4 years ago
The teenager who ambushed officers at the Sully District Station in Fairfax County -? killing one and critically injuring another -- told his friends at least a year ago that he wanted to shoot up a police station.
Friends who attended Westfield High School with 18-year-old Michael Kennedy of Centreville recalled that he would sometimes talk about attacking police, but no one ever reported those statements to school officials or the 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 last year. But a few months ago, even close friends began noticing a change in Kennedy. His style of dress changed and he started hoarding weapons and ammunition as his conversation focused increasingly on talk of fighting zombies and aliens.
Click here for a story on how Kennedy's Myspace.com site offers a glimpse into his personality. "He thought he was Jesus," said Brendon Baker, 18, who'd known Kennedy since sixth grade. The changes prompted Baker to back off, but the two remained on friendly terms.
On April 18, Kennedy's parents drove him to Potomac Ridge Behavioral Health Center in Rockville, Md., where he was voluntarily admitted. Within seven hours, he walked out of an unlocked room in the 97-bed facility, broke a window and escaped. Claiming he had a gun, Kennedy allegedly carjacked a sport utility vehicle in Germantown, Md., and drove back to Virginia where he surrendered to Fairfax County police. He was returned to Maryland and charged with armed carjacking and theft. His family posted a $30,000 bond, and he was expected to stand trial May 24. Kennedy never returned to Potomac Ridge, and friends said he had been calmer in recent weeks. "He told me he'd been on medication for a while," Baker said.
Police say Kennedy attempted another carjacking Monday and was driving another stolen vehicle just before the ambush at the Sully District Station about 3:50 p.m., officials said.
Police say a 53-year-old officer was ambushed first, as he sat in his cruiser preparing to go off duty. Officials say he was shot at least five times. The 23-year veteran of Fairfax County police remains in critical condition at Inova Fairfax Hospital.
The shooter then approached and exchanged fire with Detective Vicky Armel, a nine-year police veteran who was headed out the door to respond to a carjacking report. Police say that carjacking involved the 18-year-old suspect, Michael Kennedy.
After gunning down Armel, the shooter then moved on in the parking lot and traded fire with another officer who suffered minor injuries. More officers responded. The suspect was then shot and killed. Police say a motorist in a passing car was hit by broken glass when gunfire blew out a windshield. ?There was a tremendous amount of heroism out there yesterday afternoon,? Fairfax County Commonwealth?s Attorney Robert Horan said. ?Police officers stood up, faced automatic weapons fire and did their jobs. The heroism involved was enormous.? In all, the young shooter fired off at least 70 rounds before he was killed, Maj. Bob Callahan said. He said the teen had been armed with a high-powered hunting rifle, five pistols and an AK-47-style assault weapon.
Armel, 40, was a nine-year veteran of the Fairfax County Police Department. She was pronounced dead at Fairfax Hospital shortly after the attack. Her husband is also a detective in the department, and she had two elementary school-aged children. They live in Culpeper.
"On the day she died, she was doing her job right to the last moment. It's the kind of person she was," said Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Robert Horan, Jr.
An attorney for the family of Michael Kennedy issued a statement late Tuesday saying that the family was "in seclusion" and that "they are trying to comprehend the tragic events of yesterday." The statement also offered thoughts and prayers to the family of the detective who was killed.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Written By 9 News
