Beltway Sniper Shootings-FR Commentary-Wed., Oct. 23,2002

Fox News, CNN, Press Conferences | October 23, 2002 | Fox News, CNN, Press Conferences

[Peach]

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

All seems quiet since yesterday's news the shooter may target children specifically. It was released on various news outlets the shooter's 3-page letter to police was in broken English and threatened extreme violence. Police announced an electronic transfer of $10m as requested by the shooter was not possible but other options for transfer remain open. No one seriously believes police will actually give the shooter $$, but police are trying to keep a dialogue open with the shooter in an effort to capture this monster.

[antivenom]

WELL yes he /she is "floundering" around....

[Catspaw]

Report of white box van.....rifle pointed out of the van towards a school bus. I think they said I 290 shut down.

Okay, my stomach officially flipped.

Did they get a plate number, ANYTHING?

[Howlin]

I'm not happy with that at all. Part of me says "Too bad, Mrs. INS, you let it get to this situation, you'll have to observe the law and do without the information," but the other part says, "We do NEED the information."

[justshe]

~~~I'm afraid you're hooked on this fish-pun thing.~~~

Blame Howlin. You might as well.......she gets blamed for almost everything else!

[Peach]

Truck is stopped and surrounded on I-270.

[Fred Mertz]

I-270 incident alert. Nothing on WTOP yet.

[Fred Mertz]

Keep the details coming, Peach. Thanks.

[snippy_about_it]

Locked down traffic, van pulled over by police, per FOXNEWS.

[Catspaw]

Brian Wilson on Fox just reported breaking news. A person is pointing a rifle at a school bus on I-270. Right now, I 270 is in a lockdown. This the sniper?? 20 body bags coming true?

I hope it's a hoax. I hope it's someone exceedingly stupid. I hope the perp gets caught. I hope the kids are safe. Mein Gott.

[Catspaw]

Yeah, I'm still at work & listening to WTOP & there's nothing on yet.

[justshe]

Brian Wilson reporting the van is stopped.

[TexKat]

Is there more than one in the box truck.

Where is the helicopters, but then again that would probably scare the children more.

[Vol2727]

Okay, it sounds like it already happened and a white box truck has been stopped by the LE. Kids must be okay.

[Catspaw]

Do they have TV copters up? Are they dragging the driver out by his/her nose hairs?

[livius]

Not strange at all that the snipers would be linked to credit card theft. Fraudulent credit card use is actually a big source of funding for them.

Plus you have to bear in mind things like the fact that al Fuqra members in NY State work (well, the ones who are not out doing target practice) in the large credit card processing industry that exists in their area. I think - but I can't find any references now - that some al Fuqra members were busted for credit card fraud some months ago.

BTW, does anybody know if it's true that the snipers used Paypal? All you have to do to establish a basic PayPal account is have a valid e-mail address and a credit card to which money may be charged or deposited.

[berkeleybeej]

I can't believe anybody would be that STUPID - even the sniper. Probably turn out the driver pointed a banana out the window.....

[areafiftyone]

Holy Crap!!! Please keep us informed!!!!

[Freedom2specul8]

I just love your school of thought..

[snippy_about_it]

White Isuzu box truck stopped at I270 and Clopper Road?? per FOX

[Catspaw]

Of course people are STUPID. There are people doing time for fake anthrax pranks.