Three people who had been taken hostage are now safe and out of the building, Montgomery County Police Chief Tom Manger says.

The gunman is in custody. There is no word on his condition. Manger says the suspect was shot at 4:48 p.m. Wednesday.

Manger says a device strapped to the gunman appeared to go off. Authorities believe there was some smoke and may have heard a popping noise but have not confirmed anything.

“We believe there are other suspected devices in the building that have not been rendered safe. The operation at this point is to make sure those devices are rendered safe,” Manger says.

Police had been in negotiations for nearly four hours over the phone with the gunman, who was on the first floor area of the building.

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=2042177