Chantilly, Va. – A troubled teenager who died in a shootout Monday with officers in suburban Washington said repeatedly more than a year ago that he planned to attack a police station, friends of the gunman said Tuesday.
Michael W. Kennedy, 18, was crouched between two vehicles in the parking lot of the Sully District police station in Chantilly when he opened fire on an officer who had just parked his car.
The officer was hit five times but was able to call for help on his radio. At least four officers returned fire, but before the shooting stopped a detective was dead and a third officer was wounded. Kennedy lay dead on the pavement, dressed in camouflage fatigues.
Maj. Bob Callahan said the teen fired at least 70 rounds from a modified AK-47- style assault weapon and a long-barreled, high-powered rifle. Five handguns found on Kennedy’s body had not been fired.
Kennedy’s classmates recalled that he would sometimes talk about attacking police, but no one ever reported the statements to school officials or authorities.
“He started making those jokes about shooting up a police station about a year ago, but we never took him seriously,” said Yasmeen Davis, 18, who graduated with Kennedy last year.
A few months ago, close friends began noticing a change in Kennedy. His style of dress changed, and he started hoarding weapons and ammunition and talking increasingly of fighting zombies and aliens.
“He thought he was Jesus,” said Brendon Baker, 18, who had known Kennedy since sixth grade.
Kennedy’s parents admitted him last month to a psychiatric center in Rockville, Md., but within hours, he broke a window and escaped.
Claiming he had a gun, Kennedy allegedly carjacked a sport utility vehicle and drove back to Virginia, where he surrendered to Fairfax County police.
He was returned to Maryland and charged with carjacking and theft. His family posted a $30,000 bond, and he was expected to stand trial May 24.
At the police station Tuesday, a squad car was draped in black and covered with flowers to honor Detective Vicky O. Armel, 40, who was killed in the attack. Armel’s husband, who also is a Fairfax County detective, was in seclusion with the couple’s two young children.
