Another DC-area sniper-style shooting

Wife (FReeper nina0113) | October 4, 2002 | Steve0113

[Steve0113]

Another broad-daylight shooting just occurred, this time in Fredericksburg, VA, just off I-95. It's not even on the news yet.

About an hour's drive south of where the Montgomery County shootings happened, a woman was shot in the parking lot of a Michaels fabric store. My wife was in the store at the time. The victim had left the store and carried her purchases to her minivan. She unlocked the minivan and was loading her stuff into it when she was shot. No sign of the shooter.

No one else was injured.

The woman was taken away in an ambulance, condition unknown. Her license plate (which I'm not going to post) indicated that she had several children.

[valleygal]

Hearing about the profile of these guys and that they will keep doing this is causing me to be in a simmering (but not quite full blown) panic mode.

I grew up in Rockville and have sisters, family and friends in the area. Couldn't reach my sisters yesterday a.m.. One lives 5 minutes from yesterdays shootings. She told me last night she frequents the Mobil station where the Indian gentleman was killed. It was a good thing I didn't know that yesterday a.m.! When I heard a woman vacuuming her car at a gas station was killed I got very worried. My sis does that because of her pets with regularity.

My other sis who works for Montgomery Co. PD finally called and said they were all OK. after I left worried phone messages for her.

Doug Duncan was a neighbor and I knew his sisters well through HS. This has just all hit me so close to home way out here in PHX. I have been glued to FoxNews which is probably making me crazier.

My prayers are with the families of everybody lost.

[mewzilla]

I could see someone thinking that this spree wacko could provide cover for anyone who is thinking of doing away with friends/family members.

[exlibris]

"Wardaddy," why are you afraid to say "God" when you don't mean it flippantly or irreverently? What is wrong, in your opinion, about mentioning God in regular conversation?

[VaMarVet]

I too have trouble with WTOP FM at 107.7 close in - try the AM at 1500. As an aside we shop at that mall and Cetnral Park right across Route 3 quite often - easy on and off I-95. Hope this is not connected to the Montgomery County shootings.

[Skywalk]

I've heard a few posters suggesting that gang-bangers were pulling drive-bys, which I think is preposterous. Gangs in their Crip/Blood incarnation have moved East, but they are still not strong enough outside SE DC to pin all violence on them. Much is made of initation in gangs consisting of murdering an innocent person, and while this DOES occur, it is quite rare compared to initiation by beat-down or by robbing. Gang intiation almost NEVER means several people are killed, sniper style.

Another important thing, the people being hit are not gang-members or even affiliated. And despite being cold-blooded, gangsters would leave tracks or opened their mouths by now.

I think these are the work of some determined killer, but uncertain am I regarding the Al-Qaeda/Terrorist sympathizer angle.

[livius]

I was wondering if anybody has thought about the folks at Red House (I think that was the name), VA? This was/is a training camp for a former Black Muslim group turned "regular Muslims," albeit a very radical strain, who have spent a lot of time (according to their neighbors) training with what sound like powerful weapons.

When I looked at the pattern of the first shooting, it seemed to me that somebody was making a loop and heading back south.

[Fred Mertz]

She'll live is what I was responding to. C'mon, get with the program.

[ET(end tyranny)]

SIDEBAR ITEM...Michael Dupey, the founder of 'Michael's Craft Stores' recently opened a new wholesale store in Dallas - Mports (located at Webb's Chapel and Forest Lane). When we were down there on Monday or Tuesday, a glass door was boarded up and at least one bullet hole was visible in the front window of the store. When we asked Mr. Dupey about it, he made an offhand comment about certain competitors not being happy with his new enterprise. Not speculating by any means that there is a connection, just thought it was interesting...

Well, here is another 'interesting' tidbit.

Did some searches. I wanted to see if perhaps the owner of Michael's might Jewish. (making his stores a particular target)

What I found was this. Michael's has a subsidary called Aaron Brothers.

At the Aaron Brothers website the first link in a list is Isuzu Trucks

Also, I found that Michael's had a lawsuit against them in CA. A financial settlement was reached this past February. I couldn't find any information on what the lawsuit involved.

