Suspected spree killer holds 4 hostage in Baltimore area

March 17, 2000
Web posted at: 11:38 p.m. EST (0438 GMT)

MIDDLE RIVER, Maryland (CNN) -- A heavily armed killing spree suspect was holed up in a house in the Baltimore area late Friday, holding at least four people hostage, including his girlfriend's mother, police said.

About 100 county police, including SWAT team members, had surrounded the home in the southeastern portion of Baltimore County and were working to negotiate a peaceful end to the standoff.

The suspect, Joseph Palcynski, is accused of gunning down four people in the Baltimore area last week.

Police first responded at 8:50 p.m. EST when they got a call from someone in the neighborhood "in reference to shots being fired," said Cpl. Ronald Brooks with the Baltimore County Police.

Asked if anybody had been wounded in that gunfire, he said, "We have no idea." "What we have is this -- apparently he's holed up in a house, and has his girlfriend's mother and three other people inside the house hostage," Brooks said. The home is that of the girlfriend's mother, Brooks said.

Maryland police search for alleged killer as trail grows cold
March 13, 2000

Baltimore County, Maryland Police Department
  •Palczynski photographs

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