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.

[ET(end tyranny)]

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.

If I haven't done anything wrong, then why should I be bothered with them looking around? They wouldn't find anything illegal. I would however want them to give a reason for wanting to search.

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?

I don't have a problem with this either as long as they give a good reason for it. I think they do sometimes ask to tap someone's phone when they think a perp may try to contact that person. Be ok with me.

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?

It has more uses than that. It prevents someone from buying on time and then not making their payments. Don't make the payment, disable the vehicle. Sounds good to me. Makes reposession much easier. Business people need ways to protect themselves from the criminal elements in society to.

I think you get my drift here. ;-)

Oh I get it. You won't like my comments though and that's ok.

[Peach]

It seems odd that no one has seen anything. HELLOOOOO! The perp is 2 and 1/2 football fields away!

And no one hears a rifle shot and notices a car/van speeding away? No one has noticed, in 8 shootings, a rifle sticking out of a vehicle? The guy is choosing his spots carefully. And, BTW, it wasn't until this morning that I realized just how far away police had found a bullet casing and realized the shooter shot the kid from 340 yards away.

[iconoclast]

LOL!

[Sender]

This guy may not be an al-Qaeda terrorist and may not blow up discos like Hamas, but he is certainly a terrorist nonetheless. Picking off people at random like this causes far more fear and chaos than if he had simply blown up one target. Snipers are the cheapest and most effective terror tool known. One or two guys with a rifle and a vehicle have tied up the capital's LE community and petrified millions. I spoke with a guy from DC this morning and he said they are even worried now about this guy going up on the rooftops, everybody was walking around looking up at the sky. This is the very definition of terrorism.

[mhking]

Has anyone discussed the possibility of this being an event of greater good, deliberately engineered, by our keepers?

Back away from the tin foil...

[blackdog]

I have been near someone who shoots a contender. It takes several days to get my hearing back, the smell of powder out of my clothes, and for my nerves to settle down. I equate it to setting off an M-80 in your stero headphones.

[Dick Bachert]

My guess is that this is a continuation of what began on 9-11. My only questions are what took the bastards so long and where will they strike again?

If these shooters were cautious and set their vehicle up properly, there'd be no need to flee quickly. They could hang around for some time until just before the cops showed up then slowly drive off.

And what BETTER place to wage a campaign of offing innocent victims than Montgomery County, MD and DC where only the cops -- and the bad guys -- are SUPPOSED to have guns.

The shooting in VA MAY have been a bad choice as I believe VA does have a CCW law on the books.

These morons MAY have some surprises if they try this crap down south.

[Dick Bachert]

My guess is that this is a continuation of what began on 9-11. My only questions are what took the bastards so long and where will they strike again?

If these shooters were cautious and set their vehicle up properly, there'd be no need to flee quickly. They could hang around for some time until just before the cops showed up then slowly drive off.

And what BETTER place to wage a campaign of offing innocent victims than Montgomery County, MD and DC where only the cops -- and the bad guys -- are SUPPOSED to have guns.

The shooting in VA MAY have been a bad choice as I believe VA does have a CCW law on the books.

These morons MAY have some surprises if they try this crap down south.

[iconoclast]

I have previously wiped the egg off my face.;o)

[Miss Marple]

The training manuals illustrated shooting from vehicles, attacking schools, and knocking on the doors of people and shooting them when they answered. Also shooting people on golf courses. There was an article about it a few days ago.

I suppose this could be a thrill killer who happens to be well-organized and methodical.

But I do not find it irrational to also suspect terrorism.

[twigs]

Moose struck me as the most incompetent police chief or PR official I have EVER seen in a press conference (I didn't see the PG's press conference). So I got curious and looked him up. The man is a Ph.D. and teaches college in addition to being police chief. So I have to assume that he is simply not good "on his feet" and was trying very hard to not reveal information that would impede the investigation.

[walkingdead]

That's kinda interesting about the second shooter, who is not as skilled. I was thinking, if you have one rifle, and two shooters, then it's awfully tough to come across two people who "shoot the same zero".

Basically, a scoped weapon is set to the shooter. Now another person can shoot the rifle, but if he can't get his head in the right position to see through the scope (without any black; sides, top or bottom of view) then his shot will always fall a bit off zero.

Anyway, one other thing. The brass they're finding is NOT from the shooters rifle, and here's why. First of all, it doesn't take a "skilled marksman" to shoot someone from 300 yrds. Not if the rifle is a scope mounted bolt, or a single shot or something. These rifles are very accurate. And they will not automatically eject the brass like a AR-15 or the likes.

Now it is vaguely possible that in the heat of the moment, our perp worked the action out of reflex. I know that immediately after I take my first (and only) shot at that great big muley looking at me, I work another round into the chamber almost before the first one lands. So if you've shot for a while, instinct tells you to reload. But if your on a killing spree, and do not want to get caught, then instinct better tell you to "keep your brass".

Anyway, just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.

[CobaltBlue]

I don't have any evidence about the anthrax attacks that isn't from the same mass media that you read.

I am just using analytical thinking.

Why would a Middle Eastern terrorist target Daschle and Leahey? Wouldn't Lieberman or another high profile Jew be a more likely target?

Right wingers hate liberals like Daschle, Leahey and Tom Brokaw.

Middle Easterners hate Jews like Lieberman and Diane Feinstein.

Also, the FBI has clearly determined that the anthrax came from a US lab. The culture was almost pure anthrax, and was treated with an electric charge that caused the spores to repel each other, the opposite of static cling. It was probably made by someone who worked at Ft. Detrick, or was stolen by someone who worked at Ft. Detrick.

You and I can grow anthrax but we can't make it that pure or put that coating on it, and the Iraqis probably can't either.

The National Enquirer incident doesn't fit, but whackos are hard to understand.

[johnny7]

When you fire a weapon... rifle or side-arm, it takes a little time. To do well, it takes a little longer.

Hitting targets from the distance this a-hole did takes a knowledge of the area and the best field of fire.

He/she had to get out quick!

Then again... the shooter might have had a silencer and smokeless ammo... with a group of people helping him.

One thing is certain. The dude will kill again until the cows come home.

The police are just well-paid people walking around.

Good news! Chief Ramsay is on the case!

[twigs]

Stay safe in Maryland today! And keep your eyes open! We need aware citizens to catch this guy!

[blackdog]

OK folks, the Reynolds(prefered brand) foil wrap is in a lock-box and only my wife holds the key. Either I am getting some stray residual signals from previous foil hats or there is some cause to consider what I am asking.

[iconoclast]

And no one hears a rifle shot and notices a car/van speeding away? No one has noticed, in 8 shootings, a rifle sticking out of a vehicle? The guy is choosing his spots carefully.

No offense. Just keep readin, these points have been covered too.

[ET(end tyranny)]

I might point out that the question provide more information that listening to Moose.

I noticed that earlier, but that it might have been an 'isolated incident'. Thanks for the heads up on CNN though for hearing the questions better.

[dmz]

respectfully, you are reaching on this as well. determining firing characteristics and cataloging the gun is done prior to you getting the weapon. in what way does that information residing in a database violate the security of your person, house, papers and effects.

now, i think you (and having now read the original posters response to my comment) and the original posters issues lie with where having this documentation will lead. I understand and appreciate that angle, but the catalog doesn't violate the constitutionality, it would be with an unconstitutional use of the data.

am i splitting hairs, arguing semantics. probably. but we go off on the anti-guns when they attempt to wordsmith the constitution, we should make every effort not to stoop to that.

[mhking]

So I have to assume that he is simply not good "on his feet" and was trying very hard to not reveal information that would impede the investigation.

I'm guessing a combination of the two - I was not as disappointed in either Moose or the PG chief, then again, I've been subjected to the mishandlings of former Atlanta Police Chief (and now second in command of Hartsfield's security) Beverly Harvard (and the hand in her back speaking for her, former Mayor Bill Campbell) for the past eight years.