Posted on 10/10/2002 5:30:36 AM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
Police in the Washington, D.C. area say it is too early to say whether a fatal shooting in a western suburb is related to a recent series of sniper attacks that has left six people dead and two others critically wounded. Authorities say a man was shot and killed late Wednesday as he filled his car at a gasoline station in Manassas, Virginia. Forensic evidence is still being analyzed. The sniper attacks have been linked by ballistics evidence.
Reports say certain elements of the Manassas shooting bear a resemblance to the sniper shootings, which began around the Washington area last Wednesday. Like the man killed in Manassas, all of the sniper victims were shot once, seemingly at random as they performed everyday tasks. Two of the people killed last week also were gunned down at gasoline stations.
Meanwhile, authorities say they are searching for a white van seen driving away from the location of the Manassas shooting. Police have been searching for a white vehicle in connection with the shootings last week. News reports early Wednesday said police discovered what may be the first known communication from the killer: a card used in fortunetelling, said to have written on it a message telling police, "I am God."
The card, known as a Tarot card, reportedly was found, along with a spent shell casing, near a school in a Maryland suburb where a sniper attack Monday left a 13-year-old boy critically wounded.
Police officials say they did not authorize information about the card to be released to the media and refused to comment further on the matter or other details of the investigation. Federal authorities are assisting in the investigation.
I would hate to think so. I really have a feeling that it's someone from the former Eastern Bloc who put his services on the market a long time ago when the cold war ended. He probably started out working for the Russian Mafia relatively cheaply and has steadily risen in reputation, capability, and ruthlesness.
The reason why I think he's not a Muslim is because a little while ago one sniper shot and killed a bunch of Israeli soldiers. I don't know if it's the same guy, but if the Muslims were capable of producing a hit man like that, then it stands to reason that there would be dozens of snipers pinning down Israelis every day.
Many military, SWAT team members, and even casual hunters have the capability to make the shot. The defining characteristic is in actually shooting a child. That is the biggest clue to me. Where is there a record of children being shot by a sniper? I can only think of two:Yugoslavia and Chechnya. That's where I would start to look because this man has definitely shot children through a sniper's scope before.
I happen to agree with that. I doubt they would be doing things like this when their style is usually to strap on a bomb and go on a bus. It still is possible that it is a muslim organization that hired this guy, but more then likely just some lone gunman like you suspect.
Do you know if there is any history of the IRA shooting children?
Looks to be male soldiers mostly.
My point being is that someone should compile a database of children who have been shot by a sniper during a conflict. Use that database to get a list of descriptions of known snipers who committed such acts and start to narrow that list. Maybe some where killed during the conflict, some are in jail, some are leading quiet lives in Oshkos, etc...When that list is narrowed down, I would check with private security firms who specialize in protecting businessmen overseas who must have a list of top notch assassins to narrow it down even further. Look to link that list with any of them who has done work for Muslims before LIKE THE BOSNIAN MUSLIMS and you may have something to go on.
I'm a varmit hunter, rintense, have been since age 11 (back when there were many "farm kids" running around using high-powered rifles to dispatch various destructive animals who would prey on our valuable stock.) Basically, a well trained military sniper is a varmit hunter - you can quickly see the parallel.
I'm not as steady as I used to be, but woe unto a coyote who goes after a calf or sheep and is within about 400 yards, on a reasonably calm day.
This terrorist in Maryland isn't necessarily all that good, but he's disciplined and uses the basics of sniper rules, which are based on "one shot and change locations."
This guy may never be caught if he sticks to the rule of taking time to be sure he's not observed prior to the shot.
Well, I don't know who committed the most atrocities -- didn't keep score. I do know all sides in the conflict committed plenty. (Serbs, Croats, "Bosnian Muslims" and "Kosovar Alabanians.") I've never been in Chechnya, but from what I understand, that conflict has been most grisly with atrocities committed on both sides and both sides using snipers.
If you're looking for a flipped-out former merc, well, all above-mentioned ethnic groups from the former Yugoslavia have gone on to be mercs in African countries (sometimes associated with the FFL, sometimes not) where children as young as, sometimes younger than, the boy shot on Monday are often armed combatants. There were also some German mercs working for the Croats (don't know they were snipers) and a few Dutch mercs on several sides. Also the occasional Russian "volunteer" on the Serb side. And we all know about mercs or "jihadders" from various Moslem countries operating in Bosnia. Some are still there.
It's also possible the shooter didn't consider a 13-year-old as a "child." After all, he's well, er, not like the rest of us.
If you think a Muslim terrorist cell is behind this, then why can't the shooter be a Muslim? Muslims can shoot pretty good. I've known a number of Muslims from lots of different countries who can shoot just fine. They can also be disciplined and organised.
FWIW, I have no idea who the shooter(s) might be. I just hope and pray he/they are stopped quickly.
You're welcome :) Yes, there were certainly some in former Yugoslavia. A couple were real nutty. I think there may be some articles posted on FR about a couple of them. Also ran into more Dutch than I would have guessed in SE Asia who were serving in the FFL.
And no, I'm saying this sniper is a Dutch merc!
I tend to rule out the chance of it being a Muslim shooter because the Israeli's don't seem to have a lot of sniper trouble. Other than that ambush a few months ago and an occassional sniper attack now and then it doesn't seem to be the Muslim m.o.I would think that if there were a cadre of competent Muslim Snipers that the Israeli's would be pinned down by sniper fire on a daily basis. It would be much more effective than throwing rocks or blowing up a bus.
Yes, the Russian Mafiya have a thing for assassinations, both here and in Russia itself. And their snipers are very good at what they do.
Again, I have no idea who the DC sniping murderer could be. Could be a local psycho, could be some sort of terrorist. I just don't know. All I know is hope he/they are stopped and soon.
Remember, before 9/11, the Muslim M.O. was to just hijack the planes. They'd never crashed one into anything before that.
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