"Profilers: Montgomery County Shooters are Likely From Area"

WUSA 9 News, Associated Press ^ | October 4, 2002 | The Associated Press

[Hail Caesar]

Profilers: Montgomery County Shooters are Likely From Area

Whoever killed five people with single shots in Montgomery County is probably a white man in his 20s or early 30s who lives nearby, two former FBI profilers said Thursday.

The shooter and an accomplice likely dumped the white truck police were looking for Thursday night, the experts said. "That vehicle will be in a garage or a lake," said Clinton Van Zandt, a former FBI agent.

Both Van Zandt and another former profiler, Robert K. Ressler, said it's unlikely that one person carried out the killings. They said one person was probably the shooter, while the other drove the truck.

The two suspects are "giving themselves high-fives" as they shoot victims in a Columbine-like spree that Van Zandt said won't end until they're caught.

"They're moving - they like it," he said. "This is emotional heroin for them."

Ressler likened the spree to that of Andrew Cunanan, the suspected killer of fashion designer Gianni Versace and four other people. Cunanan died in an apparent suicide as police cornered him on a Florida houseboat in 1997.

"You're dealing with not a serial killer, not a mass murderer, but a spree killer," Ressler said.

Serial killers go though "emotional cooling-off periods" that could span days or even months. In this case, the killings were only hours apart.

The pair could be fugitives in their mid-to-late 20s or early 30s, with nothing to lose, Van Zandt said.

"One or both of these guys feel they've been ditched by the world," he said. "This is 'get-even,' this is 'level the playing field,' this is 'sharp stick in the eye."'

He said the suspects are also probably from the Montgomery County area, either living there, working there or with family connections to the area.

Both experts said crimes like this are generally solved by eyewitnesses or friends who notice that the suspects have disappeared.

"There are people out there right now who have suspicions," Van Zandt said.

[LikeLight]

But with the name Bob Baker? Now we're starting to stretch a little.

[WRhine]

Isn't Van Zandt the standard obfuscator for the bureau?

Fred, this guy is definitely a bit loony. Get this, earlier today during a Rick Sanchez interview on MSNBC, Van Zandt made an analogy with the Nebraska bank murders last week and in passing referred to the apprehended cold-blooded killers in that obscene slaughter as "gentlemen". I couldn't believe my ears. "Gentlemen"!!!...As a description of the 5 murderous pigs that killed what 6 innocent people!! Van Zandt is a giddy, little PC twerp that loves the media limelight. I wouldn't take anything this flake says seriously.

[templar]

There are a lot of AK clones out there chambered in .223.

Yeah, but why would anyone be using an AK for single shots? Unless that was all they had, maybe. I've seen lots and lots of guys accurize the AR 15s for match accuracy, but never a single accurized AK (especially in 223). My guess is that if they are using an autoloader of some kind, its' an AR or maybe a mini 14. My choice would ba a bolt gun, though.

[Prodigal Son]

I know these things. I was simply posting the link.

[Vidalia]

Ah..., but could it possibly be errant soldiers from the compound of Malik Shabazz and the New Black Panthers?

Or maybe rogue sorts from Louis Farrakhan's Nation of Islam who think the Muslims in the US are getting a bad rap (no pun intended)?

[concerned about politics]

My choice would ba a bolt gun, though.

I like a bow. You can make your own ammo if you have to. It's good back up if you can't buy ammo. Not good for a primary defence weapon, though.

[junta]

My.02 I think it is white guys as well they would fit the profile. The FBI has profiled them for reasons if explained would get the PC Nazis undies in a bunch. They are looking for men with above average IQs, competance, and an attention span longer than a rap song. Muslims being superstitious barbarians by nature shoot their weapons into the air thinking the "Will of Allah" will guide the bullets, while black men commit crimes towards the spur of the moment thinking or lack of while Hispanics fall in between the two groups. Anyway it would really be interesting to see the "profilers" explain their methods.

[Hail Caesar]

And sometimes the word terrorist is NOT used, but 'evil doers' is used instead.

Actually, the term "evil doers" works for me. Moral ambivalence works against our civil and constitutional rights, IMHO. And one country's "terrorist" may be another country's freedom fighter.

[templar]

The bullet is used in hunting rifles and M-16s and makes a large wound as it enters the body.

Anyone know what kind of bullet this would be? I've never shot anyone with an M16 then gone and looked at the wound, But I've shot a bit of balistic gelatin to test loads and the entrance hole is always very small. The M16 loads I'm familiar with are all fmj and make a fairly small hole all the way through.

[The KG9 Kid]

I never said that. I was just saying that there's a lot of AKs out there in .223.

Just helping the other poster along, that's all.

[Hail Caesar]

I think Van Zandt was doing the typical profiler thing which means that everything regarding a suspect, including race, is always relevant.

Hey, this isn't about affirmative action or anything like that. Murder is an equal opportunity crime regardless of what color the "suspect of the day" may be. ;-)

(just pulling your leg here buddy, no offense intended) :-)

[Hail Caesar]

I am aware of the AK variants in various calibers, however, thanks for posting that info. anyway.

Since I neither own nor have any of the aforementioned firearms in my possession, I guess I'm off the suspect list though I do live close to where this all went down. :-(

[Hail Caesar]

I understand. Thanks for posting that relevant info.

[Prodigal Son]

Well if they're looking for someone named Baker- I don't know how relevant it could've been. Personally, I don't care who they are or where they come from, I want them caught quickly and shot.

[Hail Caesar]

Many of my business associates, friends and family have patronized all of the businesses that ended up being crime scenes over the last few days. Believe me, I want these perps caught and justice rendered, as soon as possible, too.

[Hail Caesar]

You do bring up some rather stereotypical, though amusing points . Do you think maybe the perps profiled this time appreciate the higher, but, non-PC, ratings you gave them? ;-)

[ET(end tyranny)]

And one country's "terrorist" may be another country's freedom fighter.

Precisely why we need to pick a term, define it and stick with it.

[Hail Caesar]

The Washington Times picks up the profiling issue with this news article (thread, too):

"'Callous' killer probably young, local"

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/763377/posts

[Hail Caesar]

MSNBC just reported a national law enforcement APB for a "Robert Gene Baker", a white male, "drug user" suspect with ties to "militia" and "white supremacist" groups. He is reported "missing" and "armed and extremely dangerous."

I guess Van Zandt's profile MAY turn out to be quite right after all.

What a way to (hopefully) put this thread to rest now.

[Hail Caesar]

Thanks to everyone here, for your constructive feedback and useful information.