Suspected killer of four in police standoff near Baltimore

March 18, 2000
Web posted at: 3:32 a.m. EST (0832 GMT)

In this story: Residents urged to stay indoors Manhunt began March 7 RELATED STORIES, SITES

DUNDALK, Maryland (CNN) -- Police on Saturday were working to negotiate a peaceful end to an armed siege involving a man accused of killing four people in the Baltimore area.

Up to five people are believed to be held hostage in a Maryland home, including the mother of the gunman's girlfriend, said authorities. About 100 county police, including SWAT team members, on Friday encircled the home in southeastern Baltimore County.

Baltimore County Police told CNN they are on the phone with Joseph Palczynski attempting to bring about an end to the hostage situation.

"I do know that he has been talking to negotiators," said Baltimore County Police Cpl. Vickie Warehime.

Residents urged to stay indoors

"We're trying to urge people to stay inside their houses, there's no reason to go outside. We do know that he is armed. Again, we had shots fired at one point."

Palczynski's former attorney, David Henninger, has made a public appeal outside the home where the hostages are being held for Palczynski to surrender.

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

Asked if anybody had been wounded in that gunfire, he said, "We have no idea."

The home is that of the girlfriend's mother, he said.

"He's heavily armed," Brooks added.

Manhunt began March 7

Warehime said, "We do know we have people inside the house. We also believe that he is watching the TV. We're just trying to make sure this comes to a peaceful resolution."

"I have no information on the condition of the people inside," she added.

Palczynski has been on the run since March 7, when police say he shot a Baltimore couple to death while kidnapping his estranged girlfriend from an apartment. As he fled the scene, he allegedly shot to death another man who tried to stop him.

The girlfriend, Tracy Whitehead, later escaped. But the next day, as Palczynski attempted to hijack a car, police say he fired shots that killed a woman and wounded a baby.

He then fled to northern Virginia, where he forced William Terrell to drive him at gunpoint back to Maryland. Terrell was not harmed, but he thought he would be.

"I knew, at that point in time, I may never see life again ... may never come back home again," said Terrell.

On Friday, Palczynski broke into a Virginia home and stole a 12-gauge shotgun, a .22-caliber revolver and a van, said Baltimore County Police Maj. Brian Uppercue.

After the van broke down, Palczynski allegedly forced a man from Woodford, Virginia, to drive him back to Baltimore. The man later escaped unharmed.

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

Baltimore County, Maryland Police Department
  •Palczynski photographs

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