NOT saying these things are connected, but I did find it surprising to find the Isuzu Truck link??? Disgruntled former employee? But, why the east coast when the suit was in CA? Anyway, just thought I'd pass the info on. Probably nothing but strange Isuzu connection.

[tomkat]

yea, i just read it, and just now saw this thread.
somtetimes it's nice prescient, and sometimes it just sucks ...
:-(

[wardaddy]

No except the old Nam era .223 was lighter grain bullet I think. Today's military issue .223 bullet is heavier.

I could be wrong....PING!

[philetus]

I guess it's not important enough for them to pre-empt Your World W/Cavuto out here in Calif.

Just saw it on MSNBC

[js1138]

Perhaps. But it will lead to arguments for more gun control.

If this is "the big meal" it isn't making me forget about 911.

[swarthyguy]

The Red House was also connected to AlFuqra, a group headed by Gilani out of Pakistan, responsible for murdering an imam in Arizona and a few Indian doctors near Seattle, i believe.

[Teacup]

I think I just heard on Fox News local DC station, that the woman is alive and talking to police. I was typing when I caught the last part of the report. I'll keep listening.

[sissyjane]

Any other info on second shooting in
virginia? Could it be the shooting it Michael's?

[piasa]

JANUARY 1993 : (CIA LANGLEY SHOOTER, VIRGINIA, KANSI) Mir Amal Kansi, a Pakistani, murders two CIA employees in a random shooting outside the Langley, VA headquarters and flees the country. He entered the United states in 1990 on a visa issued in Karachi, Pakistan and in 1992, Kansi applied for political asylum in the US and was routinely released with a work permit. Records indicate that he had been involved in anti-US demonstrations in Pakistan. He had purchased an AK-47 assault rifle in Virginia.

[Destructor]

".223 was intentionally designed by the military to wound, not kill. In my opinion, fatal single shots from 150 yards + indicates a certain amount of discipline and expertise."

The .223 round is surprisingly powerful for a smaller cartridge. When I was in Basic Training at Ft. Benning, GA. the Drill Sgts. filled up an ammo can with water, and sealed it shut. One of the Drill Sgts. put one .223 round through it at 50 meters, then they let us trainees walk by in a single file line, and look at what the .223 did to that ammo can. It put a pretty big hole in the exit side of the can!

[mhking]

AP Story on VA shooting:

---

Woman Wounded by Gunshot Outside Va. Mall

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. - A woman was shot and wounded outside an arts and crafts store Friday, police said.

The shooting occurred about 2:30 p.m. at a Michaels store just off Interstate 95.

Windows of a Michaels store in Aspen Hill, Md., about 70 miles north of Fredericksburg were shot out early Thursday in what police said was the first of a series of shootings that left five dead in the Maryland suburbs of Washington.

Spotsylvania County Police Capt. Michael Timm said it was too early to tell if the Virginia shooting was related to the Maryland crime spree.

Police had no suspects in the shooting but said the shot did not appear to be fired from a high-powered rifle, which police believe was the weapon used in the Maryland shootings.

Area police were stopping vehicles similar to the one being sought in Maryland - a white panel truck. Authorities also were looking for a mid-size car, possibly gray or silver, that was seen moving at a high speed toward the store.

Police said the woman was loading purchases into the back of her car when she was shot in the lower back. Her condition was not immediately known, although she was described as speaking.

[Sacajaweau]

I'm now considering terrorism...especially after the news on the numerous "alleged" terrorists in the headlines that we have imprisoned and the possibility of the death of one of the "Top Most Wanted Terrorists".

Seems almost like payback time...the same as the Palestinian MO. The targets don't matter as long as they are the "enemy".

According to Alqueda/Taliban book, terrorists can act on their own if leadership is not available. I'm thinking a team at work..perhaps associated with the cell in Oregon??.

Sac

[FreeTheHostages]

"I've heard a few posters suggesting that gang-bangers were pulling drive-bys, which I think is preposterous. Gangs in their Crip/Blood incarnation have moved East, but they are still not strong enough outside SE DC to pin all violence on them."

I completely agree. I have prosecutorial experience in the DC area and this is correct. This isn't a gang situation. (Nor are the victims gang victims, nor is the area a gang area. P.S. In DC, we call 'em "crews.")