Possible Hostage Taking At The Office Of Missouri Lt. Gov. Kinder

by Yuliya Talmazan | November 10, 2009 at 09:20 am

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Latest Update from Jefferson City Police is that there is no longer the potential of a threat. A full briefing would be given by the police at 4 PM local time today.

Another possible hostage taking is currently underway in Jefferson City, Missouri. It is alleged hostages have been taken in the government building used by the administration of Missouri's Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder. The Lieutenant Governor himself is currently in the building and Tweeting updates on the hostage situation. His updates can be read at http://twitter.com/PeterKinder.

The building is currently being evacuated floor by floor. Police still can't confirm hostage taking.

Missourinet reporter Steve Walsh, at the scene, says police tell him that the Governor’s Office Building, located at 200 Madison Street, is being evacuated floor by floor.

Walsh reports that police say they responded to a call at 10:02am from an alarm company that reported a possible hostage situation with shots fired. He says police though now say they cannot confirm either; whether a hostage has been taken or that shots were fired.

Capt. Tim Hull, of the highway patrol, said officials had no verification that any hostage is involved.

He said a woman in the building thought she heard the word “hostage” over an intercom. She called the building’s security company, which contacted police. Authorities locked the building down and continue to investigate.

Latest Twitter update from Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder:

Evacuating bldg. One staffer called from 9th floor of Gov Office bldg to report "it doesn't seem like a crisis". Let's hope so.

According to the Lt. Governor, there were sharpshooters on the roof of the Jefferson building and the police has locked down the block. He also said choppers were circling the building and hostage negotiators were on the scene. Kinder alleges hostage taking is unfolding on the fifth floor of the building. Local news sources report SWAT team is on the scene.

Portions of downtown Jefferson City are shut down due to a possible hostage situation in a government building.

State employees in the building say police officers are outside patroling the area with assault rifles. The area is locked down.

This is the second hostage taking of the day in the United States. Just hours ago a hostage taking took place in Pine Plains, Dutchess County, New York, when an armed gunman walked into the Stissing Mountain High School and took school principle hostage. The gunman has surrendered to the police within hours.

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