Gunman shot as police free three hostages in US stand-off

POLICE shot a gunman and safely freed the three people he had taken hostage in an hours-long standoff at the Discovery Channel headquarters outside Washington, police said.

The gunman, named by US media as James Lee, 43, had metallic canisters strapped to his chest and a handgun when he entered the building near Washington, DC.

Police said he was in custody last night.