Police source: Manassas bullet was a .223

The Free Lance-Star ^

[kregger]

Police source: Manassas bullet was a .223

A police source says preliminary indications are that the bullet that killed a Maryland man at a Manassas gas station last night was the same type round used in eight sniper attacks.

Kari Pugh The Free Lance-Star A law-enforcement source said this afternoon that a Maryland man killed in Manassas appears to have been shot with the same kind of bullet used in eight sniper attacks in the Washington area.

At a news conference this afternoon, Prince William County authorities would say only that ballistics tests are being done. But the source, who asked not to be named, said preliminary indications are that it was a .223-caliber round.

Dean Harold Meyers, 53, of Gaithersburg, Md., was gunned down last night as he prepared to fill his tank at a gas station in Manassas. An autopsy showed he was killed by a single shot to his upper body.

Prince William Police Chief Charlie T. Deane said today that the shooting appears consistent with other sniper attacks in the eight days. Six people were killed in Montgomery County, Md., and Washington Oct. 2 and 3. A 43-year-old mother of two was shot in the back outside the Spotsylvania Mall Friday and a 13-year-old boy was critically wounded as he walked to school in Bowie, Md., Monday.

The Spotsylvania victim went home from the hospital Tuesday. The student remained hospitalized today.

Police are looking for a white panel van, possibly a Dodge Caravan, that was seen speeding away towards Interstate 66 shortly after the 8:18 p.m. shooting in Manassas. State police closed the interstate temporarily and Prince William police launched a wide dragnet for the shooter, but he remains at large.

Police said they found some evidence near the scene, but they are not saying exactly what it is. Deane did say, that it was not a message from the killer.

Deane, however, had a message of his own for the gunman: “Turn yourself in, enough damage has been done.”

Prince William Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul Ebert said if the killing is the work of the sniper, and if the gunman is caught alive, he will seek the death penalty.

“I’ve never seen an investigation as intense, thorough and far-reaching,” Ebert said. “Sooner or later we will bring this person to justice.”

[Feiny]

I grew up one town away from Manassas. My folks still live in the area. This sniper is one screwed up guy who needs to be stopped.

[College Repub]

The gunmen (were he smart) would start roating guns/bullets to make things harder to track.

[Freedom2specul8]

maryland watch ping

[Dog Gone]

I would sure hate to be driving a white Dodge Caravan anywhere near DC today.

[mystery-ak]

...looks like we have a match.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Where's that freeper that owes me $10.00 for the bet. If you read this, send the $10.00 donation to Jim Rob in care of Joe Hadenuf.

[aristeides]

So much, I guess, for the story about the shot being from a shotgun.

[Blood of Tyrants]

It is my opinion that at least two of them are copycat killings. The first string was six killings in a couple of hours with one shot each.

Then the boy at school was shot twice several days later and the shooter left a Tarot card. Then a couple of days later this guy at a gas station (so far no leak of a Tarot card).

Last week they were looking for a medium duty truck with a lift gate. This week it has morphed into a mini van.

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[El Gato]

Then the boy at school was shot twice several days later and the shooter left a Tarot card. He was only shot once, contrary to early reports.

[toddst]

The gunmen (were he smart) would start roating guns/bullets to make things harder to track.

Not if he's a terrorist and wants to intensify the fear factor linked to the "shooter is skilled and smart" profile. Beyond that, we don't have access to the bullets so don't know whether he IS switching guns and ammunition, but continues with the .223 cartridge.

I believe the guy's a terrorist and is following the plan.

[RicocheT]

I am amazed how lethal this .223 round is. I thought when it was introduced it was criticized as undersized, although high velocity. That it was more likely to wound than kill. Not bad in the military as a wounded enemy is just as out of action as a dead one.

Is this shooter using soft point hunting rounds or the fmj military round? Hope the details come out when he/she is caught.

[WashingtonCollegeofLaw]

As far as i had heard, the kid was only shot once in the chest. Second, the bullet from the kid was linked to the sniper, presumably by more than just the same type, ie some type of ballistics. Ive got to think that the killings are all related. The tarot card could have been a prank... the language on it seems too weird for me. The killer seems to be too methodical to be luny, i think its just something he wrote down, if it was him, to throw the police for a loop. i think whoever he is is sitting back watching CNN having a big laugh.

[Quilla]

Althought I have a fair selection, when I hunt, I always use the same gun - the one with which I'm most familiar and accurate. Another thought - this shooter may only have one gun and way too nervous to purchase another at this time.

[cryptical]

The gunmen (were he smart) would start roating guns/bullets to make things harder to track.

I doubt that being hard to track is his main agenda. This guy probably gets a thrill out of the attention.

[Joe Hadenuf]

To: Diddle E. Squat

I don't drink, but I'll bet you a $10 donation to FR that the serial shooters simply changed weapons.

You got a bet, but if there was no shotgun used, no bet....

319 posted on 10/9/02 8:29 PM Pacific by Joe Hadenuf [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 272 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

Make sure you put my name on the check. Thanks...

[Shooter 2.5]

That would not explain why all the bullets that did not come apart all matched each other.
The kid was shot once. There was a left side entrance wound with the bullet traveling to the right side near the heart. The bullet was found on the right side under the surface with fragments to the lower area.

[matthew_the_brain]

The .223 caliber is a very hot load......when I first purchased my AR 15, we used to shoot at a cast iron products from 250 yards.....and these rounds would penetrate the cast iron.

Very hot load, indeed.

[Shooter 2.5]

The AR-15 or M-16 with the 5.56/.223 was designed so that the new recruits would have an easier time getting hits with it's low recoil.
All the other stuff about being designed to tumble in the body, to wound, etc. was and is only the side attaction to the ability to hit.