Police shoot down man dressed as a HEDGEHOG after he shows-up at Baltimore TV station claiming to have a bomb . . . which later turned out to be a life-preserver and a string of chocolate bars

  • Man in costume walked into the Fox 45 offices on the city's TV Hill
  • Stood in lobby and claimed he had an explosive strapped to his chest
  • The suspect was wearing a costume, a surgical mask and black sunglasses
  • He has been identified as a 25-year-old man from Howard County  
  • According to witnesses there were wires visible on his chest  
  • He was shot by a police counter sniper after a short stand-off 
  • As the suspect lay on the ground, a bomb squad robot undressed him  
  • Man allegedly told staff he had a flash drive with 'important information' 
  • The 'bomb' turned out the bomb was actually chocolate bars linked together with wires 

By Wills Robinson For Dailymail.com

Published: | Updated:

A Baltimore TV station has been evacuated after a man dressed as a hedgehog walked in claiming to have a bomb.

The unidentified suspect dressed in costume entered the Fox 45 offices on the city's TV Hill at 1:00pm and told staff he had an explosive strapped to his chest. 

It turned out the 'device' was actually a 'flotation device' with chocolate bars attached together with wire, according to police.

A short time after speaking to a security guard, the 25-year-old man from Howard County left and was gunned down by police after continually ignoring their requests.

Pictures taken from outside the building show the individual - wearing a white onesie with grey ears - leaning against the wall of the lobby and looking relaxed.

He also appeared to be wearing a white medical mask and black sunglasses during the bizarre confrontation. 

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TV station Fox 45 in Baltimore has been evacuated after a man dressed as a hedgehog walked in and claimed he had a bomb. The suspect is seen just after entering the building

TV station Fox 45 in Baltimore has been evacuated after a man dressed as a hedgehog walked in and claimed he had a bomb. The suspect is seen just after entering the building

A short time later the man, who is said to be in his 20s, was gunned down by police after continually ignoring their requests. The suspect was seen lying on the road. A bomb technician's robot is seen analyzing the scene. It turned out the 'device' was actually a 'flotation device' with chocolate bars attached together with wire, according to police

A short time later the man, who is said to be in his 20s, was gunned down by police after continually ignoring their requests. The suspect was seen lying on the road. A bomb technician's robot is seen analyzing the scene. It turned out the 'device' was actually a 'flotation device' with chocolate bars attached together with wire, according to police

This picture taken from the outside the building show the individual, wearing a white onesie with grey ears, leaning against the wall of the lobby 

The suspect was then seen walking outside the TV station's building shortly before he was shot by police 

Pictures taken from outside the building show the individual - wearing a white onesie with grey ears - leaning against the wall of the lobby and looking relaxed 

Pictures taken from outside the building show the individual - wearing a white onesie with grey ears - leaning against the wall of the lobby and looking relaxed 

Up close he is seen with a red vest underneath the white animal costume. He was also wearing a white surgical mask and black sunglasses 

Up close he is seen with a red vest underneath the white animal costume. He was also wearing a white surgical mask and black sunglasses 

Police spokesman T.J. Smith told the media the man walked in and showed a contractor a flash drive and then revealed wires attached to his chest.

Shortly after the building was cleared, he reportedly left and walked towards heavily-armed SWAT officers. 

After a stand-off where he ignored police orders, he was shot by a police counter sniper. His condition is not known. 

Bomb technicians were then sent to the scene to analyse the vest on him as he lay in the middle of the road.

A robot approached the man, as he was not complying with police, and a recorded voice asked him to show his hands.

As he continually refused to cooperate, the robot then undressed the man - removing his onesie and the jacket he claimed was containing the explosive. 

Tactical officers then approached him and carried him to an ambulance. He is now in police custody. 

Reports suggested the man told employees he had a flash drive holding 'important information'.

He is seen walking into the firing line of the SWAT officers. A police spokesman said they used lethal means

Tactical units are seen with their weapons drawn during the standoff with the suspect 

Tactical units are seen with their weapons drawn during the standoff with the suspect 

Police maintain a cordon after the Fox45 television station was evacuated due to a bomb threat

Police maintain a cordon after the Fox45 television station was evacuated due to a bomb threat

Heavily armed officers rest on cars in the parking lot as they try to diffuse the situation 

Heavily armed officers rest on cars in the parking lot as they try to diffuse the situation 

A security guard told WJZ the memory stick had information regarding astronomy, including phenomenon such as black holes.  

He demanded that the information be released, but the security guard managed to diffuse the situation and the man left.

The guard said: 'My first instinct was to try and keep him calm.

'He kept trying to come in the door but I said he couldn't come in. 

'It was him talking to the camera and letting us know the government was hiding things.' 

Employees were told to stand outside in the car park while law enforcement cordoned off the area. 

There was also an engine fire in a car parked outside the TV station. 

Smith said a rag had been stuck inside the petrol tank and set on fire.

Fox 45 was able to broadcast its daily 4:30pm news cast from outside the building 

The bomb squad robot is seen taking the onsie and the vest off of the suspect. Police were using the device to try and get the suspect to remove his hands from the costume

The bomb squad robot is seen taking the onsie and the vest off of the suspect. Police were using the device to try and get the suspect to remove his hands from the costume

The robot is seen carrying the vest away from the scene over the crest of a hill 

The robot is seen carrying the vest away from the scene over the crest of a hill 

Armed officers are seen surrounding the scene on the city's TV Hill after the man in costume walked into the lobby and claimed to have a bomb strapped to his chest

Armed officers are seen surrounding the scene on the city's TV Hill after the man in costume walked into the lobby and claimed to have a bomb strapped to his chest

 

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