This Killer Doesn't Fit the Expected Profile

NY Times ^ | 10-08-02 | FOX BUTTERFIELD

[Lord Marshal]

Any poacher...I mean farm boy... can tell you it's very hard to be tracked with a single shot. A second shot GREATLY increased the odd some could get a general fix on the area the shot originated from.

[Lord Marshal]

"can a bold action rifle be made at home? can the bold actions from the turn of the century do the same job?"

Only if you have the action, and a full machine shop.

[Lord Marshal]

I thought they found a casing. I've been hearing this for days. Why else would everyone be talking about a .223?

Some modern .223 firearms have a distinctive rifling twist. I speculate the rifling leaned toward a .223 and .223 "slipped out"

[Dead Dog]

Terrorism really doesn't need to be an assassination. Just getting a shot into someone is good enough. In fact having crippled victims on TV would serve their purpose almost as well. What he/she is doing is disrupting our way of life. And the one shot/escape MO is the absolute best way to do this, regardless if the victim lives or not.

The longer this goes on, the more effective the tactic will be.

[Dead Dog]

He's escaping so he can do this again. This isn't a game, it is a war. He/she/they may be having the time of their lives, but the tactic is simply shrewd business. They probably would love to pump a second round in their victim, but they simply don't have the time.

[Lord Marshal]

I'd rather have Gunny Hathcock. RIP, alas

Speaking of the blessed one...if the shootings stop after 94 kills, we know what this was about.

[Lord Marshal]

Head shot versus body- this is the most intriguing. I can’t think of a good reason to switch for a serial killer.

Perhaps he's playing a game with himself, trying to achieve hits from a greater distance. Some of the early head shots were reported being at distances of 75 feet, another at 80 yards.

[Lord Marshal]

If you drew circles around all the Michaels in this country well, that would be the whole country!

[Lord Marshal]

Now I wonder why he "skipped" this morning..

My guess, too much police activity. Yesterday morning the police had a chopper on the scene within a couple of minutes. Could of been too close for comfort and spooked him a bit. The quick air cover could explain the shell casing (assuming it's not a plant)

[Chapita]

*************"if the shootings stop after 94 kills, we know what this was about."**************************

I didn't know Carlos was stalking unarmed, non-combatants!

[Pete]

If you drew circles around all the Michaels in this country well, that would be the whole country!

That's true. But if you draw a cirle around Michaels stores within 50 miles of D.C. that are near Interstates and also near parks, well, that cuts it down a bit.

[Pharmboy]

Exactly. My feeling is that he's an Arab or bought with Arab money: my mind changed when he shot the kid. They think it is fair to do that.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Fits the profile of a trained Islamic terrorist - wonder why that was not mentioned?

Political correctness...
I would hate to think that an American is doing this, but everyone on tv thinks so.

[virgil]

A single shot is a lot quicker than spending 10 or 15 seconds to spray bullets at a crowd. Its faster and doesn't attract as much attention at first. Not as many witnesses. Remember the restaurant shooting in The Godfather? Use 1 or 2 bullets, leave the scene quickly, calmly and don't look at anybody directly. These shootings are very calculated I think.

[WoollyRain]

It is really hard for a person to track direction of a single gun shot. Especially with traffic etc going on.

[Freedom2specul8]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/765475/posts?page=1

See this..could foreign terrorist be ruled out now?

[G Larry]

Further out on a limb....
I posted earlier that I thought #7 was a copycat.
I hesitated to make that call on #8, but now I will.
(perhaps to mask #7)
It will be strange if they catch the perp on these 2 and
waste a lot of time figuring out that someone else did #1-6.

[NCLou]

I just have a feeling that if this is a serial killer, we are going to start seing letters.

Megolomania - at some point I would expect him to either try to communicate with the public or press

In light of the tarot card, I guess I hit this one on the head.

As far as the tarot card, I suspect the police leaked this, meaning they have no good leads whatsoever. It's a subtle plea to the public, without coming out and saying they are stumped.

If this is the case, I bet the message was either different, or more, than what was released. Possibly more like "I am the Devil." Or something much more rational than "I am God." If the shooter believes he is being misrepresented, either by being made to look like a "nut" or by confusing his allegiences, it may prompt him to step up communication. He may make the next one to the media in an effort to get his "story" out. That can be helpful in catching him, or at least getting a better profile. Remember the Unabomber.

[revolted]

My thought is that all Muslims be rounded up and checked thoroughly. If any problems with papers, visas, etc...off they go to their respective homelands. Sorry, but I think we are at war here.

[JackIV]

It could be either a bolt-action or a semi-auto. There is no way to tell the difference, based on either the bullets or the one shell casing retrieved.