Beltway Sniper Shootings-FR Commentary-Wed., Oct. 23,2002

Fox News, CNN, Press Conferences | October 23, 2002 | Fox News, CNN, Press Conferences

[Peach]

Let's keep a live commentary thread going again today. The FBI Tip Line #1-888-324-9800.

All seems quiet since yesterday's news the shooter may target children specifically. It was released on various news outlets the shooter's 3-page letter to police was in broken English and threatened extreme violence. Police announced an electronic transfer of $10m as requested by the shooter was not possible but other options for transfer remain open. No one seriously believes police will actually give the shooter $$, but police are trying to keep a dialogue open with the shooter in an effort to capture this monster.

[Quilla]

What do they know about him other than he is male.

The killer is using a voice altering mechanism. My husband [haven't got a clue what makes him think women are evil :)], thinks a woman could be doing this just as easily as a man. Do we know for a fact that this is a man? The only witness, I thought, was charged for making false statements.

[OReilly]

OReilly, if this is the case and the sniper is not actually on line during the calls, how did they get the private 800 number to him in the first place? <> They haven't as yet, What Moose said last night was, call into the number you gave us and we will give you your private 800 number. That would require the sniper or someone involved, to call and he will not do it. As I said, I think the police are trying to suggest the idea of a private 800 number.

[OReilly]

OReilly, if this is the case and the sniper is not actually on line during the calls, how did they get the private 800 number to him in the first place?

They haven't as yet, What Moose said last night was, call into the number you gave us and we will give you your private 800 number. That would require the sniper or someone involved, to call and he will not do it. As I said, I think the police are trying to suggest the idea of a private 800 number.

[cayuga]

Is it possible that they already killed 20 people and will tell LEOs where to find the bodies? Why such a specific number ahead of time?

Most centerfire rifle ammunition comes in a box of 20.

[Miss Marple]

Well, of what value would it be to keep information under wrap unless it is needed for the investigation OR it really would cause pani? This is taking place over three jurisdictions, and it is possible that with all the people involved, leaks will happen. I do not think this is a concerted effort by law enforcement to manipulate us with selective leaks, as much as reporters picking up tidbits here and there from people who talk. I myself have received some information about goings on in the DC area on my freepmail, but I have not posted it because it was confidential.

I think it is too pat to act like we are all under control of some sinister power who is spoon feeding us information. In fact, I do NOT agree with that theory at all.

[Quilla]

I know I'm disecting this to the nth degree, but how did they tell him what to say? There are millions of people watching, taping, and going over these press conferences. Surely a freeper would have picked up on that. :)

[freeperfromnj]

We at FR were speculating whether he would go on another spree where he planned several (3-5) at one time, but aren't envisioning 20 at a time.

It's a pretty sad state when we have to speculate about how many people an unknown sniper is going to take out -- just sit back and wait for the next cold blooded murder knowing that LE doesn't have a handle on it and that there's not a darn thing any of us can do about it.

[RS_Rider]

Kim,

I live in Pittsburgh, Beltzhoover area is riddled with drug dealers and criminals. Not to minimize this story but there is hardly a day goes by that someone in not shot or killed in this area. I hope that someone is not copying what is happening in DC but this could have well been a stray bullet from a dirve-by a street or two downl

RS

[dinasour]

gotta scoot, but will be back later, just like a bad cold.

Keep warm. We need you healthy to do battle with the crypto-liberals.

Freegards, Al

[BaghdadBarney]

There are MORE than 20 cities within a days drive of Rockville. Simply following I-70 west would put him in Frederick, Hagerstown, Altoona PA, Johnstown PA, and of course, the city of Pittsburgh. If he decides to head north along route 15 off of I-270 he's got Frederick, again, Harrisburg PA, Gettysburg PA... If he feels he wants to go south again, maybe along I-81, he's got Roanoke, and then Tennessee... but I have a feeling this guy lives in an apartment complex in the Aspen Hill area around the latest shooting. He's more than likely been using motels/hotels everywhere else he's doing his dirty work - Manassas, Fredricksburgh, Ashland, even Falls Church...

