Md. man found with arsenal after alleged threat

An arsenal of semi-automatic rifles and semi-automatic pistols seized from a man who allegedly threatened to carry out a mass shooting at his workplace is seen in this picture provided by the Prince George's County Police Department. / Prince George's County Police Department

Updated at 4:25 p.m. ET

(CBS/AP) A Maryland man in possession of 25 guns and several thousand rounds of ammunition was taken into custody Thursday night after referring to himself as "a joker" and allegedly making threats to carry out a mass shooting at his workplace, which he had recently been fired.

The man, identified as Neil Prescott in a search warrent and by sources to CBS News, allegedly told a supervisor at software and mailroom supplier Pitney Bowes that, "I'm a joker and I'm gonna load my guns and blow everybody up," and that he wanted to see the supervisor's "brain splatter on the floor" during a phone call on Monday, according to a search warrant. Police would not confirm the suspect's name because charges are pending.

He then made similar statements during another call 15 minutes later, adding that it was "kind of foolish of me to say this kind of things over government phone," the warrant states.

He was wearing a T-shirt that read "Guns don't kill people. I do," when first confronted by officers, police said Friday. He allegedly made multiple threats during several separate phone calls this week. Investigators who searched the 28-year-old's apartment Friday morning found about two dozen firearms -- including semi-automatic rifles, semi-automatic pistols -- and several thousand rounds of ammunition.

This image provided to CBS News by sources shows Neil Prescott, who was found in possession of 25 guns after allegedly making threats to carry out a workplace shooting.

Authorities said Prescott was arrested on an emergency petition for medical treatment and is receiving a mental health evaluation at a local hospital. All possible state and federal charges were being considered against the suspect, said Ashan Benedict, assistant special agent in charge of the Baltimore field office for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

There is no immediate indication any of the weapons were possessed or obtained illegally but police are still processing the evidence, law enforcement sources told CBS News national security correspondent Bob Orr.

"What we believe is a significant threat has been averted," Magaw said.

In a statement, Pitney Bowes Inc. said the man worked for a subcontractor to the company.

The suspect is not connected to any foreign or domestic terror group and there does not appear to be any specific plot connected to his phone threat, sources said.

An FBI spokesman said the bureau is aware of the case, but otherwise is not involved.

It wasn't immediately clear when the threat was to be carried out or how seriously it was meant to be taken, but last week's mass shooting at a Colorado theater during the latest Batman movie -- coupled with the "Joker" reference -- put police especially on edge and gave the comments extra urgency, officials said.

"In light of what happened a week ago in Aurora Colo., it's important to know, (for) the community to know, that we take all threats seriously. And if you're going to make a threat, we will take action," Magaw said.

Though there's no other indication of a link to the Colorado shooting, police believe the joker comments made by Prescott were a "clear reference" to the killings, according to the warrant.

Neighbor Wilbert Brinson, who lives in a building across from Prescott's but did not know him, said he was alarmed by the alleged threats.

"It's an awakening, you know, after hearing what happened in Colorado," he said.

It was not immediately clear if Prescott had a lawyer.

[EmpireGeorge______--]

canislupus16, well of course "collections" can consist of different items or the same item being collected, so my use of the word "different" really has no impact in the discussion.

However, if you are going to call something an "arsenal" it has a specific meaning, and the meaning doesn't typically apply to just a small collection of 25 weapons, regardless of the type. According to the dictionary, the following are Synonyms for arsenal: armory, depot, dump, magazine (as in ordinance)....all these synonyms indicate the word is large, as in an army depot, an arsenal.....not just a guy collectiong 25-30 weapons.....that was my point.....when I called it "hardly an arsenal"




Synonyms of Arsenal: armory, depot, dump, magazine

[foo8259]

That looks like a table at a gun show. Unfortunately the real threats out there likely won't go around bragging about their plans. He could have bought those guns from a dealer (individual) and avoided the background checks.

[EmpireGeorge______--]

Why were you under the assumption that a dealer wasn't required to run the mandatory background checks ??

[foo8259]

Oops ... I meant to say "collector" not dealer.

[ReckonedTruth]

Like I said.. PPL who buy a gun or arsenal of guns() semi-automatic and automatic weapons) IN BULK with more than enough ammunition-..a mental evalution should be apart of the back-ground check and evaluated by some sort of number rating system..to show if you're capable to operate a weapon upon good judgment/intelligence and NOT operate a weapon out of fear and paranoria..

I have one conceal weapon/w permit..and I don't carry my weapon when I'm going to the nearest TARGET- or gas station or post office.. and if anyone feels the need to PACK/ their weapon to go to the nearest market/gas station/post office..there's something WRONG WITH YOU.

Maryland was on top of this wanna be copyKat MURDERER.. good for marylanders..

So this is going to be the norm.. just buy guns up you a&& and go to shrink to beat the alleged charges found against you to plot a massive rampage shooting..

..if you really want to make a STATEMENT against GUN violence?.. NEVER EVER let these PPL have a weapon's permit EVER again.. even those with a misdemeanor conviction...

