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

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

[Wordsmith]

Yes, after reading that WP article I'd say chances are slim this is related to jihadists. Unless its one or more who have lost contact with their superiors and gone rogue. Sad to think this may all be about money. Evil is always so petty and banal. I'm off for most of the day. Keep the fires burning!

[looney tune]

I'm beginning to lean away from the terrorist theory. The more he is in contact with LE, the more I think he's just a severely evil nutjob. I would think terrorists would want to communicate with everyone thru the papers in attempt to create more terros, not just private messages to Mr. Moose.

[Cold Heat]

Wednesday, October 23, 2002 By Nate Guidry and Michael A. Fuoco, Post-Gazette Staff Writers
A 9-year-old boy who was practicing with his youth football team was shot, but not seriously wounded, last night by someone who fired several times from a wooded area in McKinley Park in Beltzhoover.

The boy was struck in the left hip by a shot that may have come from a BB or pellet gun or possibly a small-caliber firearm, said Pittsburgh Police Chief Robert W. McNeilly Jr.

The shooting prompted immediate fears that a sniper might have been responsible. McNeilly was careful to say that police could not rule out any possibility. "I think there is some question in that regard, and that's the reason we want to investigate this immediately and thoroughly," he said. But, he added, "We believe right now it was young kids firing guns.

" McNeilly said police have been told that children often play in the area with BB and pellet guns. Several residents said they heard "popping" sounds similar to what they've heard before, he said.

The boy, Chris Bradley-Bey, a pupil at Beltzhoover Elementary School, was taken to Children's Hospital in Oakland, where he was in fair condition, said hospital spokesman Dean Walters. He sustained an abrasion wound, Walters said, meaning that the pellet or bullet did not penetrate his skin. He was being kept overnight for observation.

Police blocked off an area of several blocks around the park and began combing the woods with K-9 units, uniformed officers and detectives, while a KDKA-TV helicopter flew overhead to assist with the search. The helicopter was equipped with a searchlight and thermal imaging camera. Police suspended the search around 10:30 last night.

The shooting occurred about 7:30 p.m. at a football field at the park, which is located on Bausman Street, just above Saw Mill Run Boulevard. The shooting victim is a member of the Beltzhoover Browns, a peewee football team of 8- and 9-year-olds, said the team's coach, Dean Brown.

Brown said about 30 players and five coaches were on the field when he said they heard about four shots fired from a wooded area overlooking the football field. Brown said he initially thought he heard firecrackers, but said the boy, who plays defensive line on the team, came up to him and said he had been shot.

The boy, who was wearing his full uniform, was standing on the sideline of the field when he was hit. Brown said he pulled up the boy's jersey and saw blood.

"This is unreal. We finally got the kids back into the community. We were practicing for the playoffs. We were undefeated. And something like this happens," said Brown. Harold Lewis of Knoxville, who has a son on the team and also coaches another team of older boys, said that he arrived moments after the boy was shot and saw the entire team crouching for cover by Brown's car.

Lewis said they told him one of the players had been shot. "It's the worst feeling in the world, especially when you realize it's one of the kids that's been shot," Lewis said. "It's a terrible feeling." Lewis said the football program was revived this year after being out of action for about 20 years. The team was undefeated and was scheduled to play a playoff game on Saturday against the Hazelwood Cobras. But after taking several players home in his car, Lewis said he didn't know whether that game will be played. "All the kids said they won't be coming back," he said. "It's fear. They're scared."

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[wewillnotfail]

Especially since he IDed himself with the I am God phrase.
That was supposed to be a secret but was leaked so I bet they had dozens of Gods on the phone.

[jrhepfer]

South-Central PA here as well! Along I-81, 15 miles from MD state line. I-81 to I-70 to I-270 gets me there in about 1 hour 45 min.

[Cvengr]

Maybe he deserved to be hung up. He shouldn't be afforded any additional courtesy because he's willing to murder.

In his case, hanging up on him simply provoked him to call again.

A broader contagion arises. ANY criminal who threatens illegal activity unless their demands are met must first be judged on the merits of their action and thoughts.

The last thing anybody should do is claim that the murderer's actions are caused by anybody but the murderer.

A counterargument might go,...the officer hung up because the rude murderer caused him to hang up. ....The officer's behavior might have actually saved another 10 people from being murdered.

Both are responsible for their respective behaviors. IMHO, I tend to give the benefit of the doubt to the cop.

[Peach]

Good point, Sac - re AQ typically has no communication during the operation.

[mystery-ak]

Exactly....and if he thinks the LE is delaying or playing for time,God help everyone in the area...he's already told them what his next target will be.

[Peach]

I'm not clear if it was the tipline that hung up on shooter or not - but if Fox is reporting that it makes the incompetency even more, well, incompetent!

[wewillnotfail]

I think that phrase referred to the callers. There had to be some level of screening outlined and he didn't meet it.

[areafiftyone]

A thought just occurred to me. Maybe this psycho knows Chief Moose. Maybe he was arrested at one time. He seems to want to deal with only Moose.

[Sacajaweau]

I'm inclined to believe he is "tired" and has gone far beyond what he originally intended.

AFTER seeing everything shut down because of him, he got hot on himself and left the card for the cops.

Then he got cockier and decided on the note and $10 mil garbage.

Who knows what he will do next. He knows he's not going to get the $10 mil.

Sac

[Cold Heat]

The creep probably told the tip line he was the shooter and wanted to talk to Moose. LOL! That would sound like a nut to me!

[mystery-ak]

Someone posted that theory(maybe you) on another thread last night...very plausible.

[Sacajaweau]

Very early on, I wondered if the people he shot were part of a jury (excepting the kid).

Sac

[Miss Marple]

Judge Neapolitano on Fox this morning said that the sniper's admonishments to keep his notes secret reminded him the Ted Kazinsky's brother contacted police because a letter published in a paper reminded him of his brother, who turned out to be the Unabomber.

Katherine Herridge on Foxsays the call was discounted by an FBI agent, who either didn't understand the significance or chose to ignore it.

[tomkat]

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

what 'facts' have led you to adamantly insist (on several threads, iirc) that it's not ?

btw, just curious:
'fail' what exactly ?
and who's 'we' ?

[areafiftyone]

I just have this wierd feeling that he was a perp that Moose had caught maybe a while ago. Maybe that is why Moose looks so personally involved in this.

[mystery-ak]

...or an ex-employee, deputy...but Im sure the LE has followed that angle(I hope)

[tomkat]

ask the other perpetrators participants, lady !
as we older gentlemen are sometimes wont to do, i became one w/my recliner, early ...