Posted on 10/21/2002 11:21:39 AM PDT by chudogg
Sources: Sniper Still At Large
RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 21, 2002
(CBS) Law enforcement officials believe the sniper who has terrorized the Washington D.C. area is still at large, CBS News Correspondent Jim Stewart reports.
Stewart said the officials "feel confident" that neither of two men being question in connection with the shootings is the sniper. The men in custody in connection with the seizure of a Plymouth van at a gas station in Richmond, Va., Monday are believed to have made a call to a phone number connected to the sniper case, but they are not thought to be the perpetrators.
Stewart reports that some law enforcement officials speculated that the men may have been involved in some type of extortion scheme related to the sniper murders or some other kind of hoax.
Authorities also confirmed that Saturday night's shooting at a steakhouse outside Richmond was the work of the sniper.
On Monday Richmond police seized a white van parked at a pay phone.
Hanover County Sheriff Stuart Cook said the two were being held for questioning in the attacks that have left nine people dead and three critically wounded since Oct. 2. He refused to describe them as suspects.
The developments came one day after police issued a public plea for the sniper to contact them at a phone number that was part of a message found near the latest shooting scene.
At least one of the people in custody was dragged out of a van parked near an Exxon gas station in the Richmond suburbs. Witnesses said the van was a Plymouth Voyager with a temporary Virginia license.
Keith Underwood, service manager at an Oldsmobile dealership next door, said officers converged on the van and pulled the driver out Monday morning. He said officers were screaming at the person behind the wheel and yanked several times on the door before getting it open.
"They basically surrounded him with their shotguns," said another witness, Pathenia Fields, a title clerk at the car dealer. She said she saw just one man in the van.
Police said they found a note in the woods near the Ponderosa restaurant in Ashland, a few miles (kilometers) north of Richmond, after the latest victim was shot and critically wounded.
Late Sunday, police urged whoever left the note to call them. Early Monday, Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose, who is in charge of the investigation, said authorities were "preparing our response." He refused to elaborate or answer questions.
"To the person who left us a message at the Ponderosa last night, you gave us a telephone number. We do want to talk to you. Call us at the number you provided. Thank you," Moose said.
A law enforcement source close to the investigation told The Associated Press that investigators believe the person who left the message is probably the sniper.
Surgeons removed the bullet from the 37-year-old man shot in Ashland and turned it over to investigators. As in the previous shootings, the victim was felled by one shot.
The victim, whose name was not released, remained in critical condition Monday after six hours of surgery. Doctors were cautiously optimistic but said he would need more surgery.
I wonder the same thing. I went to school with him back in 1990...he seemed like a bright, professional guy back then. This is a difficult thing to deal with. I just don't know what he could be doing different under these circumstances.
Something I always remember that my mom taught me years ago--if "they" think "they" can do any better - then let them.
That's not what was said. They said neither is the sniper. that doesn't mean they have nothing to do with the case.
I think in the beginning (which seems so long ago) his press appearances were too emotional. People jumped on that, there's also the need for a target of blame, and a little ethnic hostility from some corners.
The night of the Ashland shooting there were reports here that the dogs did follow a scent from the woods into Richmond.
Thoughts here went to whether the dogs were following gun powder scent (I think, I am no gun expert). Perhaps they followed the scent from the note.
If I remember correctly this was later that night or into the ealry hours of the next day.
CNN now reports that both subjects in custody are undocumented workers, one from Mexico, one from Guatamala.
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