FBI says Howard County man tried to join ISIS, targeted Jewish sites in Columbia
By Barry Simms
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BALTIMORE (WBAL) — The FBI has detailed the arrest and conviction of Michael “Teekaye” Junior, a Howard County man who was apprehended in 2024 at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport while attempting to board a flight out of the United States.
How the investigation began The investigation began after federal agents obtained social media posts showing the man shooting an assault rifle at a gun range in Severn.
The FBI also released photos from his Instagram account, where he claimed he was training and displayed a machete. According to the agency, Teekaye had tried to travel to Africa to join a terrorist group.
The FBI obtained a social media post showing Teekaye shooting an assault rifle at a gun range in Severn. Federal agents also released photos from Teekaye’s Instagram account, where he claimed he was training at the shooting range and displayed a machete.
“Michael Teekaye wasn’t somebody who was just talk. He took very concrete steps to enact his plans,” FBI Special Agent Thomas Szymanski told WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates.
‘Self-radicalized online’ Szymanski told WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates that Teekaye self-radicalized online but went beyond the actions of lone-wolf actors by seeking guidance and logistical support from ISIS operatives.
The FBI revealed that Teekaye attempted to purchase a 9mm assault rifle but was unable to do so due to being on probation for a disorderly conduct charge.
Despite efforts by the FBI during his teenage years to intervene by interviewing him and his parents and enrolling him in a de-radicalization program, Teekaye continued to focus on extremist groups.
“What we found after we looked through his phone post-arrest was that rather than change his ways, he changed his tactics. He became more aware of the FBI presence in his life and tried to do many things to obfuscate his true intentions,” Szymanski told WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates.
Teekaye eventually shared his plans with an undercover officer and conducted online searches for Jewish individuals and institutions to target in Columbia.
Why prosecutors found the case challenging Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina Hoffman, who prosecuted the case, described the case as challenging.
“We had quite a lot of evidence against Teekaye, but on the other hand, he was young and he did have a mental health history. It was very important that we explained to the judge what a danger he was,” Hoffman told WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates.
After his arrest, Teekaye made alarming statements, captured in recorded audio, vowing that prison would not deter him: “I’m just gonna get out in 20 years and I’m just gonna do it here. Okay? Okay? It will never stop. Jihad will never stop. I’ll just do it here then when I get out.”
In another recording, Teekaye stated, “You think 20 years is something? I’ll be like 40 when I get out, then I’ll just do it. I don’t care. It will never stop. I’ll come and I’ll kill your soldiers. I’ll kill you, and I’ll kill.”
‘(He) was clearly not remorseful about his choices’ Szymanski told WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates that Teekaye was unremorseful at the time of his arrest.
“He actually kicked and spit on me and another agent and was clearly not remorseful about his choices at that time,” Szymanski told WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates.
Hoffman emphasized the broader implications of the case.
“I think we are seeing more American young people go down that pathway to violence.”
“One of the striking aspects of the case is that he self-radicalized. I think we are seeing more American young people go down that pathway to violence,” Hoffman told WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates.
Once Teekaye gets out of prison, he will be on lifetime supervised release under monitoring by federal probation officials.
The FBI said during the investigation there was no risk of an immediate attack on anyone in Maryland.
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