Sniper Awareness in the DC Area: Tips on Surviva;

Forwarded Email | 11 Oct 02 | Unknown

[texson66]

Hello everyone,

As you may already know I have been a SWAT Sniper for about 3 years. My specialty is Counter Sniper for Presidential and dignitary protection. What this basically means is, I am posted at certain locations looking for a sniper/assassin. Once a threat is detected, I am charged in countering his/her ability to attack by early detection and neutralizing (killing) him/her.

Now on to business… This Sniper killing people in the DC Metro area is a skilled sharpshooter and very calculated. Unfortunately he appears very disturbed and has just left a calling card stating he was God. What that probably means is he may escalate the matter by increasing the rate of killing in each attack because he acknowledges the police's hot pursuit. This sniper knows it's a matter of time before he is discovered. He thinks he is superior to everyone, but knows eventually he will be caught. He is playing a very sick game that he feels he is winning. He will probably want to sensationalize his confrontations with the police and eventually stop running and have a standoff. The police may be his future targets.

It is very important that you adjust your regular routine because this is a very deadly individual. I am going to give you my personal/professional advice on the matter.

The Sniper's MO (his methods) are the following. a. 1st wave of attacks were concentrated in an area the suspect was very familiar with. b. It appears these initial attacks were closer, probably less than 100 yards away. Witnesses were hearing loud cracks. c. He definitely is showing off. He is trying to maintain 100 %, one shot for one kill. (Sniper's creed). d. He is probably not shooting the first person that appears. He is looking for the highest probable kill. This encompasses distance, position, and movement of the individual and excludes physical barriers (vehicles, tress, columns, etc). e. He is shooting from areas adjacent to major roadways, thoroughfares, highways, etc. (quick egress). First group was within a couple of miles from beltway. Child shot in Bowie was a block away from the US 50 on the 197. f. He went up to northern Virginia (70 miles away) to throw police off his trail (diversion, used by snipers for stalking targets and eluding enemy). g. He is making this to be a giant 'Stalk' around the Metro area. It is a game now. He wants them to come after him (like he is in his own war against the enemy). h. He is probably using any foliage (tree line, woods, bushes) that is around the malls, shopping center, gas stations, and parking lots. i. He is able to shoot accurately out to 500 yards (5 football fields) with or without a scope (depends on individual's abilities). j. The farther out he/she is, the more difficult of course it is to detect or pinpoint location. This aids in egress as well. (He knows this).

My advice to you all is to consider the following.

1. Avoid unnecessary errands. 2. Bring someone along. 3. Do not stand outside your vehicle grabbing things out the car. 4. If you go to the store, put items in back seat of car (nothing in trunk) so that you can grab items and exit quickly. 5. When slowing down or at a stop, keep windows closed (glass deflects bullets, he knows this and he is not shooting through glass anymore). 6. Never walk straight to a door more than 20 feet away. Zig zag and walk at angels. The shooter is setting up on doorways/entrances and waiting for victims to line up on entrance. The hardest shot for a sniper is a target traversing laterally to his/her position .

· Walk between cars, use them for protection, and NEVER walk in a straight line to a doorway. Park as close as possible.

· Be mindful of wooded areas and any bushes around establishment. More than likely surrounding areas. Look for reflections (glare of the scope or weapon).

· Use drive-thru at fast food · Look around and make it obvious (looking over your shoulder in the distant) he may hesitate if they think someone notices him. Point to what you are looking at as well. You want to telegraph yourself to others and get them involved. · Keep clear of abandoned vehicles, but concern yourself with them. He is probably parking along roads and walking to his shooting position. · You are probably safer inside the DC area only because congestion will prevent him an easy egress for the sniper. So if there is a toss up for a store then pick the inner city (not the outer boundaries).

The main thing is being careful. Everyone is at risk even the police. He is able to pick the time and place so he has the overall advantage over the police. If any of this is confusing give me a call on my cell 202.XXX.XXXX. If you still have difficulty sorting it out, then just stay home (smile). These are just my opinions and hopefully can help in your daily activities. Take care.

[clamper1797]

Do any other FReepers have other safety tips?

exercise your 2nd amendment rights ....

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

:)

[semaj]

Very good advice, especially the part about approaching building entrances and entering/exiting vehicles. One thing I would suggest if you are placing into or retreiving items from a vehicle is to bend or crouch slightly using the vehicle as cover as much as possible making for a more difficult target.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Carrying around a digital camera can be very useful.

Go one step further, and send up a high altitude reconnaissance aircraft with wide angle, high resolution camera's and have it orbit for a few days. When the next shooting occurs, look at the images....

I am confident, that if this continues, they will do this, if they are not already....

[texas booster]

This Sniper killing people in the DC Metro area is a skilled sharpshooter and very calculated.

Based upon experience and professional observations (you know, all the experts at FR), this line raises too many flags. Unless the writer knows what the police know, there is no way to prove that skill of the shooter.

I agree with other comments along the lines of ... the shooter knows enough to be dangerous, and may have some skills, but is NOT an expert. I have not seen a report that suggests the shooter is lining up 500 yards away. One shot, one kill is indeed a snipers creed. Not even the police suggest that they are dealing with a professional sniper (say ex-Spetnaz or a true military sniper).

