Maryland Sniper Shootings Update Thread

CNN, Fox, Local Radio and Television | October 8, 2002 | CNN, Fox, Breaking News

[Peach]

It's 6:30 a.m. EST and we're waiting to go to the second press conference providing media and local updates on the Maryland sniper shootings. To date, the 13 year old boy has survived the evening and seems to be improving. Fox News mentioned that his aunt is a nurse. The police briefing at 6:15 a.m. mentioned Todd Beamer's Let's Roll comment and police are urging people to use caution, good judgment, but remain strong and try to continue with everyday life as much as possible.

Police had a search warrant last night (didn't say for who or where) related to the sniper shootings, but the search did not provide any information to LEO.

[pattycake]

I heard on WMAL about 20 minutes ago that there was gun shots at a Rockville Metro Station, haven't heard much since. Thanks for keeping the thread open.

[blackdog]

Not to mention that this is most likely a team of persons. It looks like there has been site orientation prior to the shots, and multiple sites at that. Look-outs had to have previewed the sites for visibility, camera's, elevated views ie, apartment buildings, office buildings, etc... This took preparation. If it was terrorists, they are of the home-grown type.

[Miss Marple]

Apparently you discount the training manuals found in Afghanistan as insignificant. I do not.

Was the Anthrax last year terrorism? I think so.

Plus, as several have pointed out, it distracts the LE community from other things, so it may be part of a larger plan.

It's my opinion, only, of course. You could be right. I guess we will have to wait and see.

But there must have been some reason that cell in Oregon was practicing shooting.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Maryland already has a "ballistic fingerprint" law regarding handguns. Any handgun sold in Maryland has to provide a spent casing to the State Police (I've purchased handguns in New Mexico and they have had a spent case included from the factory). Doesn't apply to long guns (as far as I know) and only applies to Maryland purchases.

[iconoclast]

"What would the downside be?"

Mea culpa

I'm backing off, folks.

After my second cup of coffee, the record keeping puts me off, too.

[OReilly]

Shots fired at rockville metro station around 8:40am...

Is that why the press conference is late? (9:00 am conference)

[ET(end tyranny)]

Won't work. While on the surface, "fingerprinting" brass sounds like a good idea, the most basic thing is overlooked. Everytime a gun is fired, wear occurs on all the parts. After a while, the firing pin face wears, the rifling changes, etc. This means that the marks on the brass, primers, and bullets will change as well. The reason that ballistic comparison works is that most criminals don't shoot their guns often and the marks don't change much.

Ballistic fingerprinting is a total waste of time and money. If every new gun is "fingerprinted" when manufactured, those prints will be useless after the gun has been fired 100 times. Not to mention the fact that you would see many people swapping parts.

Thanks for the info, it explains much!

[OReilly]

they have had a spent case included from the factory

Properly randomized I assume?

[oceanperch]

Chief Moose coming on FNC with update anytime now.

[iconoclast]

OOps, see post 105!

[wimpycat]

Oh, I don't know. Al-Qaeda operates quite differently from other terrorist groups.

This is definitely somebody who is determined to frighten the populace, either for the sheer physical rush he must get from having the "power" of life and death over anybody he targets and controlling the movements of so many people, or else his purpose may be to frighten people into not leaving their homes, thereby disrupting the economy.

This could very well be an organized Islamist terrorist campaign, some Islamist freaks acting on their own initiative, or it could also be a homegrown nut a la the Unabomber.

Either way, this ain't no Agatha Christie novel, and these people (I happen to believe there are at least 2 involved) are going to screw up sooner or later. I think they've already started to screw up in that they haven't struck the last two victims in the head.

I agree in theory with the people on this thread who are saying that it doesn't take a rocket scientist to be a good marksman, but I also think that killing another person does require a certain amount of skill and discipline, because you have to marry the basics of shooting with the will to kill. I doubt any of our FR sports hunters could calmly and accurately fire on a human target they know to be innocent.

IMO, these snipers do not view their targets as human beings, or else they have convinced themselves that the victims are "guilty" of something and therefore deserve to die. For whatever reason, they have the will to kill innocent human beings, which I don't think the FReepers most experienced with firearms and hunting possess.

[Lloyd227]

"People this good belong to clubs, have awards, medals, reputations, and notariety. They had teachers, custom made stuff at gunsmith's, etc..."See post #84

[Tijeras_Slim]

I pitched it in the brass pile at the local range.

[CobaltBlue]

>>Was the Anthrax last year terrorism? I think so.<<

I think not. It was a home grown American whacko taking advantage of 9/11 to make some deranged point that we can't understand because we aren't whacko.

If the anthrax killer was a terrorist, he'd have sprinkled anthrax powder in a crowded area like an airport, so there would be deaths all over the country.

The anthrax killer sealed the anthrax tightly accompanied by a warning letter saying it was anthrax.

[L,TOWM]

If I were sick enough to wager on this, I would bet on nothing happening until this afternoon or evening rush hour. The assassins seem to be doing everything at random, and I believe that they will change their time of shooting today.

Another thought, if we get a few days of no sniping, we can toss the nutcase theories out the window. When wackos start a spree like this, they are usually incapable of restraining themselves after they get a taste for murder.

Just my $.02.

[two23]

Maryland already has a "ballistic fingerprint" law regarding handguns. Any handgun sold in Maryland has to provide a spent casing to the State Police (I've purchased handguns in New Mexico and they have had a spent case included from the factory). Doesn't apply to long guns (as far as I know) and only applies to Maryland purchases.

Really doesn't do much for modified/repaired/replaced parts and weapons that are brought in from other countries. It's even more rediculous when we rotate criminals back out to the streets at alarming rates. the problem is the CRIMINAL MIND--not the Remington on sale at the local sporting goods store. Too many convicted criminals get a slap on the wrist and are sent back out on the streets.

[joesnuffy]

This perp is NOT A SNIPER Snipers are most valuable assests of a military..Some of Americas greatest heros were and are snipers. They are the elite of the elite and put their own lives on the line often alone to save the lives of their comrades.. These killers are ASSASSINS Assassin ..Arabic Hashshasin ..A secret order of hashish using Moslems who have been trained to murder innocents and political rivals...of the Hashimite kings
ASSASSINS NOT SNIPERS

[Chemist_Geek]

I guess I don't see the problem with it. Guns are designed to kill or maim in self defense. It would seem the only reason to not want the prcedure done would be if the person were going to use to kill or maim in situations other than self defense. ???

To use an analogy, then, would there be a problem with the police just coming through and searching your home? I mean, if you're not doing anything illegal there then you shouldn't have a problem with them checking on you.

Would it be OK for the police to have a tap on your phone? I mean, you're not going to conspire to break any laws over the phoen, so it should be OK to tape your conversations, right?

How about putting an ignition interlock on all automobiles, that would allow the police to remotely disable the car? I mean, it'd be useful if it ever was stolen, right?

I think you get my drift here. ;-)

[johnny7]

Sounds like me... only a few years older.

I tend to think it's more than 1 guy.

That county is full of people and a lot of eyes watching.

The shooter needs time to set himself up and have a quick exit.

The retort of the rifle would draw attention... so would the smoke.

Whatever... the dude is a professional killer and the cops don't have a clue.

Don't rule out terrorism.

[iconoclast]

Thanks for the post. I think you are almost certainly correct.

It's still stuns me everytime a rational post shows up.;o)