Shot hits cars on I-71, Outerbelt

The Columbus Dispatch ^ | January 23, 2004 | Bruce Cadwallader and John Futty

[flutters]

Ping. One of the shootings last night sounds like road rage. I imagine they'll link the one near Grove City though.

[flutters]

Info about the house that was shot:

The next report of gunfire occurred at 12:15 a.m. Friday along Ivy Brush Court, near Hall Road and I-270. NewsChannel 4's Kyle Anderson reported that several 911 calls were placed, indicating there were reports of gunfire.

The homeowners told NewsChannel 4 that his house was hit twice, and that investigators found 15 high-powered shell casings in the cul de sac in front of the home. The homeowner and investigators believe that the shooting is likely not related to the serial shootings.

[cinFLA]

"Shot hits cars on I-71, Outerbelt"

Shots hit cars ....

[ohioWfan]

Man, I hope they catch these guys soon!

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks for the update. I agree, the Bonneville chase at Livingston and Hamilton sounded odd to me. Considering the area the shootings have occurred in I'd be surprised to find the shooter jumping from his car and taking off on foot at dark on Livingston Avenue in 10 below weather.

I think our shooter is more familiar with the South and Southwestern area. I hope they catch him soon.

[mountaineer]

He said he saw the person on the overpass as he went under it: "I saw a figure in my rear-view mirror get back in his car and drive off eastbound."

With these incidents, and past ones involving kids throwing rocks from overpasses (seriously injuring many people), I've become quite cautious when I approach them.

[Ciexyz]

Oh no, not again!

[LisaMalia]

This is just horrible. Prayers for all my fellow FReepers and families in the Columbus area.

[Travis McGee]

Why won't they name the caliber?!?!?!?

The Unibomber case was NOT solved by the FBI or LE. It was solved when a suspicious brother recognized Kosinski's writing style and dropped a dime.

Someone may be suspicious of a relative or friend, and if they hear "it was a .270," and that suspected person is known to have a .270, they finally call the cops and solve the case, Unibomber-style.

Why they are keeping the caliber secret makes NO sense!

[Sunshine55]

Here's an update from Channel 4:

More Shootings Reported Overnight

Task Force Investigates Separate Reports

POSTED: 11:36 PM EST January 22, 2004

UPDATED: 11:47 AM EST January 23, 2004

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The task force investigating a series of shootings in southern Franklin County responded to three reports of gunfire late Thursday and early Friday.

The first shooting took place Thursday night at around 10 p.m. at the Interstate 270 exit ramp onto Georgesville Road, NewsChannel 4 reported.

Bullets reportedly struck a sport utility vehicle at least four times while the driver was on his way to work at the Columbus Dispatch printing facility.

The victim, who drove to work and then notified authorities, reportedly said that the bullets might have come from a white Pontiac Bonneville.

The driver was not hurt.

Investigators gathered evidence late Thursday night.

The next report of gunfire occurred at 12:15 a.m. Friday along Ivy Brush Court, near Hall Road and I-270. NewsChannel 4's Kyle Anderson reported that several 911 calls were placed, indicating there were reports of gunfire.

The homeowners told NewsChannel 4 that his house was hit twice, and that investigators found 15 high-powered shell casings in the cul de sac in front of the home. The homeowner and investigators believe that the shooting is likely not related to the serial shootings.

Then at about 2 a.m., Whitehall police attempted to stop a gray Pontiac Bonneville for a temporary tag violation, but the driver did not stop until after jumping a curb near Livingston Avenue and Hamilton Road, Anderson reported.

Two men were inside the vehicle. One ran away from police. The other, Curtis Miller, of Columbus, was arrested wearing a bulletproof vest.

"There are weapons in the car, and that still remains to be seen exactly what the weapons are and what role they have to play in this," Columbus police Sgt. Gregory DeRosier said.

Investigators found an AK-47, a .380-caliber semiautomatic weapon and a .357-caliber revolver.

Whitehall police said the incident was reported to the serial shooting task force, and that the incident has not been ruled out in the investigation.

Meanwhile, the serial shooting task force on Thursday investigated another shooting, this time along Interstate 71 near Lambert Road. For more on that story, click here.

There is no word on whether these shootings are linked to the serial shootings along the city's south outerbelt.

[FreedomPoster]

You should post that one as its own thread, if it hasn't been already.

[Squantos]

Hmmmmmmm targeting suburbans ? Some of E.L.F.'s Elves at work maybe ?

Stay Safe drive erratic !

[ErnBatavia]

That picture looks almost identical to what happened to my car a couple of years ago; but it was road debris kicked up by someone in front of me.

I'd never ride a motorcycle on a freeway...What got me would have killed a biker.

[WhiteGuy]

"in the Columbus area"

Uhhhhhhhhh........... We call it COWlumbus.

[flutters]

Serial shootings

1. May 10, 4 a.m. Windshield and hood of car that had run out of gas
2. Aug. 31, time unknown Horse trailer struck along I-270 eastbound, exact location unclear
3. Oct. 10, 12:15 p.m. Left rear tire of car
4. Oct. 11, noon Bullet entered carís rear side panel, exited through left rear window
5. Oct. 19, 11 p.m. Driverís window of Yellow Freight tractor-trailer
6. Early to mid-Nov. Van parked at Pay Days South
7. Nov. 11, 1:35 a.m. Window at Hamilton Central Elementary
8. Nov. 17, 11 a.m. Door behind driverís seat of UPS truck
9. Nov. 18, 9:26 p.m. Driver-side door of SUV
10. Nov. 21, 7:40 p.m. Passenger window of van
11. Nov. 25, 10 a.m. Bullet entered driverís-side door, crossed cabin and hit passenger Gail Knisley, 62, killing her
12. Nov. 25, 2 p.m. Left rear side of SUV
13. Nov. 25, 1-3:30 p.m. Back of Coca-Cola truck shot in I-270 area, exact location unclear
14. Nov. 30, 9-10 a.m. Bullet dented car
15. Nov. 30, 11 p.m.-Dec. 1, 3:30 p.m. House struck at 1798 Lisle Ave., Obetz
16. Monday, 12:30 a.m. House struck at 901 Brown Rd.
17. Dec. 15 or 16, 4:24 p.m. School bus near Ransburg Ave. and Brown Rd.
18. Dec. 17, 7 a.m. School bus near Alkire and Demorest roads
19. Jan. 11, 2:15 a.m. Windshield of car on I-270 eastbound at Lockbourne Rd.

[LisaMalia]

Who's we? I've never heard it called that.

[flutters]

Why they are keeping the caliber secret makes NO sense!

I remember hearing a reporter say that they won't release the caliber because the type of bullets found could be used with multiple guns. Also, I remember early in the investigation the reporter that 'slipped' and said it was a 50 caliber.

[Sunshine55]

And just think....from May 10 all the way up to November 25, none of us had a clue as to what was going on. Totally kept in the dark. Would Gail Knisely still be alive today had she and her friend known? You bet your *ss she would, because chances are they would have done what a great many of us are doing and STAYED the HELL off of that part of I-270! This just makes me madder by the day, because sooner or later, there will be another Gail Knisely. We've just been lucky up to this point.

[flutters]

Two men were inside the vehicle. One ran away from police. The other, Curtis Miller, of Columbus, was arrested wearing a bulletproof vest.

I ran a public access check on Curtis Miller from the municipal court website. This guy has a rap sheet as long as my arm, 26 years old and lives on the East side.