Beltway Sniper Shootings-FR Commentary-Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2002 [Another Shooting?]

Fox News, CNN, Press Releases | October 22, 2002 | Fox News, CNN, Press Releases

[Peach]

Let's keep a live commentary thread gonig again today.

[rintense]

Well, given the level of utter hatred of *anyone* who is Islamic, there is no doubt in my mind that MEs would be targets of revenge *IF* the sniper is ME. Just look at what happened after 911.

[Peach]

Heard some cop the other day on tv say that often when there's a shot people think they hear more than one shot because of a boomerang noise. He called it something else, but that could be the reason witness thought they heard more than one shot.

[AmericanInTokyo]

You or others might want to e mail a bunch of people in the media in DC area right now and ask they bring the question up at The Moose's next Newsfest, later today. I.E. PLEASE, NOW, GIVE US THE SKETCH WE HAVE HEARD FROM INTERNATION NEWS MEDIA THAT YOU HAVE. Then, watch the eyes dart from right to left....

[tomkat]

......Middle Eastern

prolly just a coinkydink, doncha think ?

[yukong]

My thoughts tend to run toward the notion that this guy, picks his spots that have multiple avenues of ingress/egress, that connect quickly to a major thoroughfare, than he then quickly exits the firezone, gets on a major artery, travels just a short distance, exits onto a busy business street/area, and is sitting in Dennys or somesuch having coffee watching the TV listening to the coffee shop talk. He is probably out of his vehicle, in a public place within 5 minutes tops. That way he is not on the roads, rolling when the highway shutdowns occur. Shutting down the roads won't work. I would suggest that the police begin looking at those coffee shops, restaurants and whatnot in the areas immdiately surrounding the fire zones. Say within 5 minutes drive. Just a thought. But that is all that could make sense considering they shut down all the major roads within 5-10 minutes of the reports.

[Miss Marple]

Thi is correct. I believe there was discussion about this in july or August. The release is not related to the sniper shootings.

[Sunshine55]

I was listening to Glen Beck on my way to work this morning, and he said the note requesting money had been nailed to a tree behind the Ponderosa and the FBI totally missed it. One of the reasons LE was so anxious to get ahold of the sniper was that his deadline had already passed by the time LE found the note.

[mhking]

Well, given the level of utter hatred of *anyone* who is Islamic, there is no doubt in my mind that MEs would be targets of revenge *IF* the sniper is ME.

IF this person/persons is/are from the ME, and the cops are squashing it, then they are just as guilty as the perps, IMO; political correctness be damned.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Another follow up. It is my understanding in the area in DC, there are many Middle Easterns walking around on streets and shopping malls in their native dress, such is in 'abaya' and 'chadol' and almost 'burqa' for some. When one of these people are shot, then we can dismiss Arab terrorism perhaps.

[Fred Mertz]

Does anyone think it was Route 26 of Ride On? The time looks like it could be. See link below.

http://www.dpwt.com/TransSvcDiv/routelist/routes/weekday/rte26wkd.htm

It was the driver; I agree that this is the shooter's response to law enforcement's lousy response yesterday. I agree that the shooter targeted a person in uniform (bus driver) and it's fairly obvious he got away with another one.

I think the 3 page note left at the Ponderosa in broken English would help catch the perp(s). News is leaking that there might be a demand for money in the note. I don't believe that one bit, and I think it will infuriate the shooter even more. I won't be surprised if the shooter next tries to contact the media or targets the media for his next shot. Just my thoughts.

[Pharmboy]

The "report" perhaps?

And, if I were the cops around there, I would figure that the shooter lives within walking distance of the site. He could field strip the rifle and carry it off in a small bag. Look for white vans registered to a home owner in the Aspen Hills area.

[rintense]

I agree. Ever since they announced the military would aid, and the FBI got involved, I've suspected there is more here than meets the eye. Even if it is some backwoods, redneck fool, he has some pretty powerful factors in his favor- he's in control, and he's fostering a society of fear.

[.30Carbine]

The American public wants this madness to stop and will assist LEO in their investigation. Why not increase BOLO potential 1000 fold?

I don't want to start any flame wars with this comment, but it seems quite clear that LE does not view the average citizen as being able or willing to assist. Rather, LE is treating the average American citizen, and the media, as hindrances to their investigation. I beg to differ. LE has already made use of the media to broadcast their messages to the sniper, or the note-writer, or the phone-caller or all of the above.

I submit that the fear level increases as the public is denied information. As the fear level increases, the confusion increases, and as the confusion increases, the fear level increases, and so on. This only serves to empower the sniper, who already thinks of himself as "God."

(And I don't know what "BOLO" is, so I can't comment on that!)

[per loin]

They should certainly release the entire text of the letter. And a photo of the missing French sniper. And the info on the Tarot cards. What cards were left behind, and in what order? And and and.

The best chance of nailing this creep is to get enough info on him out to the public so that someone can recognize him.

[Letitring]

Good morning, and welcome, it IS good to see you. You have alot of company with the thinking about this. :) This latest victim is still in surgery, critical condition. Really does not sound good, at all.

[Peach]

It's certainly possible.

[RS_Rider]

Don't know if anyone has been discussing this but here goes. With this many instances of shooting happening within this area, I would think that if this killer is living anywhere outside of a terrorist cell someone would associate his movement or absence when these crimes occur.
The most risk that the killer faces is that an acquaintence turns him in. With 500k on his head, I would think that he has to be sheltered by some community that is extremely simpathetic to his cause. I can not think of another group or US community that would not turn him in for the cash other than the radical islam folks. This guy has to sleep and clean his gun somewhere.

[tomkat]

bolo = be on lookout

[Miss Marple]

I am trying to think logically here. If they are trying to prevent vigilante action against people of ME extraction, there are two main reasons:

1. The protection that LE would have to provide for these communities would further drain resources, which means other parts of the city would be less protected.

2. Bin Laden wants an Islamic vs. Christianity/Jewish war, in order to enlist all of Islam to his cause. If you enrage the population to a point where the loose screws are taking potshots at ME people, then we will be playing into bin Laden's scenario, and we might also lose some of those reluctant allies we now have and need, due to their location in the region.

[Merovingian]

Searching North Gate Park...

News Conference at Noon..