Posted on 10/13/2002 1:43:35 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
US police have said they do not want to the muddy waters of an investigation into a sniper who has killed eight people and wounded two by releasing an inaccurate sketch, amid reports the meticulous killer circling the nation's capital has been sighted.
Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose was asked to comment on reports that the sniper who has electrified the Washington area has been spotted, and police are working on a composite sketch.
Chief Moose, struggling for the right words, said he did not want to "muddy the waters" by releasing an image to the media too soon.
"Please rest assured that when we have something where we are sure that the media can help us we will use that," Moose said.
"The concern is that we pollute the whole thought process, we cause people to have tunnel vision, think they see what they heard on TV and mix that up with reality."
The power of the media has taken center stage in the hunt for the shooter - or shooters, who has used a high-velocity rifle to slam a single bullet into 10 victims since October 2, eluding the largest federal, state and local manhunt in the history of the Washington region.
Chief Moose released a composite image of an older model, mid-sized commercial truck, with light damage to its right rear bumper and black lettering -- a row of large black block letters above a row of smaller letters, on each side.
Chief Moose said the white truck, which has a roll-up door at the rear, was seen at more than one of the shootings by more than one witness and he asked the media to distribute it widely.
He declined to discuss any of the witnesses further.
"None of the witnesses have been able to give us the exact wording" on the truck or its license plate number, Chief Moose said at a news briefing.
The chief said the image is generating new leads.
"Maybe he has had this vehicle repaired," he said, calling on mechanics and body shop workers to think back.
Investigators are working on a sketch of a second vehicle, described as a white Chevrolet Astro van, seen near the latest shooting on Friday, Chief Moose said.
"We're working with a sense of urgency" to get that photo to the public, he said.
Physical evidence has been scant, with one taunting clue apparently left by the shooter near where a 13-year-old victim was shot - a tarot "death" card with the words "dear Mr Policeman, I am God" scrawled on the back.
The cold, methodical killer, who picks off random victims while concealed in a sniper's nest at a comfortable distance, claimed his 10th victim and eighth fatality on Friday.
Kenneth Bridges, 53, a businessman and father of six on the road from Philadelphia, was killed on Friday at an Exxon gasoline station near a busy interstate highway in Virginia.
It's some nut case.
concur. i've always thought abc news was a terror cell.
That is the quality of journalism these days. Sad.
BS. If they were "terrorists," they'd be going after rush-hour traffic at any of the many federal workplaces in that area - like that Paki illegal alien did several years ago in the parking area at CIA headquarters. Their skills would also be much better.
Nah, just another "Moose" thread.
'Jihad in America': Author explains how he made video, lived to tell about it
They don't need to pull another 9/11 .....all the have to do is turn loose a 3 man sniper team in a major metro area....
Notice how people aren't going out in the DC area...afraid to even pump their own gas......imagine if this keeps up for say another 3 weeks.....they will wreck the local economy.
BTW .....wrecking the local economy is what this is all about.
On this thread (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/768449/posts), RedsHunter said:
The one thing in particular makes me think that it's not Al Qaeda terrorists are not doing the shooting ... the Tarot card supposedly left behind at one scene. Two things about it ... as I understand it, no self-respecting Mooselem would touch or look at, or even write upon, a graven image of God, let alone write on it in manner so to present himself as a God to others, even his infidel prey.
His point is credible. As I do not know the Koran well enough, I do not know if it would permit a muslim to go against is sacred teachings of doing such a thing with tarot cards.
If part of an al-Qaeda plan, Lord forbid, each takedown might be a signal that a particular aspect of further plans are in place and ready to launch.
Even though these attacks can't be defended effectively with your own firearms, it is still a good time to stress the merits of legal, individual gun ownership in one's community.
Maximal effect, minimal resources.
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