Armed Man Continues Standoff

A heavily armed man suspected of killing four people remained holed up with at least three hostages in an apartment Saturday, as relatives and friends pleaded for him to come out.

The emotional appeals were aired live on local television stations in hopes that Joseph Palczynski would be watching.

“Joseph, for God’s sake, please give yourself up,” his grandmother, Marie Nardone, pleaded. “Don’t hurt no more people.”

Police said the apartment just east of Baltimore is that of a relative of Tracy Whitehead, the former girlfriend Palczynski is accused of briefly kidnapping. Palczynski was believed to be holding hostage Whitehead’s mother, Lynn, her brother and another person.

Whitehead’s relatives said the third hostage was Lynn Whitehead’s boyfriend.

Police converged on the building around 9:30 p.m. Friday, and were negotiating with Palczynski by telephone. Authorities blocked off the area and evacuated residents from the block.

“We have a philosophy of surround and talk,” said Baltimore County Police spokesman Bill Toohey. “We’re prepared to wait a good long time.”

“It is tense, but the fact that we’re talking to him is positive,” Toohey said. “We want him to know that he can end this without anyone getting hurt.”

The 31-year-old electrician had broken into another home earlier, tied up the occupants and stole two long guns and a handgun, Toohey said.

Palczynski has been on the run since March 7, when police say he kidnapped his girlfriend, killed the couple she was staying with and a neighbor. A fourth person was killed the next day by a stray bullet as Palczynski allegedly carjacked another vehicle, police said.

Whitehead escaped unharmed.

Palczynski, who has a history of domestic violence and mental illness dating back to 1988, asked to speak to Whitehead, while police used a local television station to broadcast appeals from a friend, his former attorney and his grandmother.

“Get yourself help, and do what you have to do to make yourself better. Don’t hurt no more people,” Nardone pleaded.

“This is a no-win situation, hon,” said Ramona Contrino Faust, who identified herself as a friend and former neighbor of Palczynski for more than 25 years. “We’ve talked about this before. I think I know what you’re going to do. I don’t want you to do that, please.”

Asked to elaborate, she said he had said that if he were faced with returning to jail, he would kill himself or make police shoot him.

Another televised appeal came from Palczynski’s friend and former attorney, David Henninger.

“I’m here for you, Joe. I need you to come out,” Henninger said. “I need you to release the hostages.”

Palczynski has been in a similar situation before. In 1992, he kept police in Idaho at bay for 16 hours after a domestic violence complaint by a girlfriend. He was finally forced out with tear gas.