Suspected killer fires shots in Baltimore hostage standoff

March 19, 2000
Web posted at: 2:51 p.m. EST (1951 GMT)

In this story: Manhunt began March 7 Bag used by Palczynski found RELATED STORIES, SITES

DUNDALK, Maryland (CNN) -- Several shots were fired Sunday morning from the Baltimore-area apartment where a suspected killer is holding three people hostage. The apartment has been the site of a standoff between the heavily armed suspect and police since Friday night.

Some of the gunshots were fired from the rear of the apartment. Several others came from the front, police said, adding that no one appears to have been injured inside or outside the apartment as a result of the shots.

Baltimore police Sgt. John Cullum said the shots were fired around 8:30 a.m. at the home where Joseph Palczynski has been holed up after allegedly stealing several weapons from a house in nearby Essex, Maryland.

	VIDEO
CNN's Kathleen Koch reports as Baltimore police wait out a hostage crisis (March 18) Windows Media 28K 80K

Police said they had been in telephone contact with Palczynski several times on Saturday. Cpl. Vickie Warehime of the Baltimore County Police said police did not think the hostages had been injured.

"He was talking to us. There was absolutely no provocation at all," Warehime said. She said police did not return fire.

Palczynski has been on the run since March 7, when police say he fatally shot a couple while kidnapping his girlfriend, Tracy Whitehead, from a Baltimore-area apartment. As he fled, he allegedly shot to death another man who tried to stop him. Whitehead later escaped.

The next day, as Palczynski attempted to hijack a car, police say he fired shots that killed a woman and wounded a baby.

Police say he has carjacked or attempted to carjack several others in the area since then.

Warehime said late Saturday that police had recovered a series of items in a bag found in a house earlier broken into by Palczynski.

She said it is believed this bag was used while Palczynski was hiding out from police.

"We found a battery operated television, some clothes, socks, batteries and water bottles," Warehime said.

Because of the items found, Warehime said authorities had no reason to believe Palczynski had stayed anywhere else but in the woods while attempting to elude police.

Hostage standoff with suspected killer continues outside Baltimore
March 18, 2000
Maryland police search for alleged killer as trail grows cold
March 13, 2000

Baltimore County, Maryland Police Department
  •Palczynski photographs
Palczynski photographs

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