The man suspected of making a bomb threat inside Fox 45 Thursday afternoon was armed with chocolate candy bars and a motherboard, not an explosive device, a Baltimore Police spokesman said.
"It does not appear that the device was capable of actual explosives," spokesman T.J. Smith said.
Alex Brizzi, 25, from Howard County, was wearing an animal onesie, a surgical mask and a red flotation device when he walked into Fox 45 with the device strapped to him and said he had a bomb.
Brizzi was shot four times. Smith said snipers shot him after several hours, but he is expected to live, Smith said. He is receiving treatment at an area hospital.
ABC2's Christian Schaffer spoke with Brizzi's father who said his son had a revelation that the end of world was coming June 3.
Just spoke w/ father of Fox 45 suspect Alex Brizzi. Dad says son had revelation- end of the world coming on June 3 pic.twitter.com/PIWD1fdPM5
— Christian Schaffer (@chrisfromabc2) April 29, 2016
Brizzi's father said he absolutely no warning that anything like Thursday's incident at Fox 45 was coming.
"He's been fine up until the last two weeks," he said. "So, you know, we didn't think that he needed any help until, like I said two weeks ago when he came up with this revelation."
The Baltimore TV station was evacuated Thursday afternoon after the bomb threat was reported, Baltimore Police confirmed. Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis said earlier that all employees were safe and accounted for.
Police and firefighters were on the scene and people were being asked to avoid the area as of 2:15 p.m., Baltimore Office of Emergency Operations said on Twitter.
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
PIO en route to @FoxBaltimore. Media staging area TBD.
— Baltimore Police (@BaltimorePolice) April 28, 2016
There were no reported injuries, according to the station's Facebook page.
Some members of the Fox 45 newsroom reported a man inside the station’s lobby who said he had a bomb strapped to him.
Shortly after 3 p.m. there were reports of loud bangs in the area.
Police still have guns up. @FOXBaltimore pic.twitter.com/79O4L5YDDM
— Paul McGrew (@McGrewFox45) April 28, 2016
Staff at the news station posted to Twitter with updates on what was going on:.
Fox45 building has been evacuated. Suspicious person standing in lobby said he had a bomb.
— Karen Campbell (@KarenCampbellTV) April 28, 2016
Firefighters encouraging others to move away from building.
— Karen Campbell (@KarenCampbellTV) April 28, 2016
Police at Fox45. pic.twitter.com/3Avs10kVo2
— Paul McGrew (@McGrewFox45) April 28, 2016
Picture of man inside lobby threatening station. Fire on scene, waiting for police to arrive pic.twitter.com/NxQZTONcck
— Shelley Orman (@ShelleyOFox45) April 28, 2016
Man inside lobby saying he has a bomb strapped to him - @FOXBaltimore station evacuated pic.twitter.com/dP1SGelkAT
— 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
