Maryland Sniper Shootings-FR Commentary

Fox, CNN, Press Conferences | October 9, 2002 | Fox, CNN, Press Conferences

[Peach]

Another press conference due soon. To avoid multiple vanity threads regarding any news that comes from press conferences, thought we'd keep a live commentary thread going again today.

[freeperfromnj]

I'm getting tired of hearing people (even Hannity) saying how it takes "years of training" to be this "good

I didn't say that I thought it takes years of training. I do think it takes a degree ruthless training -- the type of training inspired by hate -- to perpetrate an evil act such as this.

[Hatteras]

"Especially channel 9....."

I like the moose however, for all is griping, he seemed to be having a pleasant little conversation with Joe Johns (NBC) walking away from a press conference in a clip on the news last night... Selective anger?

[areafiftyone]

It just doesn't add up to being a muslim terrorist. This is too much like alot of sniper serial killers that have happened before in other states. New York had a few in its time.

TYPES OF SERIAL KILLERS

1. Visionary Motive Type This type is considered insane or psychotic. They often hear voices in their head telling them to commit the crime. They may also see visions.

2. Mission-Oriented Type This type displays no psychosis to the outside world, while on the inside the killer has a need to rid the outside world of what he considers immoral or unworthy. This type of killer will select a certain group of individuals to kill (prostitutes, young women, gay men, etc.)

3. Thrill-Oriented Type This type is in it for the fun. This killer gets a high from killing. He is very sadistic and kills for excitement.

4. Lust Killer This type is a sexual killer, and kills for the pure turn-on. The amount of pleasure the killer derives depends on how much they torture their victim. The more heinous the torture, the more aroused they become. This type is in touch with reality.

I would say he is either 1,2 or 3. Only time will tell what kind he is.

[T. P. Pole]

But, one odd thing, one victim in Maryland and the one in Virginia were each shot at shopping centers with a "Michael's" art supply store.

I had a thought this morning that the guy's name was Michael.

[Terriergal]

Yes, great read!

[ZinGirl]

It had crossed my mind that perhaps he had actually thought he was going to have to shoot it out with police that first day and that's why he took as many targets as he could- he figured he would go down in a blaze of glory.

Interesting...something to ponder.

FWIW....as far as looking for a 'safe' place to shoot from, there are a kazillion group-o'-trees areas around. Literally. I'm beginning to wonder if it's more than a coincidence that the areas just happen to be near a Michael's in two instances and the 'gate of heaven' in two instances. He/she/it had lots of places to choose from if he's just looking for a group of trees in which he can hide.

[Terriergal]

Check out the link in post #14 - good read.

[Terriergal]

Check out the link in post #14 - good read.

[antivenom]

Yes sir...we have a "classic" serial killer...everything is absolutely predictable...the interesting part will be this...with SO MUCH coverage over the years of serial killers and their mistakes...he will be "wiser" and won't make some of the "classic" mistakes...chances are the Tarot card has tons of prints on it or absolutely NONE...the casing will likely have NO prints or a BUNCH of prints...he is a crafty character...he will be hard to slip up...

The ya'yas he is getting is watching Moose lose his cool...

[relee]

It had crossed my mind that perhaps he had actually thought he was going to have to shoot it out with police that first day and that's why he took as many targets as he could- he figured he would go down in a blaze of glory

I think shooting one victim at a time would get lost in the 'usual' DC area murders for awhile. Shooting so many victims in one day guaranteed him the attention he sought.

[NCLou]

I agree that it seems like it would never work. But whenever these guys are loose, everyone thinks they are some kind of geniuses or criminal masterminds, and that's how they are getting away with it. But when they are caught it turns out they are just devious and damn lucky.

I bet that a lot of this talk about him being a ballistics expert or military trained or otherwise brilliant will turn out to be false.

And when I say tip his hand, it may be as simple as the perp making a comment to a friend or neighbor, like "I can't tell you how I know, but this guy is NOT a religious nut," or something along those lines. Because the false leak further erodes his estimation of the ability of the police, such a off-hand comment becomes a little more likely.

I doubt it will work, but I think thats what the cops are hoping.

[areafiftyone]

Sure and with all the movies about serial killer and how cops unt them down will help him elude cops for quite a while.

[areafiftyone]

sorry unt=hunt

[antivenom]

I wouldn't be surprised he suddenly stops and moves to another region...traveling to and from NYC for example on the Metro-Liner is "do-able"...have the police and FBI spread out too thin...with all the other "terror events" the FBI can't handle all the events over a wide area.

I will bet he won't like his name..."Beltway Murderer"...I think he wants a MORE powerful name...the Tarot Card will allow him an outlet to do that...or allow others to do that too...he is opening an avenue to change his "moniker"...

He will craft a letter soon and send it to the media...he will see the media as his "accomplice" and enemy of Moose...he will "PLAY" the media very very soon...

[areafiftyone]

Jeeze I feel like I am watching a serial killer movie.

[Prodigal Son]

. He/she/it had lots of places to choose from if he's just looking for a group of trees in which he can hide.

Well, "just a group of trees" was probably being too general. You'd want an area where you could get into and out of without being witnessed. If he took his shot outside of a vehicle, this would mean an inconspicuous place to park that's not too far from where he's going to shoot- otherwise he'll have to cross a lot of ground carrying his weapon. If he's got an AR-15 or an M16 from the Army, he could easily break it down into two smaller pieces and stuff it in a bag of some sort, but it would still look kind of suspicious. I'd reckon he picked his spot because it offered him enough seclusion for himself and his vehicle and allowed him to overwatch a good "kill zone" that he was sure to have good targets in.

[Indiana Jones]

Breaking News on MSNBC...police searching area around
'Rosemont Elementary School' where a mysterious man
has been spotted....

[IYAS9YAS]

Your slam on government workers is not an all-encompassing one is it? My family comes first. I am doing what I can to keep the costs to the taxpayers (ME, my friends, family, neighbors and community) as low as possible. I hate waste and abuse. Don't lump me in with others who are the primary cause of waste and abuse. Some of us have to work "behind enemy lines", otherwise there would be complete chaos instead of just random pandemonium ;-)

[Prodigal Son]

I think shooting one victim at a time would get lost in the 'usual' DC area murders for awhile. Shooting so many victims in one day guaranteed him the attention he sought.

Yeah, but now, as someone else has pointed out, he's made his big debut on the media scene. He can afford to back off because every further victim will be "big time" news.

Personally, though, I'd tend to think that somebody sick enough to do this wouldn't be able to control themselves that well. He's bound to let his emotional needs get out of control. He'll slip up and they'll nail him- I just wish they could nail him without him having to do it again.

[Peach]

I'm open minded either way regarding whether it's Islamic terrorism, but it isn't beyond the realm of possibility that the police have changed what the tarot card actually said, in order to tick off the shooter. Instead of I am God it could say I am Allah.