Lee, a California man to 43 years old with a religious fervor, apparently for environmental causes, had a history of the orientation of the channel to its programming, especially in a protest in front of the channel 2008 Silver Spring, Maryland, headquarters, 1,900 employees at work. That day, the protest included throwing wads of cash in the air, and ended in his arrest.
But show web ads Lee was increasingly obsessed with the “filth of civilization” and the problem of overpopulation, which he attributed to “parasites human babies.” This obsession ended late Wednesday when police opened fire and killed him at last to a hostage crisis nearly four hours inside the headquarters of Discovery. Read three hostages escaped safely.
Those who knew him say they were not surprised.
“A desperate act to validate his own ego and opinion,” is how Lee’s brother-in-law, Thomas Leonard, described the attack in an interview with Fox News, Neil ‘Cavuto as a hostage confrontation unfolded.
Lee had “a lack of respect for any authority” and was prone to “emotional outbursts” and “erratic,” said Leonard.
Lee had published a list of demands in a manifesto criticizing Discovery line for what he saw as the promotion of human birth canal and coverage of the war, and called on the channel of programming dedicated to exposing the misdeeds of man.
“Civilization must be exposed for the filth that is,” says the manifesto. “That and all the nasty rooted religious, cultural and greed. Dissemination of this message until the contamination on the planet is reversed and the human population is falling! This is your obligation. If you think not, to then get the hell off the planet! Breathe Oil! Is the moral obligation of all who live otherwise what are they? ”
In another section, wrote: “All the programs on Discovery Health, TLC should stop encouraging the birth of human babies any more parasitic and false heroics behind those actions. In places of such programs, programs to promote sterilization and human infertility are pushed. All previous programs in favor of birth must now push in the direction of preventing human birth, not encourage it. ”
Discovery Communications Inc. operates in the U.S. cable and satellite networks, including Discovery Channel, TLC and Animal Planet. Discovery shows include “Cash Cab” and “proof of everything,” and TLC airs “American Chopper” and “Kate Plus 8.”
David Leavy, Discovery’s executive vice president of corporate affairs, said all employees had been taken into account. “We are relieved that ended without any risk to our employees,” he said.
Leonard said Lee had been estranged from his family for about two years – since February 2008 a protest in front of the building.
“The Discovery Channel, produced many so-called” Environmental Programs “supposedly there to save the planet,” Lee said in an announcement that drew in a newspaper of Washington to promote the protest. “But the truth is that things are worse! Its programs are causing more harm than good.”
Photos show Lee walking in protest outside the building while holding a sign that read, “SAVE THE PLANET DISCOVERY CHANNEL!” He reportedly recruited homeless people to carry signs as well. At one point, he threw a wad of bills in the air, sparking a fight among spectators.
He was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and sentenced a month later for a trial period of six months and a fine of 500 and told her to stay at least 500 feet from the building.
The judge in the case had nothing but contempt for the actions of Lee.
“I can not tell you how this is absurd,” said Judge Stephen Johnson, according to a story in the local Gazette. The judge also said that after throwing away money, Lee would “give some to the State.”
Lee said at the time that its point was to show “money means nothing. The money is rubbish.”
The Gazette also reported that Lee had spent two weeks in jail after his arrest, including several days of being assessed by psychiatrists.
“I told them my idea of saving the planet,” he said. “I could not find anything wrong with me.”
Lee said he began his crusade after being fired from a job in San Diego. It also seems to have been inspired by books by novelist Daniel Quinn environment, in particular, “Quinn Ishmael.” He pointed to the pages of this novel in his manifesto, saying that the Discovery should create a schedule based on your message. He said he also was inspired by the Al Gore documentary “An Inconvenient Truth.”
The MySpace profile of Lee was given the label “World Guardian”, in a blog entry in December 2008, Lee wrote of “having strange dreams.”
“I can not seem to stop myself from this company. I cannot think of anything else except this and this alone. Thanks for ruining my life Shannon,” reads the blog. “I am willing to go all the way with this. All the kids like that!”
In another study published the same month, wrote:
“I refuse to read anything not directly related to the problem of overpopulation and global warming. I am looking for history for clues that might save the planet. Still baffles me why this happens. It seems impossible. I’m expecting some nature videos I ordered. ”
Under the “Who I’d like to meet” category of your MySpace page, he listed, “Environmentalists, scientists, readers of Daniel Quinn, and people who want to work towards real change.
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