D.C. on Alert As Sniper Roams Free

Drudge ^ | Oct 4 | STEPHEN MANNING

[SLB]

ROCKVILLE, Md.- A series of six fatal sniper shootings has shaken the Washington, D.C., suburbs, even as officials urge wary residents to go about their normal business.

But law enforcement authorities are worried.

"My level of concern about the ability of the suspect to strike again is high," said Charles Moose, the Montgomery County police chief, late Friday. "This brings us to a higher degree of recklessness by this suspect or suspects."

"We implore him to surrender, stop this madness," Moose said.

On Friday, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said testing showed the same high-powered rifle had been used to kill at least four of six shooting victims. Five victims were shot in Maryland; one was gunned down in Washington, D.C.

The sixth victim, a 72-year-old Washington, D.C., pedestrian, was killed by the same weapon used to kill at least three of the Maryland victims, said Special Agent Michael Bouchard.

"The four shootings were done with the same firearm," he said, adding that forensic testing was still under way in the two other Maryland fatal shootings.

Bouchard also said ATF agents would examine evidence collected from the scene of a shooting Friday outside a crafts store in Fredericksburg, Va., 55 miles south of Rockville to see if it was related. A woman was shot in the back, but survived the attack.

Police were looking for two men in a white van with dark lettering, a description that came from a witness to one of the killings. Police pulled over white vans Friday and plastered orange stickers on the back to show the vehicles had been checked. Moose said investigators were chasing more than 500 leads.

Each Maryland victim was felled by a single bullet. Police said evidence indicated the killer was some distance away and used .223-caliber bullets.

The search went on amid a mix of fear and defiance among residents of the economically and culturally diverse slice of the suburban county where the shootings occurred.

Meanwhile, all over Montgomery County, people appeared to carry on with business as usual - though with a lot more caution. Many said they were afraid but wouldn't stop getting groceries, going to work or leaving their children with a baby sitter.

"I had to shop. I need to eat. I can't stay at home all day," said Kira Leonova, who works at a bookstore near one of the slaying scenes. "I have to work and I have a family."

Dexter Evans, 20, scanned the traffic as he waited for a bus to Rockville, and he took a second look at every white truck. "You can't even walk down the street without looking over your shoulder," he said.

Schools opened with extra police patrols and calls poured into 911 dispatchers about suspicious noises.

Five of the victims died within five miles of one another during a 16-hour span between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. All were gunned down in broad daylight in very public places: two at gas stations, one outside a grocery, another outside a post office and the fifth as he mowed the grass at an auto dealership.

"There's still no information to lead us to think our victims are associated," Moose said. "They don't appear to be anyone's enemies, just random targets."

Carin Saez, 27, found herself going back to school Friday to pick up her 12-year-old niece, deciding it was too dangerous. Saez said she would not let her own children go back to school until the killer was caught.

"I was petrified to even go to the store last night," Saez said. "My kids were scared. They didn't even want to go outside. They're more scared now than on September 11."

Officials at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville canceled a Friday night pep rally and police were posted at the football game against rival Wooten High. Dani Young, a 17-year-old senior, said: "It kind of ruins the mood of homecoming."

In Bethesda, Mary Patterson said as she leaving home for a hair appointment: "I'm not afraid. After all, I'm 81 years old - my time could be anytime."

[DuncanWaring]

If the government is going to continue to deprive us of our own weapons for self defense, what are they going to do to protect us against direct armed attacks?

For all intents and purposes, nothing.

If they were going to do anything, they would have already started work on closing the borders. Has that happened? You know the answer to that one.

[hoosierham]

Don't you know it is easier,cheaper, and safer to "counsel" the victims families than risk an armed citizenry that could lead to rebellion against the unConstitutional laws promoted by several generations of socialists ?

You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs, and the glorious socialist omelet of utopia has only needed a 100 million lives so far;BUT it will be worth it in the end! Hurrrlll, barrrff!!

[Bowana]

Square brackets "[]"on DU. Pointy ones "<>"here

OOPS!

I don't even lurk on DU, but a couple NH Boards use brackets, so I slipped!

[Terriergal]

PING!

[null and void]

Don't forget the THREE white victims...

[PureSolace]

"Police pulled over white vans Friday and plastered orange stickers on the back to show the vehicles had been checked."

Ok... why did police tell the media this? ... If I were a terrorist causing "terror"... I would just steal another white van with the sticker on the back... or I'd fashion up a fraud myself...ARRGGG! Sometimes I wish I was in charge... but then again... maybe not.

[null and void]

LOL! Square brackets are easier, no multiple shifts when closing a tag...

[PureSolace]

Whats in the press conference? same ol' Same ol' stuff they always talk about.... "Deny that it's an act of terror... blame some white guy... and give out all the information making finding these guys even harder???"

[CyberAnt]

I guess you're saying - now the perps can plaster an orange sticker on the back of their van and go anywhere they want ... am I right??

[TERMINATTOR]

Section 311 of US Code Title 10, entitled, "Militia: composition and classes" in its entirety:

"(a) The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard.

(b) The classes of the militia are --

(1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard and the Naval Militia; and

(2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval Militia."

Molon Labe !

[KantianBurke]

and this is hard for you to believe why exactly?

[patriciaruth]

Enemy at the Gate.

[Bella]

I've been out all day, so would you bring me up to speed as to what the latest is on this? I'd appreciate it..thanks!

[30-06 Springfield]

This is just the tip of the iceberg. What will happen when we have car bombings in malls? What will the reaction be to the first school that is bombed? I dare say the sheeple will be running around like chickens with their heads cut off. Already I saw there are parents who are not sending their kids to school. If we have more incompetent law officers like Chief Moose the terrorists will have it made. The only thing that will stop the terrorists and complete and utter chaos will be the armed citizen. You all keep your powder dry, I have a deep feeling we will need it.

[Marauder]

I've carried a Remington 870 sawed-off with 6-round tube and a pistol grip for the past couple of years.
But I'm adding my .303 carbine with FMJ rounds for the longer range *Homeland Defense* targets.

[sheik yerbouty]

Maybe he's just chief of the Moose Lodge.

[SLB]

Will this spread outside of DC? My first impression is that whoever is doing this wants to hit the nation's capitol. It also just happens that the capitol is in one of the largest areas of gun grabbers. Ever notice how you never hear of random shootings happening in places like Fargo, Billings, Sheridan, Boise or Reno? Only in the areas where the citizens have been disarmed do the BG's feel they can get by with it.

[pocat]

You're exactly right. If it does spread to other areas, expect it to be in big cities with restrictive gun laws (virtually all of them).

The sniper(s) knows that his odds of survivability is very low where the citizens are likely armed. Sadly, the gun grabbers will NEVER figure out what the connection is.

[harpseal]

Will this spread outside of DC?

That is the real question and the answer depends upon who is actually committing these acts. IF these acts are by Isamo-facists then one may presume that there will be incidents in other states and areas. They may not be immediate and in fact a delay may provide greater impact to the subsequent acts, We think we are safe then bang.

Clearly for very little investment the perps of these shootings have generated a substantial return in terror. This is very similar to aome early actions in Israel. Some so called experts have dismissed this as not terrorist because there is no targeting of political figures but in the context of Isreal's history it does conform to the mold of terrorism.

Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown

[Copernicus]

I've been told that what you read, may put you in prison one day, even if it is legal...

Oh no! Does that mean I must burn my copy of "Unintended Consequences?"

Best regards,