Beltway Sniper Shootings-FR Commentary-Monday, Oct. 21, 2002

Fox News, CNN, Press Conferences | October 21, 2002 | Fox News, CNN, Press Conferences

[Peach]

Let's keep a live commentary thread going again today. The FBI Tip # is 1-888-324-9800.

[Kevin Curry]

Good, thoughtful post.

The killer does appear to be coldly-calculating and cautious. However, he also seems to have a thirst for publicity and a tendency to make the dramatic gesture--hence the tarot card and the disguised-voice telephone message. If he is undone at all, it will likely be due to his vanity and overweening personal need for attention.

And everybody's primed hair-trigger for a white van now. He could be sitting in the bushes waiting to fire until a white van passes near the victim. There are ten thousand ways he could mask his position and escape method and route.

[Route66]

" They are saying that the sniper wrote down a number and transposed two digits. The police said they figured this out and had both phone numbers re-routed to the police and that is how they got the 25% audible message."

Huh? Do you understand what they are trying to get at here? Why would that give them a 25% inaudible message?

[Elenya]

if Moose is the mole, that would make a lot of sense.

Now, Whoa, dere! You lost me on that one. I think I need to go to bed...

[formerDem]

"Have you ever heard of a denial of bail for a misdemeanor charge?"

That is a very good question, although I think the guess that he is being made an example is a good one. I think they should make life very difficult for this jerk.....who was INSIDE the HD and didn't see anything.

I'd also like to revise my previous opinion about the experts. Furhman was a good detective and he has a very common-sense, logical, 'get-in-the-mind' of the suspect commentary.

[I_saw_the_light]

Has anyone heard a recent report of the sniper asking for money? Aaron Brown (CNN) was saying something but I was too busy reading FR to pay full attention. I dont want to be wrong...They are going to speak about it again...I was wondering if anyone else had heard anything.

[John Jamieson]

I'll try to find it, but I thought I read he was there.

Atleast until today!

[cavtrooper21]

You are correct, as a Cavalry Scout we were expected to develop that skill. Some folks were good at it, others got lost going to the mess hall. However, in all fairness, if you have a good memory and stay alert while navigating a given area you can absorb a good deal with out any special training. Mostly requires hanging up the cell phone and turning off the stereo.
This shooter is no dope (wacko, maybe)and isn't planning on getting caught soon. If he doesn't like the set up he's in, he doesn't shoot. There may be many people who were under the muzzle of his rifle and never knew it. I also feel he set up the cops with this phone booth thing and laughed his butt off when they popped the poor Mexican. He'll hit again toward the end of the week and I'll bet it will be back in Maryland, north of his previous shots. I truly hope and pray that he has a bad bit of luck and his weapon blows up in his face. Poetic justice and to stop any further shootings.

[OReilly]

Why would that give them a 25% inaudible message?

You BS detector is correct but, they are not saying that the audio problems were caused by the re-routing or the transposed digits.

[Letitring]

I once had a life, now am glued to this chair. Thank you for joining this discussion. I waited until you returned, glad you were not delayed at the drug store. :)

[per loin]

I agree...whatever is going on probably is horrific from what I've heard on the news channels, it said there's been many messages left on the cards at the sites, all threats..and from the reactions/actions of Moose and others, they realize that the nutcase is serious...

I'd hope that the media people would have the sense to keep an eye on the families of the top officers involved in the investigation, and let us know if many of them have decided to go visit that aunt in Montana.

[Freedom2specul8]

When I was committee chairperson while in PTA..we were given little mini-phone books that had the phone numbers of all the district administrators and teachers in it. We could call any of them at any time. It doesn't surprise me. Parents call the pta committee members and then they call the admins..

It's kind of strange to not hear anonymous quotes from parents in the media about it though..

[Bella]

You have stated this several times and I must admit I am curious how you have come to this conclusion considering he has been out in the front of this investigation from the very first day. What has led you to believe that he has been 'chosen' by the shooter himself?

The reason is that other shootings have occurred in and out of Moose's area and state, and Moose is still leading the show..We're aware that the FBI, etc are involved and really should be leading the way on this and haven't emerged as which they rightfully should have taken over..Also, the shootings in VA--things went right back to Moose..The tarot cards had messages on all of them and Moose is the guy who's been communicating with them..He's stressed to the max as everyone can see and I'm sure Moose really doesn't want to be in the position he is, but HAS to..Right now it's an extremely dangerous game and the nutcase certainly has everyone's attention, and there's no way any changes would take place to PO the sniper or someone and many would pay with their life for a screwup...Look how tense Moose was today when he came on the news asking the sniper/whoever, to please call back and they wanted to get the message correct..

[Fred Mertz]

Do you think the Franklin shot at Home Depot was a close shot or a long one? I'm thinking a long one, but I value your opinion.

[aristeides]

Has anyone heard a recent report of the sniper asking for money?

Chris Core reported this around 5 PM today on his talk show on WMAL, attributing the story to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, which I think published the story. I understand it soon spread to AP and the networks.

[OReilly]

They are saying that he may be using a voice changer.

The word 'audio' also implies that the call was really a recording, because if someone didn't understand they would have said, Huh? What did you say?

[11th_VA]

Interesting item in the : Richmond Times Dispatch

"Wicks said the shot sounded as if it came from near a light post at the edge of the woods, which separate the Ponderosa parking lot from a new access road for construction crews building a Wal-Mart. Police surveyed the access road and said they hoped to recover tire impressions. Police were also investigating the possibility the shooter may have used a bicycle and toted his weapon in a backpack to and from the scene, a law-enforcement official at the scene said on condition of anonymity."

[per loin]

Have you ever heard of a denial of bail for a misdemeanor charge?

If he is still on parole or probation for one of his previous capers, it would not be uncommon to deny bail.

[TexKat]

Parents asking for the schools to be closed seems to have been exposed as a convenient cover story, based on some items reported in several threads over the course of today . . . there was something more, something specific that has put the fear into these administrators . . .

A little after 9/11 there was an article here in the Dallas Morning News that the Texas schools were a target of Al Queda. Well they would not have to close the schools as far as I am concerned, I would just not send my 16 year old baby to school if I thought it would not be safe. Education means a lot, but my childs existence means more. No one knows where this/these idiots are going to hit next.

[formerDem]

"This shooter is no dope (wacko, maybe)and isn't planning on getting caught soon. If he doesn't like the set up he's in, he doesn't shoot. There may be many people who were under the muzzle of his rifle and never knew it. I also feel he set up the cops with this phone booth thing and laughed his butt off when they popped the poor Mexican. He'll hit again toward the end of the week and I'll bet it will be back in Maryland, north of his previous shots. I truly hope and pray that he has a bad bit of luck and his weapon blows up in his face. Poetic justice and to stop any further shootings."

I think you are right on the money on this (except I think he will 'hit' sooner). Also, unless (like K. Curry said) he is showing his hand because of a need for more attention, he won't be caught unless of some fluke: a cop being right there, around the corner, or his car stalls, he drops dead of a heart attack, or someone snitches him off.