Task Force: Car Shot While On I-270

NBC 4 Columbus ^ | January 14, 2004

[flutters]

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The serial shooting task force said Wednesday that a vehicle was shot early Sunday morning while it was traveling on the city's south outerbelt.

A young man was driving a vehicle at about 2:15 a.m. on Interstate 270 East near the Lockbourne Road overpass when the car's hood was hit by a bullet, which then cracked the windshield and continued on over the roof, according to Franklin County sheriff Chief Deputy Steve Martin. The victim, who was not injured, immediately pulled over and alerted police on a cell phone after the shooting. A 911 operator told the victim to drive to a nearby gas station.

Martin said investigators believe the bullet came from the roadway near the overpass.

Bullet fragments were recovered from the hood of the car. There is no ballistic link as of yet to seven other shootings linked to the serial shooter or shooters, Martin said.

On Wednesday, NewsChannel 4 cameras captured video of agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives who were searching a grassy median on westbound I-270 near Lockbourne Road.

The task force said the shooting is the 19th incident linked geographically since May. Seven of those incidents have been linked by ballistic evidence, including a bullet that killed Gail Knisley, 62, while she was riding in a car Nov. 25 on Interstate 270.

Martin said other vehicles were in the area at the time of the shooting, and that the task force is asking those people to contact investigators if they have any information.

"We believe there are citizens out there who were traveling in the area at the time of the shooting incident who may have seen a suspicious person or vehicle," Martin said.

Stay with NewsChannel 4 and nbc4columbus.com for more information on this developing story.

[flutters]

Looks like another hit.

[Orangedog]

They really need to catch this whack-job.

[JOAT]

The victim, who was not injured, immediately pulled over and alerted police on a cell phone after the shooting.

Not a particularly wise course of action when someone is shooting at you. The car was still running, keep driving! You can call from a safe distance later.

[americafirst]

"The victim, who was not injured, immediately pulled over and alerted police on a cell phone after the shooting."

Note to self: if someone appears to be shooting at me and I am in my car, DO NOT PULL OVER - RUN AWAY!

[saluki_in_ohio]

I hope they catch the SOB that is doing that and fry 'em.

I think Ohio still has the electric chair option along with lethal injection, doesn't it?

When I lived near Columbus, I used to drive south I-270 between I-70 at the west end to US 33 south toward Lancaster every morning to work where all this is happening.

[americafirst]

Excellent point. Maybe one of us can get a job at the NY Times.

[ZOTnot]

How would one know a bullet had struck the hood? I have rocks tossed at me regularly while driving the interstates; kicked up mostly by 18 wheelers.

[Dubh_Ghlase]

Have they released what the caliber of the gun is that the shooter is using?

[JOAT]

I can only go by what the article says. Evidently the kid understood it was a gunshot because he immediately called the police.

[af_vet_1981]

They could always hire Chief Moose to look for two white guys in a white box truck ...

[af_vet_1981]

I hope they catch the SOB that is doing that and fry 'em.

A Virginia jury found itself unable to sentence the murderer Lee Malvo to death. I wouldn't get your hopes up. Virginia was shamed by that jury.

[flutters]

No, they haven't.

[saluki_in_ohio]

A Virginia jury found itself unable to sentence the murderer Lee Malvo to death. I wouldn't get your hopes up. Virginia was shamed by that jury.

I suppose if they caught him and tried the suspect in Franklin County(Columbus) that would be a possibility.

[flair2000]

Hey, CHESAPEAKE gave Malvo life, we would have fried him in Va. Beach.

Disappointing nonetheless.

[af_vet_1981]

I suppose if they caught him and tried the suspect in Franklin County(Columbus) that would be a possibility.

Liberal power elites won't let it happen. In their view every perp has a right to an OJ jury.

[Sunshine55]

This blows everything that the Task Force told my Mom today right out of the water...The sniper Task Force was at my Mom's house all morning today, her house was hit in a drive-by Friday night around 11:45 pm. She called CPD Friday night and they took the obligatory report and moved on...never heard another word from them.

So this morning I told her "call the Tip Line" and she did. 15 minutes after she called, my mom's got the Task Force at her house and they thought the bullet was possibly lodged in the glass...they were gonna see if the Window Factory can come out today and replace it so they can have the pane. Then they looked a little closer and found the bullet lodged in the windowframe. Little silver bullet from a handgun, they didn't specify what type. But they told her they don't think it's the sniper because they believe that they have their suspect already in jail. They did not elaborate, but the guy proceded to tell my Mom "We don't know for sure, all we can do is wait and see if the shootings resume once he is released."

Right now my Mom is avoiding the news media at all costs and waiting to see what comes of the ballistics tests. Her house on the Hilltop isn't in the best of neighborhoods. All of her friends have passed away and she is surrounded now by alot of rental property, which means drugs, thugs, etc. But I am glad I convinced her to call the tip line, CPD wanted her to go out and comb her front yard for shell casings herself! She's 80 years old!

[templar]

How would one know a bullet had struck the hood?

I assume the bullet left a distincitve mark (hole, grooved channel, etc.) on the hood that wouldn't be expected from a rock.

[brooklin]

Did he get tried down in Great Bridge?

[brooklin]

Did he get tried down in Great Bridge?