It would be nice if someone local could look closely into shooting #8 (Fredricksburg crafts store parking lot; unidentified woman wounded, not killed). I am guessing the intent was to kill as usual. The woman has been released from the hospital and this sounds like the least serious of the shootings that found their mark at all. I would imagine that studying this shooting could tell more about the sniper(s). The physical layout of the #8 shooting could be analyzed to see if there is some difference between that layout and the others, for example.
There seem to be about three major hypotheses: (1) Arab terrorists; (2) local blue collar redneck crazies; and (3) local student redneck crazies. A little bit more info might permit disqualifying one or the other.
Conjectures (no better than anyone elses at this point): The more distance between the shooter and the scene, the safer the shooter is. The sites ring the greater DC area and the shootings happened during rush hour, so it seems possible that the shooter is based inside the greater DC area and getaway-- commutes back to central home base from the sites, against traffic. If he/she/they were going with traffic, the getaways would be slow and risk getting caught in traffic (classic example, traffic accident). For this to work the shooter would have to be driving some extremely common vehicle, the better to escape undetected and be more difficult to screen for. They are likely to be driving now the most common types of small mobile vehicles (bar none) in the local area-- 2 and 4 door sedans, 2 door PUs, and jeeps... but focusing on vehicles (hatchbacks, PUs, jeeps, etc.) with ability to shoot directly out the rear...
I don't think they are workers with a business "in the loop." It seems like overkill just to do some simple sniping. Same could be accomplished with anonymous imported types from outside the area with less ties, IDs, money, etc. required and a couple of motel rooms or apartments. Having a business involved seems contrary to the notion of a leaderless activated but relatively untraceable (to top leadership) cell. Anonymity is an advantage. Composure and emotional detachment from potential victims. Don't have to interface with them immediately before / after shootings, lack of composure, bragging, differences in emotional outlook, etc. potentially arousing suspicion. These last considerations make foreign terrorism still somewhat most likely hypothesis IMO.
I have kept up with these threads as, I lived in Manassas a year ago for four years. Found it to be laid back. Now live outside Richmond, also a bedroom community. That having been said,the real thing we're dealing with is several things.
1. The majority of people that live in the areas of the shootings, either work for the gov't or are connected in some way.
2. The tarot card IMO, was placed there to get authorities going in the wrong direction.
OBL's video mentioned America will not feel safe until there is a change in the way we treat the palestinian people.
3. Today, FNC had a blip on a letter Bush sent Sharon, saying that Sharon didn't hold up his end in the treatment of the pali's.
4. The enormous bombing's and other violent acts have all been taking place while this sniper(s) have taken the weekend off here. It's as if they're taking turns.
5. President Bush has been pushing congress to pass the terrorist insurance bill. My husband told me that insurance companies won't pay out to the victims families if the officials determine it's terroism. He said there's a clause in all life insurance policies that says, act of terrorism /act of war and you are not covered. But, act of "murder" by a crazy nutjob...
There are too many things that point to this being a terroristic attack. But, we will probably never be told.
Protect yourseves and remember, he/she/they haven't hit the same place twice.