NBC News Exclusively Interviewed Discovery Channel Gunman During Siege

As NBC News investigated early reports of an incident at the Discovery Communications headquarters building, NBC News producers calling the company’s general number were connected to a man identifying himself as James J. Lee.

An NBC News producer continued a conversation with the man while other NBC News staff informed authorities. The call continued for approximately 10 minutes until the man apparently terminated the call.

NBC News immediately informed Montgomery County authorities of details of that conversation, but withheld public release of those details while the incident was ongoing.

Below are excerpts from the call, aired on MSNBC and NBC Nightly News.

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LEE: I have a gun and I have a bomb. I have several bombs strapped to my body ready to go off I have a device that if I drop it, if I drop it, it will f**k’n explode.

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NBC NEWS PRODUCER: So how long have you been working on this particular bomb?

LEE: Three weeks around, 3 weeks or a month?

NBC NEWS PRODUCER: 3 weeks?

LEE: I did a lot of research. I had to experiment.

NBC NEWS PRODUCER: And how many bombs again do you have?

LEE: I have several.

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NBC NEWS PRODUCER: Do you have a gun?

LEE: I have a gun and I have a bomb. I have several bombs strapped to my body ready to go off.

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