"I think the experience was more about protecting our employees," Pomilla said. "It's one of those things I'm thankful we had the security procedures in place. Fortunately, we came out of this unscathed and that's the most important thing."
Pomilla said the woman approached the building around 5 p.m. The station, located just north of downtown Charlotte, has two sets of doors, one of which is always locked. People who cannot show they have official business with the station are denied access.
When the woman became adamant about entering, a security guard was called over, and that's when she put the gun to her head, according to Pomilla.
"She never pointed the gun at any individual other than herself," he said.
Employees were notified by e-mail to evacuate the building. They went to an area behind the station.
Pomilla said a SWAT team entered the station, approached the woman and told her to put the gun down and she complied.
She was not angry with the station and felt it was a place she could speak her mind, Pomilla said.
"She came here because she wanted attention," Pomilla said, adding that the woman was talking about "financial issues. She was in an accident and said she needed help."
The woman's identity was not released and Charlotte-Mecklenburg police didn't immediately return phone calls seeking additional details.
Pomilla said while security procedures worked, officials will look at ways to make the station even safer.
The ABC affiliate has approximately 200 workers. Its signal covers 22 counties in and around Charlotte.
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