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.

[mewzilla]

I don't get it. The Feds release the anthrax letters in the hope that the public can help, but won't even tell the public the gist of this loony's notes. I don't know what they're accomplishing by holding back so much.

[looney tune]

I'm curious about the school closings, too. Could the sniper have made some sort of threat to schools or kids? It seems odd to close them today and not after any other shootings. Did they close when the 13 yr old got shot?

[mewzilla]

Well, judging by the look on Chief Moose's face last night, I can believe the note did what it set out to do.

[mystery-ak]

Fox did not specify which crime scenes....just *other* crime scenes....leaving me to assume more than two.

[Fred Mertz]

See #38. The Home Depot shooting/hit sure is confusing.

[livius]

Ye, you'd think more information would be helpful to the public. I believe at some point there was a report that the shooter didn't want the notes released, but that certainly didn't seem to stop him from shooting more people.

I suppose one possibility is that the contents of the note(s) is political, and they don't want to make it public?

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Authorities believe Washington-area sniper may have left message at scene of Virginia shooting -AP Breaking News
STEPHEN MANNING, Associated Press Writer
(10-21) 04:54 PDT (AP) -- AH: With BC-Sniper-Outdoor Jobs ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) -- Schools closed across a swath of Virginia on Monday after a message to authorities and a cryptic police response suggested that the elusive Washington-...SNIP...

[ingodwetrust]

Heard and posted this last night. They are also saying that there was a substantial amount of text to the "note" that was left. Yes indeed, also reported there have been MANY Taro cards left at the scenes of the shootings.

[mystery-ak]

Heard last night on Fox(Im in a fog and can't remember who) said the shooter is using a flash suppressor on his weapon.

[wewillnotfail]

perhaps he didn't know the cops would take the number. Perhaps he thought they would need to go to that location to answer the phone and he could play out the scenerio of the movie which the media has talked about wherein a sniper holds a cop hostage in a phonebooth.

I see him, waiting with the booth in sight for the cop to arrive and when that doesn't happen, he doesn't call.

[CPL BAUM]

This was so that the shooter could call that number and the police would know without a shadow of doubt that it is the shooter.

Agree - it is the only scenario that makes sense - even in Moose-speak. Can't wait til that phone rings this morning and the orbiting J-STAR locks onto the origin with its Forward Looking Infrared. Launch the Tomahawks and cripy-fry this POS.

[Peach]

Oh, he does cover the DC area? Thanks. The post last night said we could write to brianwilson@foxnews.com and ask him about the tarot card and he would confirm the writing was in German. Makes sense because I read article yesterday at Drudge that police are trying to trace the ink from the message and it seemed so far fetched, but perhaps not if the writing was German.

[Peach]

I heard that so many parents called concerned about the safety of their kids at school that they decided to close the schools. However, as a poster remarked above, it's hard to believe the superintendent is reacting to just a bunch of concerned parents. And why Richmond? Why not other local schools?

[tomkat]

I see him, waiting with the booth in sight for the cop to arrive and when that doesn't happen, he doesn't call.

if that were the scenario, LE would merely need to drop a 2mi net on the location of said booth, and our boy would be toast ...

[Peach]

Chief Moose WAS more somber than I've ever seen him.

[Quilla]

But I guarantee you they didn't shut down all those schools just because some parents asked them to.

Absolutely chilling. When I heard this morning they were closing the schools because of parents' concerns, I bought it hook, line, and sinker. Your post (and three cups of coffee) have certainly opened my eyes to the possiblity of a threat to our school children. I pray this nightmare is soon over.

[Sacajaweau]

There was a good video this morning showing the leaf covered path running from the rear of the Ponderosa...through the woods to where the Walmart is under construction. It is wide enough for a single vehicle and looked like it could be maneuvered easily and quickly on foot with a bright moon. It didn't look as if it had been recently disturbed by vehicles.

It is a good indication that the shooter was on foot at least part of the way AND has been there before.

I'd say he's in his own area, i.e., somewhere in a small circle around Fredericksburg.

Sac

[CobaltBlue]

The Home Depot shooting MO is completely different from all the rest.

1) Nowhere close to an Interstate.
2) Up close and personal.

I would think it wasn't the same guy but apparently the ballistics match.

[Guenevere]

#33...I noticed that too.

Which gives me reason to think there was more to that note than we know....

..otherwise, they would probably have resorted to a Code Blue for the schools like the other counties did.

This one takes it up a notch.

Did you also hear about other counties where there have been shootings....took their athletic teams to this county for their football games & such..(I think I heard that right).

..but then.....hey! the sniper shows up here........

Coincidence, surely :^

[mewzilla]

I was going to suggest Chief Moose try saying S'il vous plait...What happened to the thread about the French deserter?