house hasn't fell on yet Hilary Clinton.
Thank God it isn't a MOVIE THEATER
Thank God it isn' tA MOVIE THEATER
"here's a breaking photo shown for the first time of a man facebook photo at least with the same name from the pittsburgh area."
wow, just wow, i hope it's the right guy