Fears Of Fresh 'Sniper' Spree (West Virginia)

BBC ^ | 8-18-2003

[blam]

Fears of fresh 'sniper' spree

A full-scale investigation aims to quell residents' fears

Fears are mounting in West Virginia that a gunman may be copying the sniper attacks which sparked panic in the Washington area last year. State police have joined forces with federal agents and other government teams to mount a full and immediate investigation to quell residents' fears that a serial killer is on the loose.

Preliminary findings after three people were killed in Kanawha County last week show they were all shot in the head or neck at more than 30 metres away with a rifle bearing the same calibre.

Thirteen people were killed and five were wounded in October 2002 around the Washington DC area. Two men are facing charges relating to the attacks around.

Last week's victims were all shot dead outside of petrol stations between last Sunday and Thursday.

Kanawha County police have not formally linked the killings and are treating the incidents as separate homicides, but have warned residents not to use filling stations alone after dark.

Forensic results released by West Virginia police revealed the three were shot from a distance of over 30 metres.

Widening search

County sheriff Dave Tucker said: "All the cases had the similar actions as far as occurred, but we're not treating this as a serial type killer. Each one of these we're treating as an individual homicide or murder.

"We've pooled resources, we've linked with different agencies and set up a special response force and that includes a lot of federal agencies. We have a command centre and we're working out of that."

Local police are being assisted in their investigations by the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives.

Police said they had received more than 200 calls and tips following Thursday's shooting and have appealed for information about a black pick-up truck seen in the Campbell Creek area after the murder of Jeanie Patton.

Investigations include a previous shooting on 20 March in the neighbouring town of Charleston, where a lethal bullet was fired from a different calibre rifle.

Authorities are not ruling out a possible connection, Sheriff Tucker said.

[Guillermo]

The BBC can only hope.

[WestPacSailor]

Does shooting someone with a rifle at 30 meters (around 100 feet, or about the distance across my front yard) make someone a sniper. Can't make consistent hits and be at least 500 yds away before you earn the title "sniper".

Seriously though, let's quit feeding this guys ego by calling him a 'sniper' and call him what he really is, a mentally disturbed individual with a gun and some serious, unresolved anger issues.

[templar]

Does shooting someone with a rifle at 30 meters (around 100 feet, or about the distance across my front yard) make someone a sniper.

It does in the common sense of the word: someone shooting and killing an unsuspecting victim from a distance (as opposed to face to face) and who is not easily seen performing the act. But at 30 meters someone with a .22 rifle, or even a .22 pistol, could do what this guy is doing and needent be a particularly good shot; just cold blooded and evil.

[Politically Correct]

Are we stopping all the white vans?

[WestPacSailor]

Are we stopping all the white vans?

Doesn't look like a very stealthy, stable shooting platform to me.

[Joe Brower]

[gridlock]

Maybe Chief Moose can get involved to stir up interest in his book tour, scheduled for this fall.

Gee, I miss this guy. Don't you?

[harpseal]

Since it is West Virginia and they have already done the White Vans in Maryland and Virginia they have chosen a vlack extened cab pickup as the vehicle in this case. No comment about whether or not this has any relationship to evidence, I don't know. I do know the description fits theprofile first put out in the Maryland case. What will they do if it turns out to be two more non-whites who have soem Islamic connection? I know blame society.

[blam]

"What will they do if it turns out to be two more non-whites who have soem Islamic connection?"

Wring our hands and try to figure out how we let down this person?

[spodefly]

Fears are mounting in West Virginia that a gunman may be copying the sniper attacks which sparked panic in the Washington area last year.

Profilers and local politically-correct policepersons are on the lookout for a white, male, Christian, Republican NRA Member, that voted for Bush/Cheney.

[ChewedGum]

I don't care the race of the shooter...I just hope they apprehend him. I did read an interesting novel about a year back which had an FBI profiler committing serial murders and then presenting a whacked profile of a suspect to keep people off track.

Gum

[RogueIsland]

Seriously though, let's quit feeding this guys ego by calling him a 'sniper' and call him what he really is, a mentally disturbed individual with a gun and some serious, unresolved anger issues.

He's being called a "sniper" by the media for a very particular reason. I'll leave that reason as an exercise.

[OldPossum]

But, you see, if the BBC can't use that dreaded word "sniper" they don't have much of a story to scare the folks about the evil of guns with. It is also a matter of ignorance: probably none of the BBC staff has any experience whatsoever with guns, so they don't know that 30 meters is not sniper distance as we know it.

Seriously, though, this and the previous shootings in Maryland Virginia present a major public relations problem with trying to get rid of the "assault rifle" ban next year.

[WestPacSailor]

He's being called a "sniper" by the media for a very particular reason. I'll leave that reason as an exercise.

I try not to use "media" and "reason" in the same paragraph, it's bad form.

[The Duke]

I noticed that in thier "sniper graphic" FOX News was depicting an AK assault rifle. I don't know why they didn't just draw a picture of a slingshot(?)

[harpseal]

Like you I do not care about the race of the shooter but I really just want that person stopped. My comments were more addressed to teh surrounding media events and the apparent desire in the Maryland case to divert attention from where that evidence would naturally lead. In that case it was not a White van and it was not a white perp and the fact that the PD was focused on those two characteristics impeded taht investigation. I jhope nothing similar impedes this investigation.

[WestPacSailor]

I noticed that in thier "sniper graphic" FOX News was depicting an AK assault rifle.

I've not been following this story too closely yet. Have the police said what type of weapon was used?

[Sender]

I don't see how it will affect the 'assault weapon' ban at all. The victims were shot one time from close range. It's a stretch to use that to demonize magazines and bayonet lugs. But I'm sure Brady and the VPC will bend the facts to try!

[budwiesest]

Check the Rest Stops!