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.
After the shooting spree we've seen the last few days, it seems odd though that the killers would wait to try it again after their isolated 9-14 attack. They don't strike me as the patient type. Also, that attack was on a Saturday, and there was no shooting over the weekend. Could it be disinformation in order to provoke the perps?
NOON BRIEFING by Montgomery County Chief of Police Charles Moose:
US Atty Gen Ashcroft has pledged whatever support is needed to the regional task force investigating the sniper attacks.
No new incidents as of noon today, investigation moving forward.
195 local, state, district, and federal agents working on the case full time. Hundreds of others are contributing.
Q: "Was this a terrorist act?" Chief Moose demurred.
Hillandale Liquor Store incident September 14 may be related.
Investigators will not elaborate further on forensic evidence. It is rumored that a shell casing was recovered from the woods near Tasker School in Bowie, but authorities will not comment.
No suspects at this time.
"We have a lot of work to do."
Next briefing at 3:00 pm EDT.
UPDATE: Police now confirm that a shell casing was retrieved from the crime scene at Benjamin Tasker Middle School in Bowie, and is being analyzed by the ATF.
UPDATE 2: JJ Johnson of the Sierra Times says "None Dare Call it Terrorism."
[N]othing - absolutely nothing since September 11, 2001 will be called terrorism. Not the American Airlines flight over New York City a year ago, not the string of oil refinery explosions, unexplained train derailments, not the nutcases attacking Greyhound bus drivers, and heaven forbid - that Anthrax thing was an anomaly, just like the West Nile Virus and the new cases of malaria popping up in the same area of the shooting. Just individual crazed lunatics mind you, not terrorism.I'm guessing they won't call this terrorism, either.
UPDATE 3: News conference with MC Chief of Police Charles Moose et al coming up, live via WTOP.
MC Executive Doug Duncan:
Visited several schools during the day, spoke with students. Attending fourth funeral in four days tomorrow. Victims' families are devastated.
Reward fund is up to over $237,000, mostly due to small donations:
Montgomery County Reward Fund
Executive Office Building
101 Monroe Street
Rockville, MD 20850
Chief Moose:
No new acts of violence, no new investigative breaks in the case.
UPDATE 4: Prince Georges County Police responded massively to a citizen report of a man with a gun in the vicinity of High Point High School in Beltsville, MD.
No arrests have been made.
UPDATE 5: PG County Police have called off the search at High Point, having found nothing of interest. The students have been allowed to go home.
UPDATE 6: The Fredericksburg shooting victim has been released from the hospital and sent home to recuperate.
The thirteen-year-old victim in Bowie remains in critical but stable condition.
UPDATE 7: Press conference with PG County Chief of Police Gerald Wilson.
Level of police presence in schools will continue until killer is "brought to justice."
Working with "Regional Coalition partners" to identify and apprehend shooter.
Images of rifle cases distributed to media.
No linkage yet between shell casing found at Tasker Middle School and shootings. ATF is analyzing shell casing.
All future press conferences will be done through Regional Coalition headquartered in Rockville, MD. Agencies will speak with one voice.
I'll agree with you on that one. Not many "yutes" have the self-control and/or discipline that this terrorist or terrorists have shown in their escape & evasion.
However, the pure shooting skill shown is not unknown or impossible to find amongst the young.
That's right, he was shot at night and it's confirmed the sniper shot him.
From an earlier post -
On Friday, October 4, at 9:15 PM, Pascal Charlot, 72, was shot as he stood on a street corner, a few hundred yards from the Montgomery County line.
Now if it's an Arab.... well all bets are off... cause they can just up and move this show to another city anytime they want to create havoc in another locale. IMHO of course. If it is a "pro"... good luck.. It makes me shudder what a "real" sniper could do in an urban environment with a helper to drive him around and help set up the "shoot". I think it'll be luck to find them. Either way... very scary.. I'm sure they're getting help from sniper schools on what to look for from the Marine, Army and FBI.
The only reason we hadn't lost more that day is because this guy has the sense to know when to temporarily stop.
"Not that of a frustrated teen", probably not. But I wouldn't be surprised if the perps were a couple of thrill-seeking narcissistic older teens or young adults bored with video games.
Police Confirm shooting at Michael's
FBI: Maryland shootings fit no category
Two Hispanics Sought In DC Area Killings
13 Year old boy shot outside Bowie, MD. Middle School, Not known if sniper related
Evidence links Monday's shooting to Spree
The DC Sniper Nest: None Dare call it Terrorism
Media Police Fudge Gun Facts in Sniper Shootings
White racist (Robert Gene Baker III) hunted after sniper attacks in Maryland
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