"Let me in, let me in. I'm f... God," that's what Mike Marion, an ABC2News station production coordinator, said he heard as he watched a man bang violently on the doors of ABC2News in Baltimore.
He ignored the request.
Minutes later an African American man got into a truck and drove straight into the building around 11:45 a.m.
It took the man five times before he broke through. Police later confirmed the dump truck the man used was stolen.
The ABC2News building was evacuated and under lockdown for several hours. Nearby St. Pius X School was also under lockdown. Locals were urged to avoid the 6400 block of York Road.
Staff ran. People remained urgent but calm.
As the station remained on lockdown, ABC2News staffers anxiously waited for updates from law enforcement. Many were visibly nervous. Many on the verge of tears. All were texting, calling, tweeting friends and family members as much as the few cell phones that made it out of the building allowed.
Pat Bihy, assistant to the general manager, barricaded herself in an office until help came.
"I saw him come through," she said. "I couldn't believe it."
When police came to escort her out, she didn't believe it was them at first.
"You just don't know," she said. "Luckily it was them and no one was hurt."
In a neighboring office, general manager Bill Hooper grabbed his baseball bat.
He then peeked through the door of his office and saw the man walking around with a fire extinguisher.
"He didn't see me, but I saw him," Hooper said. "I closed the door and waited for help."
In the newsroom, producer Daniel Allman heard the crash.
He also saw the truck from a window's reflection.
"I just kept thinking, that truck is too close to the building," he said.
After the crash, he ran into an office, then outside.
"I'm just glad we are all safe," he said.
He borrowed a phone to call his family and let them know he was OK.
