Update 4: NPR today posted a 5-minute audio summary of these events.
Interestingly, in this and many television reports on this story, the reporters tend to pronounce Gude as one syllable, rhyming with “rude”. Now Gude is of course an old Central Maryland/Washington DC name. Adolph Gude ran a plant nursery for many years in Rockville near the present-day Gude Drive, while his brother William ran a flower and greenhouse business in DC. One of Adolph’s grandsons, Gilbert Gude, was a long-time representative of Montgomery County in the State and Federal Legislatures. Up until now, in the nearly three decades I’ve lived in Montgomery County, I’ve never once heard the name pronounced any way but “Gud-e”, i.e. two syllables rhyming with “Rudy”. It is of course possible that Collin McKenzie-Gude is from a different Gude family that uses the one-syllable pronunciation — a quick check on ancestry.com suggests that Collin’s grandfather, Joseph Lane Gude Sr, is from Chillum in Prince George’s County, which is near Eastern Ave southeast of Takoma Park. Still, it just sounds odd hearing it pronounced that way. Anyone know for sure if all those newscasters are just screwing this up?
Update 3: Patricia M. Murret and Bradford Pearson write in the Gazette, Feds join weapons probe of teens:
On July 21, McKenzie-Gude allegedly brought an assault rifle to the Gaithersburg home of the 17-year-old, according to the teen’s aunt. On July 22, she attempted to report the incident to a civilian desk clerk at the county police’s 1st District station in Rockville, where her nephew was an intern. She said the clerk did not take her seriously or allow her to speak with an officer.
“When I went to the police they said all kids are interested in guns,” she told The Gazette last week. “That it’s no big deal.” The Gazette is not identifying the aunt to protect the identity of the 17-year-old who is charged as a juvenile.
On July 23, the aunt reached out to the Gaithersburg Police Department for help.
“She came into the station and said that her nephew told her that Collin had displayed an AK-47,” said Gaithersburg Police Chief John King.
Update 2: WTOP reports, Accused teen had fake CIA ID, map of motorcade:
The teenager in custody after firearms and chemicals were found in his Bethesda home allegedly had two fake government IDs and a map of a presidential motorcade.
Prosecutors say 18-year-old Colin McKenzie-Gude had identification that made it look like he was a CIA employee. The second fake ID identified him as Michael Landry, a U.S. contractor with protections from the Geneva Conventions.
Prosecutors also say McKenzie-Gude had a map of Camp David with a presidential motorcade route.
Update: From the County’s website:
8/4/2008
Update: Charges Filed in Attempted Carjacking in KensingtonDetectives from the Montgomery County Police Major Crimes Division - Robbery Section have charged Collin Matthew McKenzie-Gude, age 18, of the 6300 block of Rockhurst Road in Bethesda, with the attempted carjacking that occurred in the parking lot of the White Flint Mall in Kensington on Tuesday morning, July 29.
The description of the suspect and evidence that was recovered at the scene led investigators to develop McKenzie-Gude, as the suspect in the attempted carjacking. On August 3, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for McKenizie-Gude, charging him with attempted carjacking and second-degree assault. That warrant was served tonight at the Montgomery County Detention Center, where McKenzie-Gude is currently being held.
On July 29 at approximately 11:46 a.m., officers from the 2nd District responded to the second level garage near Bloomingdales at White Flint Mall located at 11119 Rockville Pike in Kensington, for the report of an attempted strong-arm carjacking. The victim, a 78-year-old man from College Park, was confronted by a lone male suspect who demanded his car keys as he locked his car. The victim refused and was struck by the suspect with his elbow and knocked to the ground.
The suspect took the victim’s keys and entered the car. After unsuccessfully attempting to start the car, the suspect fled. The victim suffered minor injuries when he was knocked to the ground. He was treated at the scene by Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service personnel.
McKenzie-Gude is being held tonight on a $1,000,000 bond.
# # #Contact: Media Services Division Phone: 240.773.5030
Also, Dan Morse’s story in the Washington Post has been updated to reflect the new charges:
Montgomery County police last night charged the Bethesda teen at the center of a bombmaking probe with attempted carjacking, saying he knocked a 78-year-old man to the ground outside White Flint Mall last week and tried to steal his Chevrolet Geo Prizm.
About 12:30 p.m. July 29, [police] searched the Bethesda home where McKenzie-Gude lives with his parents and found assault rifles and explosive chemicals in the teen’s bedroom. Kupferberg said yesterday that the weapons were unloaded and stored in a gun safe. The ammunition also was locked away, the attorney said.
The attempted carjacking occurred about an hour before the search began.
- Dan Morse writes in the Washington Post, Teen Arrested in Bomb-Making Case Also Faces Carjacking Charges:
Montgomery County police today obtained another arrest warrant against the Bethesda teen at the center of a bomb-making probe, saying he is wanted in connection with the attempted carjacking of a 78-year-old man outside the White Flint mall last week.
In the latest twist, police said today they had secured an arrest warrant for McKenzie-Gude in connection with the attempted carjacking, said Officer Rodney Barnes, a police spokesman. Barnes said that as of 5:45 p.m., McKenzie-Gude hadn’t been actually charged in the case.
But he did describe the incident: At 11:46 a.m., July 29, in the parking lot at White Flint, an assailant, described as a white male, aged 20-25, about 5 feet 9 inches tall, in a green polo shirt, approached a 78-year-old man and demanded the man’s keys to his Geo Prism. The assailant struck the 78-year-old man with his elbow, knocking him to the ground, Barnes said. The victim was treated at the scene for relatively minor injuries.
- Channel 4 reports, Charges Thrown Out Against Teen Accused Of Stockpiling Explosives:
A district court judge on Monday dismissed charges against an 18-year-old from Bethesda accused of making and exploding pipe bombs and illegally possessing firearms.
Colin McKenzie-Gude was a juvenile at the time authorities initially said he committed the offenses.
Authorities now say they had the date of the offenses wrong, and McKenzie-Gude allegedly committed the crimes after he turned 18. They plan to refile the charges against him.
- Kate Ryan reports on WTOP, Man, 18, in firearms case faces carjacking charge:
Prosecutors call it a “fast moving case” and say the information about the incidents came to them from the co-defendant in the case, a 17-year-old from Gaithersburg. The 17-year-old’s name has not been released because he is a minor. He is charged with theft, misuse of a computer and conspiracy.
Police say they found Montgomery County Police letterhead and stationery at the homes of the teen and McKenzie-Gude.
The teen and McKenzie-Gude allegedly made and detonated explosive devices in a field near Goshens Edge Court in Gaithersburg.
- Channel 5 reports, Dates Could Make a Difference for Teen in Explosives Case:
But, the teen could have new troubles. His 17-year-old co-defendant changed his statement about the date that five pipe bombs were exploded in a field in Gaithersburg. Officials now say it was November, and not July—which clears the way for him to face charges as an adult.
It’s a legal maneuver, but formal charges for manufacturing and exploding pipe bombs are expected on Tuesday.
“It’s hard to change July to November,” said defense attorney Steven Kupferberg. “It’s not an oops—it’s not a mistake. It’s not a typographical error. It’s an effort to help oneself get out of trouble.”