Police Identify Intruder Shot By Fox 5 TV Station Guard

WASHINGTON, DC — A security guard at WTTG, the Fox TV station in Northwest DC, shot an intruder who reportedly tried to force his way inside Monday afternoon, reports say. The DC Metropolitan Police Department later identified 38-year-old George Odemns as the man who tried to break into the station. He was shot once in the chest; he was said to be alert when he was taken to an area hospital.

Commander Melvin Gresham with the DC police department said Odemns forced his way into the building by kicking in two sets of glass doors, and was then shot by the guard. No weapon was found on the suspect, Gresham said at a press conference.

Emergency responders took Odemns to George Washington University Hospital in critical but stable condition, authorities say.

He has since been arrested and charged withsecond-degree burglary, WUSA reports.

Anchors say the confrontation happened about 2 p.m. at the WTTG-5 office at 5151 Wisconsin Avenue. There are other businesses in the building besides the TV station. Surveillance camera footage the station aired showed the man kicking in a panel of the outer door with one blow, then repeatedly kicking a panel to an inner door until he knocked it down and stepped through into the lobby, where he was confronted by the armed guard.

Gresham said Odemns was not armed.

News anchor Jim Lokay tweeted that all of the station's employees were uninjured.

The man was attempting to break into the Fox building when he was shot, DC Metro Police say. There has been no explanation yet by authorities on what motivated the man's actions.

Wisconsin Avenue is reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction near the station.

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