Cockeysville murder suspect portrayed as 'arrogant, rude'

Cockeysville (Map, News) - For days, friends and family of Nicholas Browning, the teen charged with murdering his brothers and parents, have painted him as an all-American boy. He was an honors student with lots of friends, they said. He played golf and lacrosse. He was close to becoming an Eagle Scout.

But now, a different, darker picture is starting to emerge — that of a teen who bullied those younger and smaller than him and spoke openly about killing his parents.

One mother, who spoke to The Examiner on the condition of anonymity, said Browning bullied her 15-year-old son for three years.

“Those in his social group consider him to be the class clown,” she said. “Those that are not in his social group — who are on the receiving end — consider him to be an arrogant, rude young man.”

Students who rode the school bus with Browning say the teen recently began talking about killing his parents, but none of them took him seriously. The students said Browning used to pick on his younger brothers on the bus — and would punch Gregory, 14, when he wouldn’t listen.

Browning’s lacrosse coach, John Kenneally, urged people not to jump to conclusions about the teen, who police say shot his father, John Browning, 45, along with his mother, Tamara, 44, and brothers Gregory and Benjamin, 11, as they slept Friday night.

“I coached Nick, and I wouldn’t believe anything until it’s been confirmed, because Nick wouldn’t hurt anybody,” Kenneally told a group of about 500 people gathered Tuesday night at a candlelight vigil. “It’s totally out of character. Something snapped. Something went wrong. Nick wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

Baltimore County police say they still have no motive for Browning’s actions, though Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger said Wednesday that the teen did give a taped statement to detectives that could shed light on his motivations.

Meanwhile, more than 600 people have joined an Internet group on Facebook.com honoring the family. A prayer service for the Brownings was scheduled for 6:30 Wednesday night at Church of the Nativity on Ridgley Road in Timonium.

John Browning practiced law with the Towson firm Royston, Mueller, McLean & Reid, and Tamara Browning was a PTA president. The boys’ grandmother, Margaret, serves on Howard County’s Republican Central Committee.

At the vigil Tuesday evening, Baltimore Ravens kicker Matt Stover, who lives in the community, said he hoped neighbors could forgive Nicholas Browning.

“I’m going to challenge everybody here tonight to forgive Nick,” Stover said. “I don’t know why Nick did that, and it puts chills down my spine.”

lbroadwater@baltimoreexaminer.com

Advertisement