Fox News Alert. Montgomery County ANOTHER SHOOTING!!!

Fox News | 10/22/02

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Kyle Peterson, who was going to an Aspen Hill cemetary Tuesday morning, tells Channel 4 he saw an African-American man lying on the floor of a Ride-On bus, stopped at a bus stop. He watched as emergency crews removed him from the bus and began treating a chest wound.

Dozens of Montgomery County school buses filled with kids are stuck in the traffic, said Eldridge who has been surveying traffic.

[LibWhacker]

Can't be sure, but if it was left there before the shooting by some third party trying to cash in on the situation, then he got unbelievably lucky. Either that or he (and perhaps a whole bunch of other creeps, too) have been scattering ransom demands all over the area, hoping they'd get lucky. But in that case, I'd expect some of those notes to have been found by now.

[cricket]

"Why are they sure it is the shooter and not somebody trying to take advantage of the situation? In kidnappings, there are usually false ransom demands, I would assume the same would hold true for this sort of situation."

While I am not impressed so far with the judgements made for this investigation; do think the police are smart enough to know whom they are talking to. . .no doubt the 'cards' figure in someway. . .maybe the contents of the writings are discussed etc.

The money does seem, 'beside the point'. Would offer that it could be no more than a distraction, to play phone tag. . .bargain. . .talk to police; pulling their chains so to speak, just a 'control' thing while even controlling the MO of this investigation ie. . .'don't talk to media' etc. A sidelight while he plans the next attack.

Personally, at this point, I would share all the info at this point; and refuse to abide by 'sniper rules'. . .

[The Red Zone]

He watched as emergency crews removed him from the bus and began treating a chest wound.

So maybe it wasn't a kill (at least not instant). As it was a chest wound and not a side wound, I'd guess the driver turned toward the door and then the shot came. And it was probably the first shot, since otherwise the driver would have shut the door.

[tomkat]

I still stand up straight when I pump gas...

girl, you're a champ - know ya well enough to know you're not a 'croucher' !

[palmer]

witnesses report hearing three shots

WTOP reporter talked to one witness that heard three shots, she interviewed him on the air. Apparantly that caused a stir at police HQ. They replayed the tape now, the guy sounds pretty credible to me. Another witness saw the victim being removed from the bus (40 year old male). He was standing "at the top of the steps of the bus" (in the doorway?)

[Flint]

I don't get why the talking heads are not picking up on what The Moose said. He said "the audio" was garbled. "Audio", from that I take it that the shooter picked up a phone, made the call and set the phone on a tape recorded message. Makes sense to me. What better way to make a call and not be standing at the telephone when the guys with the black masks show up?

[LibertyGirl77]

Dozens of Montgomery County school buses filled with kids are stuck in the traffic, said Eldridge [WTOP reporter] who has been surveying traffic.

And if any of them are shot this morning, we know who shares blame with the killer. I couldn't believe I heard Eldridge say that this morning. Considering how this killer seems to react to media coverage, that was the WORST thing a reporter could have said.

[The Red Zone]

Standing? Would the bus driver do this? Could he have noticed one shot and (understandably very angry) gone to the steps to take a look, prompting the shooter to shoot again in an attempt to eliminate a witness?

[Catspaw]

This'd be victim #13, #14 if you include the man shot on 9/14. The last two victims were a white woman and a white man. The woman died; the man is in critical condition. In both these cases, they were with this spouses. Someone else here is keeping track of the race, sex and age of the victims & I'm sure you can find it on one of the Beltway sniper threads. The pattern, as I can see it, is of randomness. They're shot because they're where he's set up his position, and he's the one who decides who lives and who dies.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

What better way to make a call and not be standing at the telephone when the guys with the black masks show up?

If it was a tape played over the phone, wouldn't the guys in the black masks then have the tape by now to check the "audio"? And wouldn't the shooter know that?

