(CBS News) - 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.
In a Friday afternoon news conference, authorities said they received reports of two threatening phone conversations the suspect had.
"He said, 'I'm a joker, and I'm going to load my guns and blow everyone up,'" Prince George's County Police Chief Mark Magaw told reporters.
Deputy Chief Hank Stawinski said that the suspect was wearing a T-shirt that read "Guns don't kill people. I do."
Authorities did not identify the suspect, except that he was from Crofton, Md. They said he was arrested on an emergency petition for medical treatment. 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.
In executing the emergency petition, authorities discovered the suspect was in possession of an arsenal of firearms, including semi-automatic rifles, semi-automatic pistols and several thousand rounds of ammunition.
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, who is approximately 28 years old, 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.
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 Co)
