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.
Underfunded that's for sure! For those of you who believe in the sleeper cell theory, the good news is that they're really running out of money...
;-)
It always comes back to the white box truck. The same truck which, according to WND's source, a BOLO went out on very soon after the first shootings. It was originally reported that there were two hispanic looking (or ME looking -- whichever you want to believe), inside the truck. We never heard another word about this report..... but apparently, the white truck is still in play as we've seen from the composite - only without the Hispanic (or ME men)
Killers do multiple shootings in different areas, the conditioned response to shut everything down with everyone out in the open happens and bang- WMD goes off.
Perhaps, but why put the authorities in your target area on a heightened state of alert?
I don't remember that. Will have to check the reports.
Yeah, only then we could call in an airstrike...
Sac
Missions Required of the Military Organization:Etc. Etc.The main mission for which the Military Organization is responsible is:
The overthrow of the godless regimes and their replacement with an Islamic regime. Other missions consist of the following:
1. Gathering information about the enemy, the land, the installations, and the neighbors.
2. Kidnaping enemy personnel, documents, secrets, and arms.
3. Assassinating enemy personnel as well as foreign tourists.
4. Freeing the brothers who are captured by the enemy.
5 . Spreading rumors and writing statements that instigate people against the enemy.
6. Blasting and destroying the places of amusement, immorality, and sin; not a vital target.
7. Blasting and destroying the embassies and attacking vital economic centers.
8 . Blasting and destroying bridges leading into and out of the cities.
Not sure I see the correlation here, but no, it won't take it personally. Or seriously.
Misdirection, distraction. They could be trying to draw authorities out into the surrounding areas, making the city itself more vulnerable.
Just thinking out loud, here...
And above all, Alla, the prince of darkness, will not favor you for free. There will be a price. The immoral soul. The virgins of promise? All male goats. Stinking and ready for their first piece of Muslim butt.
You're turning this guy into some kind of super hit man. No way. this is probably a local (legal, illegal, or us citizen) who is not particularly extraordinary in any way. His marksmanship is not that wonderful, no matter what everyone tries to ascribe to him. He is really good at escape and evasion though, or maybe the police are really bad at detection and capture. I'm beginning to think it could be a cop of some sort. Someone who was bumped out and now has an attitude of "So you think you're so great? Well lets see how you handle this!" In any event, this is most definitely no super villan.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.