Gail Knisley, 62, of Washington Court House, Ohio, died in the morning shooting. Police had no suspects or motive. They plan to compare ballistics evidence in eight cases in which bullets have struck vehicles on or near I-270 on the South Side since May.
Knisley was killed about 10 a.m. when a bullet fired near the I-270 and I-71 exchange ripped through the drivers door of the eastbound car in which she was riding. Knisley was sitting in the front passengers seat.
About 9 p.m., deputies responded to a report that a Pickaway County mans truck had been hit by gunfire as he drove south on Rt. 23 near the South Outerbelt.
After Knisleys death, an exhaustive search by land and by air didnt turn up hunters or anyone with a gun in the area. Although gun season for deer doesnt begin until Monday, deputies said outdoorsmen have frequented the area in the past in search of rabbits and birds.
Chief Deputy Steve Martin of the Franklin County Sheriffs Office said he issued a statewide alert to other law officers to be on the lookout for similar shootings.
"But Im not using the word sniper," Martin said. "Were all working on this together police, the patrol, BCI, everybody."
The reports of vehicles hit by gunfire were filed by different law-enforcement agencies and had not been coordinated until yesterday, Martin said. Five were investigated by the sheriffs office, two by Columbus police and one by the State Highway Patrol. All have occurred since Oct. 11, except for one in May. No one else has been injured.
Knisley and the driver, her best friend, Mary Cox, 63, of Grove City, were talking when they heard a pop.
"What was that? What was that?" Knisley said before slumping forward, according to the recording of Coxs 911 call.
Cox made the call on a cell phone after pulling over to the berm near the Rt. 23 exchange.
Martin would not speculate on the type of weapon that killed Knisley.
Sheriff Jim Karnes said he doubted the bullet was fired from another vehicle.
"The trajectory is wrong. Its too low and was straight across. Maybe it was someone target practicing. We dont know," Karnes said.
A hole the size of a quarter was noticeable on the drivers side door of Coxs 1993 Pontiac Grand Am.
A Columbus police supervisor confirmed he has ordered a homicide detective to begin searching police files for any similar reports.
The drivers in the vehicle shootings investigated by Columbus police have only vague memories of where or when the shootings occurred, Pilya said.
Police leadership yesterday directed Pilya and homicide detective Steve Eppert to review the shooting cases with sheriffs investigators.
"Over the next few days, well be meeting and brainstorming," Pilya said. "We have a few cases that are similiar in nature but we dont know how similiar."
Franklin County Coroner Brad Lewis said he will conduct an autopsy today to confirm Knisleys cause of death. A slug lodged in her body may hold more clues.
The Cox and Knisley families, friends for more than 50 years, were consoling each other last night.
Yesterday was going to be a perfect day out for the two girlfriends: lunch and shopping after a stop at a doctors office. Then, a bullet ripped through their lives.
Before the 911 dispatcher could question Cox, shes heard on the recording saying, "Oh, Gail, no."
Then Cox explained what happened.
"Somebody just shot. Im in the car, and my girlfriend has been shot.
"Oh, please. I dont know where the (shot) came through. I dont see anything."
Sobbing, Cox says, "Oh dear God. We were going to have such a beautiful day."
Another pause, then she says, "I havent heard anything out of her for a couple of minutes. Oh, please help me. Oh, Gail, honey, please, oh please."
Cox later told members of her family that she had taken a wrong turn and was heading back toward Rt. 23 when the shooting occurred.
"My mom and her are good friends," said Michael Cox. "She was driving Gail to a doctors appointment and heard a sound like a balloon popping.
"Shes very upset this happened to her friend and she thinks its her fault."
Relatives said the bullet grazed the sleeve of Coxs coat before striking Knisley.
Agents with the state Bureau of Identification and Investigation returned to the scene and shut down eastbound lanes of the freeway later in the day to take photographs and measurements.
"I just hope they find out what happened," Michael Cox said. "If its a random shot from a hunter, thats all the more reason to keep them from hunting in this area."
Knisley was the mother of two adult sons and grandmother of two.
Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to call detectives with the sheriffs office at 614-462-3333.
Dispatch reporter Jill Riepenhoff contributed to this story.
bcadwallader@dispatch.com
dnarciso@dispatch.com
I certainly hope it was an accident...
Hire him, if you'd like another 10 people killed before he admits the facts of the case..
Semper Fi