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"

[Elenya]

This case is getting more and more diabolical by the day...

[Peach]

HE/THEY ARE LISTENING/READING AND PROVING THEY CAN DO ANYTHING PEOPLE SAY OR SUGGEST.

The press has pointed out all the ways in which the shooter seems to go out of his way to disprove theories. Last week I mentioned on FR that my brother has been saying that bad as 9/11 was, it won't be until terrorism hits a Home Depot that people all over will feel unsafe. I'm not suggesting the shooter reads FR, but think if we have people in the press who read FR, we/I need to be more careful with our theories.

[aristeides]

I'm riding the Metro to work.

WMAL is reporting a fire at the Union Station Metro station. Red line shut down.

[1Old Pro]

Here's an idea:

Place 30-50 temorary high resolution video cameras along the main arteries of the interstates. This will allow the vehicle to be caught on tape and might give a hint as to :

1) Owner, from the license plate

2) Exact vehicle description so people can keep a look out for it.

3) Possible identification of this twisted killer.

[Peach]

Unless a composite sketch is released, the police shouldn't even mention witnesses to the press. It would be all too easy for the shooter to take out any witnesses next time.

[hispanarepublicana]

This is a no-graphics thread, but you can go to their website and see a map of where their shopping centers are located in the DC area:

www.saulcenters.com

[aristeides]

I'm not suggesting the shooter reads FR, but think if we have people in the press who read FR, we/I need to be more careful with our theories.

That could work both ways. What we say here could also be used to set a trap.

[twigs]

this would involve tailing her, monitoring her house, and/or intercepting a phone call...could just be a weird coincidence.

I have assumed that all these were random, but there are things that make me wonder. All of the people killed seem to be well educated, kind people who are examples of caring and virtue in their communities. One was also the son of a retired Montgomery County policeman. Considering the number of people who would not fit this profile, what are the odds that these are the people who keep falling to the assassin's bullet? Troubling.

[Peach]

Police should DEFINITELY place high resolution video camers along main arteries. Big Brother HAS GOT to be good for something.

[Elenya]

What we say here could also be used to set a trap.

My thoughts exactly. Besides, I really doubt the perps have time to surf...

[Peach]

I've talked that over with my husband, who has a good mind for this sort of thing, but thus far we haven't come up with a good trap that doesn't potentially involve harm to innocent citizens.

[fhillary2]

They/he/she got away quickly any number of routes: Hoping on route 50, taking that road near McDonalds that heads up to route 7 and into Lake Barcroft community to Columbia Pike, hoping on the road that crosses route 50 and hiting Wilson blvd to route 66, it would have been neat if the perp had hoped on route 7 and sped through the City of Falls Church- he would have been snagged very quickly in that speed trap locale!

I grew up in Bailey's Crossroads and there are tons of escape routes from that Seven Corners area. If it were me, I would have gotten back into the sleepy hollow area and laid low and worked my way over to the beltway.

This perp is a cool customer and I think he isn't rushing onto the major roads to flee the crime scenes.

[angkor]

I personally call them shooters.

I call them cowardly al Qaeda terrorists, but that's just me.

[aristeides]

Somebody said on a thread last night that there are a lot of Iranians in the neighborhood. Which makes it interesting that the sniper(s) has/have still not hit a Moslem target.

[wewillnotfail]

My problem is that I see my fellow citizens being cowed by one or maybe if you follow the more extreme theories, a handful of people. My problem is I see a future where the events of the last few weeks may pale in comparision. My problem is I'm most fearful of what demands for more security will do to what freedoms we have remaining.

My problem is I see very little brave, here in the land of the free.

How many people live in the area that has been directly effected by this sniper? Millions? So the odds of any person being shot are one in multimillions. Do you honestly see the current level of fear appropriate to those odds? Does the current level of fear give you any sense that we, as a nation have the balls to deal with what may come in the continuing war on terror?

[browardchad]

He is waiting for this type of vehicle to arrive at the location

The only problem with that is the fact that the witness(es) last night also saw a "silver ladder" on top of the van. White vans are common, but waiting for a van with a ladder or ladder rack would seem ludicrous.

OTOH, although that was part of last night's description, it was omitted from Chief Manger's description this morning.

This gives you an idea of how difficult it must be to synthesize eyewitness accounts: how much is factual, and how much is influenced by reporting on previous events (in this case, Friday's reports of the van with a "ladder" or "ladder rack").

This could also be a tandem operation -- one drives a white van to provide cover, the other drives a car. One or both might even have been stopped, didn't seem suspicious, and went on their way. Sounds incredibly diabolical, but isn't that what LE is dealing with?

[GirlShortstop]

Sniper seems to want to meet some weird diversity quotas.    From early this morning...
Has anyone else thought it *odd* that no YOUNG MEN have been victims (early twenties).

Is this possibly because they don't know who fellow "cell" members might be; but they for sure know who ISN'T?

[alisasny]

All of the people killed seem to be well educated, kind people who are examples of caring and virtue in their communities.

SEEM is the key word. Not all who die are wonderful people but obituaries always make them sound wonderful. I think all the dead are being investigated in case one of them was the target and the rest are diversions to cover up that particular crime. Very diabolical but possible.

[aristeides]

Next time the shooter could decide to take out any witnesses.

That would mean violating his M.O. and taking more than one shot at a site. That way, he can be identified, if not captured on the spot.

[alisasny]

Due to the random nature of the victims, fear is an appropriate response as it could be anyone. Initially I was bothered by all the no new news on this case but its highly likely that copycat tactics will appear in other parts of the country and people still need to be aware specially since we are going to be going to war soon.