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.

[Cvengr]

Being meek as a mouse is OK. Those who exalt themselves will be made low.

[Peach]

Yes, the Washington Post article, linked in #5, mentions the shooter called police 5-6 times and police didn't believe it was the shooter and hung up on him. Minimum competency test not passed.

[Kerberos]

"Minimum competency test not passed"

What makes you think there is a minimum competency test required for a government job?

[wewillnotfail]

What facts have led you to assume this is a group of terrorits rather than a nut?

[Sacajaweau]

This is just spewing thoughts...

Well, it's logical to him and he's back to his point of beginning and into a Phase 2 of some grand plan. It looks like he has changed to night shots though and is no longer certain he can pull it off during daylight hours.

And I'd guess he's not sleeping as well and decided to go "early" as long as he was up.

He sounds pretty "confused" right now.

His "blaming" 5 deaths on the cops lack of responce to him is the "I'm God" (Egomaniac). This guy sounds like he "fights" with everyone he talks with and really turns them off. Someone probably told him "Who do you think you are? God?? at some time.

Sac

[areafiftyone]

I think the ransom demand kinda clinched it for me. Plus all these phone calls. This guy is playing GOD with the police.

[Peach]

Haven't checked last night's thread - hope y'all behaved!

[mystery-ak]

I just heard that on Fox...did the article say it was the tip hotline that hung up on him?

[Judith Anne]

I wonder how many nutjobs call the tip line or 911 and claim to be the sniper--? Most likely, far more than we are aware. I don't know that I blame anyone for hanging up on the sniper.

[Peach]

You're right. If info about the letter is to be believed, the shooter speaks broken English and used a pay phone to talk with police - not sophisticated. It seems AQ would know better than to communicate on pay phones; in the past they have used the most expensive, hard-to-trace equipment. Another day - another theory.

[Sacajaweau]

I hope these folks manning the tiplines aren't giving out their names...geez.

Sac

[looney tune]

I think the sniper has a phone number to call that only he knows. If that is so, hanging up on him 5 times was a bit stupid.

[wewillnotfail]

I heard the odds are 50-50. Only half of the serial killers
are ever caught.

[mystery-ak]

Dr. Baden said last night that this is a hostage negotiation, and we are the hostages.

[Sacajaweau]

The AQ rule is no communication during the operation.

Sac

[Neets]

Me too Peach...Yesterday was troubling enough...

Best we can do is pray for everyone and hpe this gets resolved soon before too many more lives are gone.

[Kerberos]

"I think the ransom demand kinda clinched it for me"

Initially the shooter impressed me as being very methodical and very disciplined, but that seems to be starting to break down. I was also willing to write the tarot card off to a diversion.

I suppose there is a possibility that there are two players here, one picking up where the other left off, but I would think that the probability of that is not real great.

As was posted on another thread.

"The above is 100% pure speculation; accept no substitutes"

[areafiftyone]

Definitly a hostage situation but that is because he is in control right now and they haven't a clue.

[ctdonath2]

9 yr old was wounded at a football practice in Penn.

Not our perp. Multiple shots fired, only one round hit causing very minor injury. Not the MO of the MD creep, who fires only once and hits his target hard each time.

[Kerberos]

"I wonder how many nutjobs call the tip line or 911 and claim to be the sniper"

Oh I'm sure quite a few, in fact there has already been one person who has tried to confess to the killings, which is not uncommon for high profile cases.