Armed Gunman Seen in Woods Near Mall

11 October 2002 | WJLA TV

[11th_VA]

WJLA TV in Washington DC just reported a woman called police tonight after seeing an armed gunman 'in the woods' near Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg, MD.

[concerned about politics]

Sheesh!

When I screw up typing, I just leave it. Folks can sound it out if they want. LOL

[Hatteras]

Chi Chi's is gone? I had such wonderful memories there. Ran in there when I was in town for Christmas once to pick up a few late gifts. Got tired of the crowd and spent the rest of the day drinking in, uh, I mean, taking in the Redskins game at the bar in Chi Chi's. It was alot more fun than hanging with the dads in those little mall lounge areas...

[stlnative]

More late info on shooting today

[Libertina]

I think Lady they just didn't realize this guy would respond as if to a dare. (Hope they do now) But anyway, I like Alberta's suggestion very very much:
"Maybe someone will wise up and start blabbing on the news about how safe it is for people to travel around gun clubs, firing ranges"
LOL! Well said!

[11th_VA]

Maybe he was going to lie in wait for the movie theatre to start emptying out? Theatres in the bottom right corner of mall (second pic).

Wow, these sat photos really show alot. From the theater exit go north to the top photo to that clump of trees. Another place to hide ...

[John H K]

When does hunting season open? Do they have one in Virginia or Mryland?

Well, there are a lot of different hunting seasons. There are oceans of hunters in Virginia and Maryland. I just fish, don't hunt, so I don't keep up with the seasons. None of the deer seasons are open, just dove season I think, which isn't a real big deal in these parts, relative to other stuff. Like a lot of areas, the number of hunters is declining each year, of course.

Unless you've been in the DC area it's really hard to describe the nature of things; on the one hand, it's an incredibly built up metropolis, including THE richest county in the United States in average income (Fairfax County), filled with Democrats and Liberals who have moved there from elsewhere to work for the government.

On the other hand, a SURPRISINGLY short distance from DC in MD, VA, and West Virginia you're in Red Country Bubba-zone filled with pickups, people talking with funny accents, NASCAR stores in the malls, etc.

The surburbs constantly expand into that zone.

MONTGOMERY County in MD is built up and while portions of the Northern part can have some countryside and such, I don't believe there's much of anywhere where you could legally hunt.

The area around FREDERICKSBURG, VA, while built up along the I-95/Rt. 1 corridor, is still rural at heart and I'm sure filled with people who hunt and places to hunt.

[Chemnitz]

True. I also wonder about various agencies placing men in key areas.

[concerned about politics]

More late info on shooting today

Geeez. They may have really had him and let him go. I didn't sign up for the Washington post to read the whole story though. I'm curious, but not enough to get the WP.

[stlnative]

From the late published WP story...

Sources close to the investigation said that Bridges, a father of six driving a rented car, was shot once in the upper torso. They said the bullet remained in his body. Police were working to determine where the fatal shot came from but said there was little evidence at the scene.

[stlnative]

MORE...

Police said yesterday that they are interested in the fact that the three shootings in Virginia were so close to hotels. They are looking into whether the shooter checked into a room to elude police.

Investigators have gathered lists of thousands of guests in hotels near the Virginia shootings – a Ramada Inn across from yesterday's slaying; a Hampton Inn near the Sunoco in Prince William where Dean H. Myers was killed pumping gas Wednesday night; and a Best Western behind the Michael's craft store in Spotsylvania, where a woman was wounded a week ago while loading her minivan. But the lists were so extensive that sources said it would be time-consuming to cull any leads.

[Ciexyz]

It's Friday nite, most cineplexes have midnite shows.

[stlnative]

The article is worth reading...8th Killing Linked to Sniper - Washington Post Staff Writers - Friday, October 11, 2002; 10:13 PM

[concerned about politics]

Wow. Hotels would be a good place for a quick duck. Now that they have the person on film and a compasit, even though it may not be that clear, they may actually find his method of getting away.

[republicangel]

People blab at press conferences about schools being safe, he shoots a child at school. They talk about malls, he responds. I've thought the same thing, when the news "experts" kept saying this must not be a professional sniper or a well trained sniper.... he starts shooting victims in the head instead of the larger body mass (torso).

[ET(end tyranny)]

This may be old news by now, but about ten minutes ago, Fox 5 news reported that the bullet fragments from the shooting this morning came from the same gun as the others. I find it interesting that they phrased it that way, that it came from the same gun, and not just that it's the same type of information.

Also, it was confirmed that this morning's shooting was a single shot to the head.

This was posted by poppyseed in a different thread.

[CobaltBlue]

>>THE richest county in the United States in average income (Fairfax County), filled with Democrats and Liberals who have moved there from elsewhere to work for the government.<<

Hey, buddy, we vote Republican here in Fairfax. You're thinking of Arlington and Alexandria.

My family has an NRA membership and the kids are on riflery team at school. VA is a concealed carry state.

This is the Old Dominion, buckaroo.

[Libertina]

you're safe out there!
Na, Baghdad Jim McDermRAT, Maria-can't-vote-well, and Patty Murrary (officially the legislator's dimmest bulb) are our elected representatives... You've heard of Red Tide before haven't you? sigh... But we keep trying to flush out the Sound. :)

[ET(end tyranny)]

poppyseed said information = ammunition

[ET(end tyranny)]

A hotel balcony....

[John H K]

Now that they have the person on film

I don't think they know whether the person they have on film is the shooter or not...if they knew it was the shooter, the description and picture would have been public.

I wonder if that picture is connected to the "graphic aid" they keep talking about, though.