- Associated Press - Friday, September 21, 2012

PITTSBURGH — An armed man who took a hostage inside a downtown Pittsburgh office building has surrendered to police.

Police Chief Nate Harper says the suspect gave himself up after posting Facebook updates in the early hours of the standoff saying he had “lost everything.” Harper says the hostage is OK.

Police identified the hostage-taker as Klein Michael Thaxton. Harper had said Thaxton had a military background and was suicidal.

The standoff began Friday morning inside the 16th-floor office of a benefits administration firm.

Harper says Thaxton was cooperative but made no demands.

Thaxton’s friends had responded to his Facebook posts by urging him to end the situation peacefully, including one who asked him to think of his mother.

The Facebook page was later taken down.

Copyright © 2024 The Washington Times, LLC.

Please read our comment policy before commenting.

Click to Read More and View Comments

Click to Hide