Gunman Likely Viewed Himself as Environmentalist Martyr, Former FBI Profiler Says

Discovery Channel Hostage Standoff

A man known for protesting the Discovery Channel's environmental programming stormed the network's Maryland headquarters carrying a handgun on Wednesday, holding three people hostage for hours until he was shot and killed by police

The man who was shot and killed by police after taking several hostages at the Discovery Channel's headquarters Wednesday likely viewed himself as an environmentalist martyr who wanted to bring attention to his cause, a former FBI profiler told FoxNews.com.

Gary Noesner, who spent nearly 30 years at the FBI and oversaw the bureau's Crisis Negotiation Unit, said he thinks the gunman, James J. Lee, primarily wanted to draw attention to his criticisms of the network -- criticisms apparently inspired by environmentalist Daniel Quinn's novel "Ishmael," according to a website registered to Lee.

"Lee obviously become frustrated with his inability to effect the change he'd like to see," Noesner said. "This is an act that guarantees to get an enormous amount of attention."

According to savetheplanetprotest.com, a website registered to Lee, the Discovery Channel and its affiliates must have programs focusing on Quinn's novel.

"Focus must be given on how people can live WITHOUT giving birth to more filthy human children since those new additions continue pollution and are pollution," the site reads. "A game show format contest would be in order."

The website also called for an end to all programs promoting war and the "technology behind those," as well solutions to global warming, unemployment and housing.

"It's clearly a guy who has wrapped his arms around this issue and it's almost like he's become a religious fanatic," Noesner said. "He's got a higher purpose and it's on his shoulders to make the world understand, and he's convinced himself of that."

Lee's writing also called for the end of "all human procreation and farming," characterizing population growth a crisis.

"For every human born, ACRES of wildlife forests must be turned into farmland in order to feed that new addition over the course of 60 to 100 YEARS of that new human's lifespan!" the website read. "THIS IS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE FOREST CREATURES!!!!"

Noesner said he found the manifesto "very typical" of someone who had been involved in a hostage-taking situation.

"It's not at all uncharacteristic," he said. "He views himself as a sort of a martyr looking for fame, attention or glory."