The author of this email is correct in many areas, but when the DC police find the shooter I don't think anyone will confuse him with a real pro.

[Revolting cat!]

But the rest of us were having so much fun.......

Yeah, post a DOA vanity, then humourlessly have it yanked when it comes to life on its own. What can one say?

[jackbill]

Rule #1. If you need gas, watch cable news. If you hear of a shooting at some distance from you, go get your gas. Otherwise, get it on remote roads, not on a major highway.

Failing that, tell your wife to fill up the car.

[hattend]

From AP (via SierraTimes.com)

BALTIMORE (AP) - Men who spent their careers studying snipers are giving civilians in the Washington suburbs the kind of advice they once gave to people accustomed to living in the line of fire: Keep moving. Look for cover.

Dark, out-of-the-way spots may be the safest places for people to buy groceries or pump gas, said retired Maj. John Plaster, former Army Green Beret and author of ``The Ultimate Sniper,'' a police and military training manual. He offered the advice Thursday to people in counties surrounding Washington, where sniper attacks have terrorized people for nine days.

``If you look at where the night shootings have taken place, they were well illuminated,'' Plaster said. ``Think about how well lit a gas station is at night when you're pumping gas.''

People striking up conversations in line at the supermarket, with their neighbors, and on hotlines to crisis centers are talking about how to keep themselves and their families safe. Dean H. Meyers, 53, shot Wednesday after stopping for gas in Manassas, Va.,. was the seventh to die in the shootings.

Don Bassett, a former FBI instructor who trained agents to be snipers, said people should make themselves difficult targets. Anyone in an open area should keep moving - especially if the area is surrounded by woods or rolling terrain, he said. Anyone getting out of a car should avoid the most brightly lit areas of service stations or parking lots.

Bassett said quiet, country roads may be safer than busy streets for taking a walk or a jog. He calls schools and service stations ``target-rich areas'' because they see a constant flow of traffic.

``I think he's picking targets of opportunity that are more or less plums,'' Bassett said.

People walking quickly are harder to shoot, he said.

Plaster said people should also be aware when they're standing in an area where they're visible from more than 80 to 100 yards away. He said it's not difficult for a trained marksman to hit a target from that distance.

``I would try to be more alert, but at the same time you have to go on with your life,'' Plaster said.

Bassett said the sniper could be firing from up to 500 yards away.

``I don't think people should be paranoid as they go about their daily business, but I think they should be very aware of what's around them,'' he said.

[Dog Gone]

Or, you could always drive to Pittsburgh to fill up.

[templar]

Military of hunter's garb might make you stand out a bit.

You're right, I should have qualified my statement to say wear camofalge suitable to the environment. You made some good city camo suggestions. I like grey clothing, it avoids sharp outlines and blends into almost everything in the city. Works day or night (much better than black at night).

[Revolting cat!]

Failing that, tell your wife to fill up the car.

And who'll press your trousers, huh? I think it would be better to send out your mother-in-law!

[Squantos]

Don't leave home till the first kill of the day has occured....seems s/he's only killing one per day now. Or send your mother in law out for fuel.........(ya beat me to it JB !)

Real World ...........folks there is NO DEFENSE against such attacks short of a deep hole. This trash lays in wait long enough for targets of opportunity he'll get what s/he wants..........Its up to the survivors in the area to report the mistake this trash "will hopefully" make soon.....or kill him on sight . Nope never mind MD /DC not a CCW/CHL state......

Stay Safe !

[Hemlock]

Do any other FReepers have other safety tips?

Yeah, ride around on a camel and wear a rag on your head.

[Hemlock]

Gas Station Fill Up: Wear black at night and cabelas camo during the day. Throw smoke before exiting the vehicle and use a bb-gun to shoot out overhead lights at night. Use credit card at pump and use lock handle while filling and stay in motion. Empty clip from CAR15 into air 180 degress opposite side of car before making egress to vehicle after tank is full.

LOL!!!

[tracer]

Amen, amen, and amen!! Nobody I've talked to in this area seems to want to consider or even hear this totally indisputable assertion. De numbers, dey doo noht lie!!!

And many FReepers have attempted to flame me over this as well. This "crime wave" appears to have scared some here who, according to their posts over the last few years, have faced much greater danger with professionalism and bravery -- and I have no reason or wish to doubt their accounts of their military service.

I guess it's just too much fun for DC-area denizens being afraid and terrorized. As for me, I worry more about the dumb-ass "Junior G-Man" who might cream me with his SUV while "being on the lookout" for the latest (and probably misindentified) magical sniper-mobile.

Sure, find the bastard fast and cap him, but let's not become hysterical over an 8-in-4 million chance of getting popped ourselves.

BTW, the home of one of the recently slain is less than a block away from ours.....

[Revolting cat!]

Naw, let's just panic, it's more fun that way!

[lizma]

Thanks and ping for later.

Family movie night is about to start.

[SteveH]

possibly flawed sniper profile / avoid-becoming-a-victim suggestion list bang.

[texson66]

Maybe this is a possible technology for the detection of the sniper... Anti-Sniper

[bvw]

ROFLMAO!