[BuckeyeForever]

It should be apparent to everyone now that the sniper is a lone operative, not an Islamic terrorist, almost certainly an American, and interested in one thing: money. This will come as a big disappointment to all those out there who want to believe Al Quaeda or Saddam is behind this. The long rambling notes, the "I am God" stuff, and the extortion attempts for millions of dollars, are all inconsistent with the usual M.O. for the ME terrorists.
This guy apparently had a modest education, because the letters reportedly contain many grammatical errors, and are rambling. On the other hand, he is not stupid, because he has left no clues except the ones he wanted to leave. Whether he is actually a nut case and really believes he is God, or just a mercenary who means it figurately as his way of boasting of power and control, he is obviously not prone to making mistakes. My guess is he is not some looney living out in a shack in the woods somewhere, but he clearly lives alone and works a job with flexible or irregular hours. Otherwise, it would be hard for him to slip away unnoticed by family and co-workers at the varied hours of these shootings.

[stlnative]

He not ready to die just yet, but he knew when he took that first shot he was facing death, by a bullet or by a needle. The money is to justify his continuous killings he knows he not going to get it. I will kill more if I do not get the money, blah blah blah. He loves the attention he is getting and now that the police have given him a 1-800 number they do not need the media anymore. It up to him to use the 1-800 number (do you understand what I am saying?) I think things in the media will get quiet now, the police have no reason to disclose any information now that he can call the 1-800 number and talk to them. All we are going to hear about is that he may have killed someone else. The cops know that he killed the bus driver, but why have they not told the media that bullet is a match to the other shootings, There is no reason to, they can let him know privately that they know it was him when he calls in (but that is not going to be enough for him). I think he will become unhappy with the 1-800 number and if the police do not talk to the media he may write in to the local newspapers trying to get out his side of all this (which this is want the cops exactly want him to do, more evidence, more trails). Things are going to get interesting and the media has already cut back some on covering the killings. He is not going to be a happy sniper without the attention he is now use to, this is what the police want.

[ThinkingMan]

Good point. I have wavered between homegrown or ME, one or multiple, etc.

It would suprise me greatly, however, if the shooter was a female. It just does not fit. Men have a much greater prepostion to violence. Yes, there are violent women, but MOST of those violent acts are acted out in a short, explosive, passionate fit. No, I don't have stats to back up that claim, just basing it on many years of following news.

[Chemist_Geek]

The Congress passed a law in 1993 that does not regulate wahalas, but just requires them to report suspicious activity within so many days to the Feds. (that would take months, probably, and still the written record stops at the water's edge.

What's a wahala?

[wewillnotfail]

I agree....good thinking

[katnip]

Did anyone else listen to the Curtis and Kuby radio show this morning.

WABC in NY. They were taking calls about the sniper.

A man named Richard called and said he thinks the shooter just walks away and puts the gun under the front seat of his car. He then goes back and mingles with the crowd. After a few hours, he goes back to his car.

When Ron Kuby said to him "I'm sure they're checking parked cars in the area", Richard said "I go 10 to 15 blocks away".

A few people called in and had caught the "I" statement and wondered if Richard could be the shooter.

Then another man called in and said Richard sounded just like a man that was interviewed yesterday at the scene of the bus shooting.

Richard by the way had no accent at all.

[ET(end tyranny)]

There are MORE than 20 cities within a days drive of Rockville.

I knew there was.... By the way, I was wondering if there were any similarity between the cities chosen. Such as population size? Too small might mean not enough viable locations?

[stlnative]

He has called into the 1-800 tipline number (the public one) several times and has actually talked to a live person, he even has taken down names of the people answering the phones. At some point they probably told him when he calls the public tipline to use a code name so that they know it is him. Now the code name is no longer needed once he has his own private 1-800 number abd it probably has 3 people on 3 shifts sitting by this phone. These messages can be relayed to im in just matter of a few seconds and before he hangs up.

[ET(end tyranny)]

Also, thanks for your post. Poster 'Pete' had made some predictions a while back, and was fairly accurate.

[OReilly]

Let me suggest again... he does not have the private 800 number that moose suggested last night. Moose said call the number that *you* gave *us*... and we will give you your private 800 number or secure PO Box.