Maryland Sniper Shootings-FR Commentary

Fox, CNN, Press Conferences | October 9, 2002 | Fox, CNN, Press Conferences

[Peach]

Another press conference due soon. To avoid multiple vanity threads regarding any news that comes from press conferences, thought we'd keep a live commentary thread going again today.

[relee]

The school is in PG County, due south of DC, outside the Beltway. Plug the address into mapquest and you'll see a parkland (green) area nearby. I did not see any quick exit, major roads nearby.

[DmBarch]

A .223 isn't that loud I don't think (having never shot one) - I mean, not like a .308 or a shotgun or anything. It's only slightly bigger than a .22. A good set of earplugs and/or shooting earmuffs inside of a truck would probably be quite effective in protecting hearing. And shooting out of a small window I imagine would do quite a bit toward sound suppression, not to mention flash (which isn't going to be too visible in daylight anyway), as long as the muzzle is inside of the vehicle.

No. The .223 Rem or 5.45X45mm is a high pressure round. Out of a short barrel like a Ruger Mini-14 the blast can be painful to be near, even with ear plugs. I'd rather be next to a M-1 Garand shooting .30-06 on the firing line.

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

After the Tarot Card taunting, I now think the sniper is a fairly young man (late teens, early 20s), loner, likely indulged by parents, who are probably both neglectful and uninterested government workers. He is not unlike the Columbine shooters.

I'm starting to think it's our Govoner, Parris Glendening. Or, if not him Kathleen Corrupt-Kennedy Towsend. (The "I am God" reference gives them away).

[Elenya]

Thanks for the pic. It helps a lot. Looks like the shootings could only have been done from parking lots. What's your take on it?

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for starting this thread.

Here is the link to the thread about the Secret Service being called in to help: (link)

Freepers might want to go to this link for the replies and specifics on this thread re the Secret Service!

[Merovingian]

Not familiar with Silent Scope, my theory was about SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs, which I'm told is very intense, and involves sniping..then when I heard that the nickname of the sniper in the movie Navy Seals was GOD, the Tarot message jumped out..
Find it here:
http://www.us.playstation.com/games/SCUS-97134.asp

[spunkets]

Where'd you get the pic?

[Joe Hadenuf]

Yes, since hearing this morning about the Tarot card, I'm starting to change my mind as well.

Now you can see why I withheld my opinion.

And my opinion still is a possible garden varity, local nutjob or a possible foreign terrorist:o

But to be truthful, I did feel slightly, that this was a homegrown lunatic from the begining. But then again...You never freakin know until something substantial breaks and when you can really narrow down the candidates.......If this guy trips, they'll make sure he falls fast...Hopefully..

[Hatteras]

My theory was that he was directly across the street from the gas station at the end of the large parking lot.

The gas pump islands are perpendicular to the main road so as the cabbie is pumping gas, he is standing between the car and the pump. He was shot in the chest. The pumps are head high and the the car blocks the other direction. That means the shot came from the direction of the parking lot. Because the parking lot sits about 10 feet above the gas station grade, he couldn't stray too far from the road before he loses his line of site to the gas pumps.

I heard that the police were searching the rooftop of the Giant Food store (large dark gray roof top at the bottom center) and if he wasn't near the end of the parking lot that would be the only other place he could get that shot off from. I have a hard time believing that he could get on the roof and off without being noticed and then get up the street to Leisure World and set up his next shot 25 minutes later. Anythings possible I guess...

[ET(end tyranny)]

Thanks, Miss Marple. (Still my favorite Freeper name). Surprising the sniper hasn't changed vehicles yet given all the heat on the white box truck.

Considering how many of those white trucks are around, they may not need to change vehicles.

[libertysdaughter]

Wednesday, October 9, 2002 Posted: 11:01 AM EDT (1501 GMT) Police Chief Charles Moose says the discovery of a Tarot card should not have been leaked.

ROCKVILLE, Maryland (CNN) -- Police have two possible new clues -- a Tarot card and shell casing -- that may help them in their search for the sniper who has killed six people and wounded two in a weeklong crime spree that has unnerved the nation's capital.

Meanwhile, police in Prince George's County were searching woods near two schools in Fort Washington, Maryland on Wednesday after a witness reported seeing a man carrying a dark bag. Police said they had interviewed a witness and, based on that, established a perimeter and were searching the area.

Sources said it is unclear whether the Tarot card -- inscribed with the message "Dear Policeman: I am God" -- is related to the shootings. The card, which was found near the middle school in Bowie where a 13-year-old boy was shot Monday, represents death in the fortunetelling deck.

Authorities said they believe the card could have been left by a prankster.

But Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose said Wednesday he was upset about the leak of the Tarot card information to reporters, saying it "is not something I authorized for release" and said "it is inappropriate to comment on this card... http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/South/10/09/shootings.maryland/index.html

[YoungKentuckyConservative]

Get your facts straight - it was the plane's *tail* that experienced some sort of structural failure and 'fell off' ...

You are wrong. They claimed the "engine" fell off which is why it landed miles from the rest of the crash site. Get your facts straight.

[Hatteras]

Montgomery County Govt

Thanks to another freeper, 11th_VA

[ET(end tyranny)]

I have a hard time believing that he could get on the roof and off without being noticed and then get up the street to Leisure World and set up his next shot 25 minutes later. Anythings possible I guess...

Just had a thought. Wasn't there a witness at the gas station that saw the white truck leaving? If so, then he probably didn't do it from the roof, because he would have to exit from the back of the building. If the truck is parked behind in the alley, then the witness at the gas station wouldn't see the truck leaving.

There are a lot of those white trucks, but if they saw one leaving quickly, chances are the shooter was in a nearby parking lot.

[Hatteras]

You might have to know the area to zero in on the locations but I am familiar with alot of Montgomery County as I had spent a few years there and I have a friend who lives a few blocks back behind the Amoco Station. By the way, based on the photos, I see he was home the day they were taken. :-)

[OReilly]

due south of DC

Due North...

[Eva]

Wasn't Sheen the out-of-control loner who caused the death of one of the men, by his actions or lack of action. I wish I could remember what the Sheen character did in that movie, but whatever it was, it wasn't good, and he refused to take responsibility for his behavior.

[Peach]

You're welcome and thanks for the link. Looked at it this morning and there were some interesting observations I hadn't known about the SS.

[Peach]

I know why you withheld your opinion - and it's sound thinking. But we still want opinions, lots of opinions!

[Hatteras]

I think the police have to check the roof because they couldn't find anything in the parking lot and they want to cover all their bases. I would love to get a picture from the gas pumps looking out across the street to see what is visible and the bench at Leisure World (victim #4) but, alas, I'm 300 miles away...