[zxcvbob]

The guy appears to be an idiot, and perhaps a dangerous one. Kudos to the cops for arresting him (and doing so with a warrant.) But why is all the focus on how many scary guns he has? Is he more dangerous with 20 guns than with 1 or 2? And are the guns worse somehow because they are black and have "that shoulder thing that goes up"?

Or how about a gun versus a Buick?

[TheReport]

Idiot. Should not have made those threats. No element of surprise.

[formerlyluvnut]

I have always enjoyed guns & shooting but gotta say this was quite a collection. Even I think that kind of hardware is way overboard with common sense. He indeed may be another Tim McVeigh. Glad they got him first.

[davidgray1]

Great, here we go again. The writer wants to make a big deal about the number of guns this guy has as though there is something wrong with that. It doesn't matter if he had 1 gun or 100 guns; that is not an issue. It is the man, the person, who made threats, that is the issue here. Stop attacking gun owners. Just because some people of own a lot of guns does not make them a threat. There is nothing wrong with having lots of guns. Take your eyes and opinions off of guns. Only look at the person. If the person says something or does something that appears to be a threat, report it immediately. We must get rid of this "It's none of my business," mentality. We are our brother's (and sister's) keeper.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

In 2005, the average CEO in the United States earned 262 times the pay of the average worker, the second-highest level of this ratio in the 40 years for which there are data. In 2005, a CEO earned more in one workday (there are 260 in a year) than an average worker earned in 52 weeks.
-------------------------
Quickest example I could find, from what I understand its gotten even worse.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/07/the-bain-ad-that-romney-should-fear-the-most/#.UBLImSu0Wmk.facebook

[EmpireGeorge______--]

and I would expect it to get even worse, because workers are coming to the table with no skills, no education, and no experience......when years ago, kids stayed in school, and learned a craft or skill, now playing nintendo is their skill/craft....while executives and companies continue to pursue education and expand in size/scope, executive pay will increase...disproportionately to the worker's pay.....it's just a fact of life.

If it wasn't a fact of life, they could just hire a line worker to run the billion dollar enterprise, and save tens of millions of salary.....but expect to be out of business quickly, if you do that.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

EmpireGeorge______-- July 27, 2012 4:03 PM EDT
re-post.....I think the letter spelled out every detail of what he planned to do....I haven't seen it either, but the letter/box remained unopened.
-----------------
I just read it was found in the Mailroom. So it wasn't because the psychatrist/professor didn't open his mail - he had not yet recieved his mail.

[EmpireGeorge______--]

I see, either way he didn't get it in time.... a shame

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

by EmpireGeorge______-- July 27, 2012 2:59 PM EDT
Dancing-in-the-Streets, well is their ruling on ObamaCare also contrary to beliefs ??? so some rulings, ok, others not ok ?.....but they are the determining final court, that forms our laws......so they ruled corporations can donate, as a form of free speech....that's final, the law....and what do you really have against chief executive officers ? since you attack them daily.
--------------------------
I'm sure its contrary to someone's beliefs! Its not like every single American is going to agree on ANYTHING! That's why we Have the Supreme Court. But they are only human, they can get some things wrong!

What do I have against CEOs? Only that the ratio of what a CEO is paid against what an average worker is paid has gotten ridiculous these past few years! I'm sorry, if we all put in an 8 hour day, I have a hard time thinkign the guy who works his ass off physically is worth so much less than the guy who sits at the desk working mentally! I'm not sayign the pay shold be equal, but the differnece between them is getting ridiculous! And I'm still not over companies going into BAnkruptcy, getting bailed out and a fricken CEO walking away with a golden parachute! He's getting PAID to FAIL! : /

[EmpireGeorge______--]

well you said "contrary to beliefs", not contrary to YOUR beliefs.....so you suggested their ruling was not believed by the public.

Re: CEO's, you said "I'm not sayign the pay shold be equal, but the differnece between them is getting ridiculous!".....well let's analyze that for a moment.....if a ceo, has several advanced university degrees, such as master's and PhD's, they have in effect, 100 times the education of a line working fastening a bolt.....he also paid 100x's the cost for his education, compared with the "average worker"....many ceo's also come with vast experience running other companies, so they have both multi-nation and experience running businesses, so their experience and knowledge is 100 times, that of a simple laborer.

and, suppose one of these line workers signed a contract to get paid X dollars....if the company didn't do well, should that worker get his pay cut ? even though he negoiated a contract with that company to pay him a certain amount.....so is the worker entitled to his Iron Parachute that he agreed to, and the company agreed to ? just like a contracted ceo is entitled to his Golden parachute that he contracted to recieve......so it's just worker rights, but in different scales....small and large. ...but you don't see a ceo as a worker, that's the problem.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

If the demand for the product goes down. Well obviously employees either have to be laid off or take a pay cut. BUT! NOT ALONE! It is NOT right for the upper managements pay to remain the same while all the workers paychecks get cut! I understand belts must be tightened at times, but it needs to be from the top to the bottom!