WASHINGTON (July 28, 2012)—Neil E. Prescott, the Maryland man who’s accused of threatening to shoot up his workplace, is a "gentle giant" who collected weapons and had expressed concerns about break-ins near his apartment complex, a friend said Saturday.

Mike Cochran told The Associated Press Saturday that he thinks Prescott did not intend for his comments to be taken seriously.

Cochran said Prescott was known for having a sarcastic sense of humor.

Police say Prescott, who was in the process of being fired, told a supervisor this week that he was a "joker" and was going to load his guns and "blow everybody up."

Prescott was taken into custody for an emergency psychiatric evaluation and has not been charged.

Cochran said Prescott was "no stranger to sarcasm regardless of political correctness."