Reston Man Who Claimed Kayak Shooting Fires on Himself as Police Approach

The Reston man who told Maryland officials he was shot while kayaking in April, shot himself in Reston last week when Fairfax County Police arrived at his home with a search warrant, Fairfax County Police said.

Fairfax County Police went to the Lakeshore Crest Drive home of David Seafolk-Kopp on Thursday with the warrant after Maryland Natural Resources Police found inconsistencies in Seafolk-Kopp’s account of being shot on Bodkin Creek in Maryland on April 12.

Investigators said Seafolk-Kopp’s hands showed gunpowder residue and the angle of the bullet wound was consistent with a self-inflicted wound. Seafolk-Kopp, a gun collector, had 31 guns registered to his name, police said.

“We were looking for guns consistent with what he was shot with,” said MDNR police spokesman Candy Thomson. “We were looking for a .38 mm, a .357 or 9mm, which was working with what the doctor removed from him.”

When authorities arrived at Seafolk-Kopp’s home, they found him with self-inflicted gunshot wounds in the the jaw and torso, said Thomson.

“The suspect was at home and he was injured,” said Fairfax County Police public information officer Lucy Caldwell. “We assisted with the rescue. Thompson said Seafolk-Kopp, 56, was taken to a hospital, where he remains sedated and in critical condition after several surgeries.

Thomson said Maryland authorities have a warrant to search the Glen Burnie, Md., home of Seafolk-Kopp’s daughter.

“We served the search warrants trying to close out this case and assure the public there is is not someone out there shooting,” said Thompson.

Seafolk-Kopp, a former Maryland resident who has lived in Reston since 2010, told police in April he was shot while taking a break from paddling on Bodkin Creek. He said he saw a red dot near the lower part of his stomach and felt an excruciating amount of pain shortly thereafter. He said he was unable to make it back to shore, where he had launched near Pasadena Md., until the next morning.

The bullet entered just below the sternum, hit Seafolk-Kopp’s ribs and lodged in his back. He was taken to Baltimore’s Shock Trauma, where he was treated and released.

According to the police affidavit, the medic who treated Seafolk-Kopp said the man exhibited no signs of hypothermia even though he said he was on the water all night long.

Police also said several guns were taken from Seafolk-Kopp’s home earlier this month.