[The Red Zone]

I hope the kids are all crouching below window level.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

WHEATON - The Washington-area came to a standstill after a man was shot in the stomach Tuesday morning in Aspen Hill, not far from the scene of other sniper shootings.

The 40-year-old man was at the top of the steps of a Ride-On bus when he was shot, police said.

The shooting is being investigated "as if it is related" to the sniper shootings until it is ruled out," said Montgomery County Police Department Capt. Nancy Demme.

[Prodigal Son]

I can't get the thought out of my head that these shooters are many and they are not leaving the area after they take a shot. In my mind this is a coordinated cell effort and they just slip into a safe house after each shooting.

That's an interesting thought. I think often murderers like these (and arsonists as well) try to become involved in the investigation somehow. I read a book by the original FBI Profile guy and he touched on this suject. He said it has happened that the murderers often like to help in searches for the body or show up at the scene and act like an innocent bystander (some have even phoned in tips to police)- kind of like the way arsonists like to watch their fires.

If the sniper has a unique way of hiding his weapon, it could be just like you say- he could be at or near the scene when police arrive and just elude detection by blending in with the bystanders.

[The Red Zone]

This bus shot would be something new. He can't set up an aim in advance for a bus door shot since he does not know precisely where the bus will stop.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

MSNBC is carrying a local TV feed. Reporter said this stop was a "turn around" stop and could have been parked for up to 30 minutes.

[Freedom2specul8]

Prayer thread for metro area freepers, families and friends

[OXENinFLA]

If he was shot in the chest as reported. Did the bullet go through the bus's side window on the driver side. I would think if it had come through the door the man would have been Shot in the back? Maybe as the driver moved his head and it hit the man. Just a thought.

[tgslTakoma]

Easy for me to say. I'm short and drive an SUV.

;-)

[sumocide]

I was just listening to this song when someone speculated about safe houses. It was pretty eerie:

Talking Heads - Life During Wartime

From the album "Fear Of Music"

Heard of a van that is loaded with weapons,
packed up and ready to go
Heard of some gravesites, out by the highway,
a place where nobody knows
The sound of gunfire, off in the distance,
I'm getting used to it now
Lived in a brownstore, lived in the ghetto,
I've lived all over this town

This ain't no party, this ain't no disco,
this ain't no fooling around
No time for dancing, or lovey dovey,
I ain't got time for that now

Transmit the message, to the receiver,
hope for an answer some day
I got three passports, a couple of visas,
you don't even know my real name
High on a hillside, the trucks are loading,
everything's ready to roll
I sleep in the daytime, I work in the nightime,
I might not ever get home

This ain't no party, this ain't no disco,
this ain't no fooling around
This ain't no mudd club, or C. B. G. B.,
I ain't got time for that now
Heard about Houston? Heard about Detroit?
Heard about Pittsburgh, P. A.?
You oughta know not to stand by the window
somebody might see you up there
I got some groceries, some peant butter,
to last a couple of days
But I ain't got no speakers, ain't got no
headphones, ain't got no records to play

Why stay in college? Why go to night school?
Gonna be different this time
Can't write a letter, can't send a postcard,
I can't write nothing at all
This ain't no party, this ain't no disco,
this ain't no fooling around
I'd like to kiss you, I'd love you hold you
I ain't got no time for that now

Trouble in transit, got through the roadblock,
we blended with the crowd
We got computer, we're tapping pohne lines,
I know that ain't allowed
We dress like students, we dress like housewives,
or in a suit and a tie
I changed my hairstyle, so many times now,
I don't know what I look like!
You make me shiver, I feel so tender,
we make a pretty good team
Don't get exhausted, I'll do some driving,
you ought to get some sleep
Get you instructions, follow directions,
then you should change your address
Maybe tomorrow, maybe the next day,
whatever you think is best
Burned all my notebooks, what good are
notebooks? They won't help me survive
My chest is aching, burns like a furnace,
the burning keeps me alive
Try to stay healthy, physical fitness,
don't want to catch no disease
Try to be careful, don't take no chances,
you better watch what you say