...which leads to an enteresting pair of questions: Why a certain craft supply store? And why gas stations? Near interstates I can understand. They make for easy escapes from the area. But why two specific types of businesses? (And one of those two being very specific!) The attacks at gas stations, I suppose, could simply have been due to their proximity to freeways. But that leaves the question: Why Michael's? Why does he keep coming back to one particular business?
...just providing a little fuel for some brainstorming.
For what is it worth, my two cents...I think this terrorist (domestic or AQ...it is terrorism) just responds to the news that is reported. Why the shooting tonight? Maybe because they picked up the guy in MD...and the perp doesn't want somebody else taking his 'glory.' Why near a Michaels? Well if the talking heads mention/question why Michaels, and the perp thinks they are watching/guarding Michaels...then it becomes more of glory hit to shoot again near a Michaels.
Quite possibly because you can't swing a cat around here without hitting a Michael's. Or it could be that the shooter has heard all the media to-do about the "Michael's Connection" and has decided to toy with us by creating a meaningless pattern for us to chew on.