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.

[harpseal]

And the converse.

[woofer]

Yea, but he had to set up the account to get wired the money. That wasn't a whim he came up with in the last week.

Think very carefully.... Say the police agree to his demand and wire the money to the "account" he has set up.

Then, think about this, the perp walks into the bank for a withdrawal. Do you think, just maybe, someone might then be watching the "account"?

At least if this scenario actually happens, I hope the dupe who was hanging up on the guy when he called in isn't the one watching at the bank.

[Peach]

Well, I'm still holding out with the hypothesis that his notes probably say the killer started it all when he snapped because he couldn't take the NJSC decision

My first good laugh of the day! I needed that. The line forms to the right for those still, well, I just can't say it here, shall we say ticked off, at the NJSC decision.

[redfish53]

I wonder if the might be the same guy that mailed the anthrax?

[Miss Marple]

In some cases they could be applicable to a foreign shooter, such as the ransom. The reason the items are on the domestic list by themselves is that I feel the reasons (keeping the note from the public, for example) are more likely explicable by a domestic nut. You are quite correct, though, in that there could be logical reasons a foreign terrorist would use those behaviors.

I am trying to keep an open mind about this, because it is too easy to start to sift evidence based on one's pet theory. It isn't very easy to do, however.

[Cold Heat]

I would bet he wants a offshore account. Maybe swiss, maybe Middle east.

[Sacajaweau]

Boy, this is pretty draining after a month. It's driving me to consider "binge" shopping. That's always relaxing. Maybe "lobster" this weekend, too.

Stay safe! Give someone a hug today!!

Sac

[Catspaw]

Lots of valium, probably in the 100 zillion mg dosage. But when this kind of person thinks they have been wronged (which is approximately all the time), they start acting out. The odd thing is that most people don't see that rage--these kind of people can be very charming when they want something. It's only when you cross them (or he/she thinks you did), that the person lashes out, and that's usually only the person's inner circle--family members, close friends. In the shooter's case, his "acting out" is killing people, one at a time.

The contents of the note that was reported today seems to support this theory. He's very angry at the cops, probably centered on Chief Moose.

[ZinGirl]

hey, dude....

one thought: if this is the work of any pali/iraqi/'insert scumbag organization here'....why haven't they targeted children already?

These people are fundamentally evil and wouldn't give a rat's a$$ about killing their own kids. Now....if they really wanted to strike terror into the heart of America....wouldn't they be killing America's kids?

Why have they held off from killing kids? It's not like it would be beneath them or they really don't 'want' to.....

I think I heard somewhere the 13-yr-old was 6-ft tall....possibly thought it was an adult?....although sniperscum would have been watching him through his scope prior to the shot and would most likely have seen him getting out of the passenger side of the car with a backpack.....

[The Red Zone]

I'll continue taking the safe ground that this is a home grown AQ sympathizer with a good-old-fashioned American desire for cold hard cash.

A white American Taliban. That'll work

[slimer]

Here's an interesting article from NYT that is posted on another thread.

Catch Me if You Can

[Peach]

Good list Miss Marple. Can also add to the list that CNN reported a week ago after the FBI agent was shot at Home Depot that several witnesses got a good look at the shooter, according to CNN's sources with LEO's. I understand one witness was discounted and now in jail for providing police with made-up information, but "several" witnesses would still be left, according to CNN. Those witnesses described the shooter at swarthy skinned, possibly ME.

As you indicate, it's difficult for us, and probably LE, to form an opinion on exactly what kind of shooter they're looking for, which makes the job doubly difficult.

[tomkat]

thanks for taking the time with all that, MM.

other than wanting to see this madness down there stopped, i honestly don't have a dog in this fight.

having said that, i would add that all the items in the first category, with the possible exception of the 'writing' part,
could as easily be moved to category 2 with little, if any, incongruity.

the thing that intelligence agencies fear the most is a mole, and with good reason.
a mole appears, often for years, to be one of the good guys.
the really good ones can even appear to be the best of the good guys - ask the brits.

while not discounting the possibility of this being an 'american' jihadi,
i'd point out that the DC area is bustin' with swarthy candidates as well.

either way, i just hope someone, soon, manages to capture this a-hole alive.
i can almost guarantee that he/she/it won't last long in any prison in the country,
and what breathing time they do get will make them wish they'd died before they got there ...

[tm22721]

If he is as intelluctual as some have posited, he would realize that he will not get money from LE.

He can only win by stopping cold turkey and disappearing into the mists.

Or, be a highly paid consultant to Al Qaeda.

BUMP

[looney tune]

Great post! I keep hopping from one side to the other. Your post makes me see how reasonable each argument is. *Sigh* Life in the post 9/11 era has become disconcerting.

[jrhepfer]

I dig what you're saying. On the other hand, if we use the Palestinian terrorism events as reference we see that those terrorists don't necessarily target children either.

Miss Marple is on the right track with keeping an open mind. It's real tough to figure it out right now.

[tomkat]

hey dudette !

Why have they held off from killing kids?

escalation ?
he/she/they seem to be getting around to that phase now, sadly ...

cya, ya hear ?

[Momaw Nadon]

Is it time to bring in psychics to solve the DC area sniper case?

[Peach]

Fox News just reported one of the notes from the shooter said if demands aren't met, police will need 20 body bags. Another spree coming with multiple hits? I'd like to see the shooter's body separated into 20 body bags - that works for me.

[harpseal]

It seems clear that we do not yet have anything definitive one way or the other. It is very difficult to keep from sifting the evidence to reflect a preconcieved notion about the shooter. I was just trying to point out that even with your explanations which are logical in themselves there is nothing that could not be used equally well on the other side.

I hope the LEO's are also keeping an open mind and following up on everything.

Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown