Posted on 10/08/2002 3:36:37 AM PDT by 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.
The degree of planning (no witnesses, clean get aways all the time) and discipline (one shot/victim) of this killer(s) suggests someone older. My guess 30-45.
1. The killer is using a bolt action scoped rifle. Each time one and only one shot is fired. I think if anybody had access to a semiauto rifle more than one shot would have been fired at some time. Also a brass catcher would not have to be used. The one lady who was shot in the head would have been a difficult shot with iron sights only.....
The finding of brass could indicate the opposite, "one shot" why eject your brass? Use semi auto and If your target falls, no need to fire another shot. The second shot will not be as accurate if you rapid fire so why fire it?
4. The killer does not display any great knowledge of firearms. It is possible to learn to do everything that he has done with only one weeks training. Learning to shoot a scoped rifle is considerably easier than shooting an iron sight rifle.
I disagree, shooting targets on a range is one thing, shooting people is completely different. Even if you are hunting deer it takes a while to steady yourself consistently when you see the Buck. This guy has the self control and patience to squeeze off a good shot, under pressure every time. I think he has killed people before.
5. Most people will survive hits from this type of weapon. A .30 caliber cartridge would be a surer bet for killing people. ....
I can think of a few recently dead people in that area of the country that would disagree with you on this one.
7. ..... I do not believe that anyone handloads .....This would indicate greater knowledge of firearms which I believe would leave someone to choose a different caliber weapon...
Some do load their own. The choice of a weapon is a personal thing. It may be what he trained with. It may be because it is lighter, flat black color, feels better in his hands. It could be any number of reasons. I would choose a M-14 because it's what I am most comfortable with, not because it would be the best weapon.
10. I think it is likely that two people are being used for the shooting team. One to drive and act as a lookout the other as the trigger man. So far the shooter has not made a mistake like taking a shot in the immediate presence of other people. It is hard to be focused on your shooting and looking all around yourself for potential witnesses.
I might agree if he is a novice, not if he is well trained. He would recon.
12. The killer has displayed his relative lack of firearms knowledge again. The wounds on the boy hit on Monday appear to be lower down his body. It is likely that the killer did not adjust the point of impact for the longer range... The target was farther, the target was smaller, the target could have been moving, he did his job in any case, this poor little boy still may die. Schools are in disorder, people are afraid, sounds like terror to me.
Okay here is my conclusion , For what it's worth, which is not much.
A Single Shooter, Dark Skin or Black Man, 20-30, Muslim with US Military Training with M-16, probably Marine. Maybe hired or just pissed off.
Since this is my sincere belief, it will probably turn out to be a white pimply faced teenager with his first gun who is mad at his girlfriend.
All the killings from the first day allowed them to shoot from a vehicle but now is walking, riding a bike or Motorcycle possibly even jogging (albeit makes longer shots harder with accelerated heartbeat ect ect ...).
The TC single shot or Remington XP-100 style weapon is capable of 500 meter torso/brisket shots all day long in skilled hands. I personally use one on prariee poodles at extream ranges . This guy can carry such a rig under a light jacket while strolling down the street or standing in a crowd of on lookers and not be discovered.
Affluant area aside even a homeless sort or transient appearance is urban camoflage as is a Brooks Brothers suit and a briefcase in a BMW if the financial backing is there....... Think also people who are obvious in the area. Electric /Gas meter readers. Post Man or Woman.....Garbage truck driver. .... Telephone repairman, UPS-FEDX deliver trucks. Possibly even a LEO/FLEA or rent a cop patrolling the local high value homes. None of those folks normally brings a second glance. I suggest that all are suspect.
The only thing that bothers me is the .223 brass left behind that I believe is a false trail to show the markings on the brass as being fired from a semi-auto or bolt gun ie extractor, ejector, primer hit, type of fireing pin, bolt face scratches and other foreinsic ballistic data ect ect. That brass could have been picked up at a local firing range or bought from once fire bulk brass suppliers to seed the snipers hide IMHO.
By now the type of powder and bullet is known per infor recovered from the victims bodies. Commercial or Goobermint ammunition mfgr /DODIC lots have been identified and knowledge that the shooter is using a handload or bought round of ammo.
Right or wrong just some of my thoughts , ideas.......... :o)
Stay Safe !
my maps are trying to show...the convenience of the Parks...either as cover to fire or assemble a gun, or parking a vehicle, or sitting back and watching the pattern of traffic, people, activity in general...the pattern I am trying to portray is the PARKS are close to MOST of these events.
However, if there were some manmade equivalents to open areas in those spots, the complaint goes away.
GEEEZ, has the media reported anything about this case that ISN'T totally garbled??
Good for her!Has she stopped voting for the dark side, as well?:-)
Life seems to have a built-in mechanism to force the logical thought processes to kick in at some point. At least for those who'll open their eyes and unplug their ears.;-)
Most leftist remain that way, knowing better, because they make a profit of some kind by being so stupid!
Stay Safe
Lord, sometimes these reporters need duct taping!
I don't mind our old stud Gov. being used as a stalking horse. Cripes,it's the first good use I've heard for him.....besides his Clinton imitations.
I don't know, kids do watch a lot of very "informative" movies these days. But from what I've read elsewhere, people seem to agree that it takes discipline to fire only one shot. Sounds like a good point. However, if these kids have martial arts training, they could achieve it.
Of course if they are martial arts trained, they wouldn't be your typical nerds mad at their girlfriends or the world, but rather 2 cold calculating smart kids: the kind you see in those movies where they think they're so smart they can commit the perfect murder. I know, in these stories it's one murder, but it could be a variation on the theme....
(Can't remember the titles of any of these movies/books right now. Anybody knows?)
And I think the one who did the shooting yesterday is the weakest link...
Yep, at least that's where they found a spent casing which matched the other forensic tests. Could be a decoy, though. :)
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