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Nov 20, 2008 5:06 pm US/Eastern
Man With Assault Rifle Wanted To Go To White House
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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Tensions are still running high with Maryland commuters one day after Asa Seeley boarded a train headed to the nation's capital with an assault rifle.
CBS
Tensions are still running high with Maryland commuters one day after Asa Seeley boarded a train headed to the nation's capital with an assault rifle.
Baltimore police arrested the 25-year-old Wednesday morning. He is currently being held without bail at the Metropolitan Transition Center's infirmary.
Authorities say the cab driver asked about the location and Seeley said he "wanted to go to D.C., where the White House was." The driver refused to take the man, instead dropping him off at a MARC train station in West Baltimore before flagging down police around 7 a.m.
Sally Thorner has insight into what happened from a passenger who was sitting right beside the gunman.
Passengers say they saw the suspect and his gun get onto the train but no one on the train, including the conductor, contacted police or called for help.
"He had no emotions. He wasn't nervous. He was just holding it like you hold a baby," said Tashea Brodgins, who sat next to the gunman. "I thought it was Italian bread. Believe it or not, that's what I thought it was because I'm thinking, `No, nobody would be standing here with a shotgun wrapped in a blanket and getting ready to get on the train standing this close to me.'"
Thanks to the cab driver, police were able to talk to the conductor and have them hold the train.
The police were able to get on board and they tased Seeleyt.
"An officer attempted to Taser him. It looks like maybe one of the prongs stuck the suspect in the leg," said Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld. "This case was really started by a concerned citizen who, frankly, didn't have to tell us a thing and went out of his way to hail the officers."
Police say the suspect jumped from the train and fell 20-feet below, hitting the ground so hard he broke his ankle.
Police say Seeley had a SKS assault rifle, which is similar to an AK-47, wrapped in a sheet, in addition to a loaded magazine and spare ammunition with him.
Seeley is from the Washington, D.C. area and uses the alias Jeffrey Springs. He has a history of numerous drug offenses, including at least two open warrants in D.C. He was also the victim of a shooting this past August. Police don't know why he was in Baltimore.
Mayor Sheila Dixon praised those involved in the apprehension.
"The police officers were on point and the cab driver, you talk about community engagement," said Dixon.
Baltimore City Police are working with several police agencies to put the case together. Charges against Seeley are still pending.
Even though Seeley made some mention to the White House and other landmarks in the nation's capital, police do not believe this was a terror threat. They believe he was just trying to get back to D.C.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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