How the Discovery Communications Hostages Escaped

After they had been on the lobby floor for four hours, Chris says he saw the security guard making some hand signals. "I took that as 'It's time to run.' I didn't realize that he was talking to the police outside via hand signals," he says. "I mouthed to the guard and I said, 'Run,' and he shook his head yes."

Watch Chris and Jim recount their amazing escape.

Before he started running, Chris says he felt a moment of hesitation. "As I was lying on the floor, I just said: 'I am not ready to die. This is not the way I'm going to die. I have a lot more to do.' We counted down, and Jim looked at me and I looked back at the gunman and he looked down," he says. "I just turned and ran the fastest I think I've ever run."

While Chris made a dash to door, Jim thought his fellow hostages were executing a different plan. "When [Chris] takes off, I actually took off for cover behind one of those pillars for a second. A voice in my head said, 'Run.' By then, the gunman had come around the desk and I booked it."

After all three hostages made it to safety, a sniper shot and killed Lee.