Beltway Sniper Shootings-FR Commentary-Tuesday, Oct. 15

Fox News, CNN, Press Conferences | October 15, 2002 | Fox News, CNN, Press Conferences

[Peach]

To avoid multiple vanity threads regarding any news from press conferences, let's keep a live commentary thread going again today.

Note: This is the graphics-free thread. Graphics can be found under the thread titled "Beltway Sniper Shootings-Graphics Only"

[jacquej]

Given the statistical improbability of being the one shot by these snipers, I would probably continue about my normal routines if I lived in the area...

That said, I hate shopping in malls and stores... just didn't inherit that gene, I am afraid. I do all my shopping by mail-order and the internet, and have for years.

I do not think that revising one's plans for shopping or getting gas makes one a coward, however, just a practical realist, not wanting to be bothered with getting caught in traffic checkpoints and the resulting delays.

[Elenya]

The odds that you will encounter a government employee in Seven Corners are stupendously high.

OK, so how come none of the government employees swarming through that place started chasing the killer(s) or shooting back? I suppose some of them have to be armed...

[Spunky]

Over the weekend I heard a news report where they were saying it appeared that this terrorist was doing things that he has heard said in media reports.

It was said that school children were safe, so next a school child was shot.

It was said, somthing like, this person is acting like he is God in taking these lives. Tarot card appears with "Mister policeman,I am God."

Now I don't remember if I heard this on the news, but I am pretty sure I read it on FR. Someone said, people should be sure to go to stores where there are parking garages because it would be to hard to get a long distance shot. HE/THEY ARE LISTENING/READING AND PROVING THEY CAN DO ANYTHING PEOPLE SAY OR SUGGEST.

[SLB]

October 15, 2002 Islamic prayer times for Washington DC

5:26am
6:26am
12:17pm
3:38pm
6:07pm
7:08pm

[md2576]

Does anyone in VA area know if last nights shootings are straight down Arlington/Lee Hwy from shooting #10? Are these two roads also called Fairfax Woods Way?

[twigs]

All using the same .223 caliber firearm?

What if there are a number of teams? Couldn't they all work together (not unusual for immigrants) and therefore have access to the same vehicles and rifle? If they did live throughout the target area, they could use the same vehicle as a decoy and as someone suggested, walk to their home, etc. Or maybe there is no white truck involved. There's just lots of them, so we know just look for them, assuming they're involved?

[demlosers]

Real snipers, police and military are complaining about these killers being called snipers. Giving snipers a bad name. I personally call them shooters.

[Letitring]

They have witnesses this time. Sounds like good ones, so maybe we will get a composite sketch soon. I'll check back here after while. God Bless the wonderful Americans in that area, today. Give them safety, strength and courage, Thank you.

[tractorman]

Anyone know the religions of the victims?
I don't recall hearing if any of them were Muslims.
If not, based on the population odds in the DC area, when will it happen?

[demlosers]

Have you correlated those prayer times with the shootings?

[twigs]

20 year veteran FBI anaylst

There's also the possibility that someone who wants to kill someone else for any reason could mimic this sniper and try to get away with the crime. Of course, there's the matter of ballistics, which is linking them all together. I don't even wat to consider a fed involvement.

[rintense]

It's a game between the sniper and the media. The media, through sheer ignorance, gives the sniper the next challenge. Lord, I hope they don't mention anything about security around the President... Yesterday, when GWB was speaking outside, I had the most horrible thoughts run through my mind. I pray for the President's safety, as well as all in the DC area.

[Catspaw]

I don't know if she was specifically targeted. I do know that this is going royally PO the FBI. It's one of their own who was killed.

[jacquej]

I am thinking that about the only silly explanation for the "lone-nut" theory is that of a small shop owner "fed up to here and not gonna take it anymore" with chain stores putting the small shop owners out of business?

Maybe we can excercise our creativity by coming up with a list of silly motives to be put forth by the media for public-mollification?

[harpseal]

Last I checked there was nothing wrong with owning a rifle. Nor is there anything wrong with owning a white van. Now the former marine in question was shot by his female companion. That also is not a crime on his part. What we have is one unsubstantiated rumor about what he might have had as a sign in his van's window. Maybe it was an insult to those who had perpetrated 9/11.

Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown

[Sunshine55]

rules out the former Marine who was being wuestioned yesterday

He is responding to the media. It's as though he couldn't stand the thought of someone else getting any notoriety, so he had to go out and prove that it isn't the Marine.

[aristeides]

Breaking+++ Woman killed last night was FBI AGENT!!!

I wonder if she was working on the sniper case.

[angkor]

I thought the shooter's nest is normally across the main thoroughfare at a safe standoff distance.

If that was the case last night, there would be no witness reports (and there seem to be several according to the news). It's quite dark on the westbound access road off Rt. 50, and I can't imagine people in the well-lit HD parking lot could have seen anything that far away (75 to 100 yards?) at that hour of the evening.

I suppose its possible, just doesn't seem likely.

[SLB]

Have you correlated those prayer times with the shootings?

Working it. Maybe this afternoon.

[aristeides]

the shooter had a choice last night - the husband or the wife and he chose the woman.

Sniper seems to want to meet some weird diversity quotas. Up to now, he has killed more men than women.