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.

[wndycndy]

I am late to this thread so please forgive me if this has already been mentioned but what about having LOTS of trained Bloodhounds, Beagles (Beagle Brigade?) or other good scent hounds sniffing EVERY car, person, etc. in every square inch of the "dragnet" area, including stores and restaurants for fresh gunpowder residue? They say a good hound can scent a babies teardrop in a football field.

[GOPrincess]

After reading your note I thought "Why not" and did an eBay search for "Sniper" as well. When I clicked on "About Me" I got a messed-up screen, it was three layers of search pages covering the screen with no info available. Since "Sniper" is such a common eBay term I wonder if too many people did such a search and the page is overloaded? (Although would it stay that way over many hours?) Perhaps eBay has pulled the plug on this seller name? Odd that the last feedback last June was in French, I've never seen feedback in a foreign language before.

[RS_Rider]

I think the money demand is a curve ball, can't imagine how anyone who as evaded LE for this long would be dunb enough to think that he could actually spend any of the money wired to a domestic account. Something not right here.

RS

[Peach]

Hi, valleygirl. I was kidding - you are all handling yourselves very well for so many posts, differing opinions and lack of sleep. Know you are in our prayers, as is your family. Stay well. Regard, Peach

[mwl1]

Bloom is not just an idiot.

Bloom is a biased idiot. His gushing defense of Clinton throughout the scandals led me to believe that he was jealous of Monica.

[wewillnotfail]

I search via find member with no flashing. How did you
search?

[Wordsmith]

Tinfoil hat on! You've accidently stumbled on one of AQ's secret methods of communication - they're using eBay to transfer funds and messages!!!

[yukong]

I think the person is in uniform--rescue, police OR a newsperson.

This argument that has been bantered about here for the past couple of days is just from watching too much TV and movies. I know it happens in movies and on TV, but I will tell you, (again I was in LE for over 10 years) this kind of stuff just doesn't happen in the real world. Believe me, even in big cities, cops know other cops on their departments that are on the same shifts, and divisions. No perp is going to get away with posing as a cop. Ijust wouldn't work. And as to a rescue/EMT type, again, those people are known to each other. Some strange guy, in an EMT uniform without an ambulance/firetruck/rescue squad, is going to stick out like a Carrot Top would stick out at an Islamic Jihad prayer service. The reason this guy gets away is a simple product of response time. Regardless of the situation, response time is still going to be several minutes. Remember, at one of the early shootings, there was a State Trooper right across the street from the shooting. Don't you think that if this cat is dressing as a cop/EMT/reporter (take your pick) that the Trooper would have been a little intrigued by the fact that immediately after the shooting, there was an EMT/Reporter/Cop standing there in the area without a patrol car/ambulance/newsvan? This guy is well prepared. He recons his shoots very carefully. He probably gauges the traffic flow in the area for the given time of day that he intents to make his hit. He probably picks places that he feels fairly confident that he will be able to be several miles away before the first units on the scene can put out an APB, and by then he is in some public place blending in. Those things are not difficult to ascertain if one is determined to carry out an operation such as this. It just takes time, patience, and disciplined planning. He is not a big risk taker. His biggest risk was the shoot with the cop across the street. But he was in a position to know that the cop would react first to the victim and not him. That is what cops are trained to do. Further, he knew, because it is not hard to figure out, that a cop who is writing a ticket, upon hearing a gunshot, is first, going to duck for cover, assuming the shot is coming at him, recon the area for his safety sake (since a dead cop cannot help anyone) and then and only then, head across the street to check on the victim. The cops attention is on the victim, and not the perp. The shooter had his getaway route planned, and IMO his route is always immediately away from the scene, not toward it, so he is gone before the cop can do a thing, or see a thing. This is one cool, calculated, cookie. He wouldn't be so stupid to try and dress like a cop/emt/reporter. Not smart or safe.

[Darlin']

Thank you. I'd think that would make the Police department's work much tougher.

[Dog]

Your missing something .....they are not answering these questions for a reason......the sniper or sniper's are watching .....notice how todays presser was done.....??

Moose didn't want to talk about the 800lb gorilla sitting over in the corner that everyone knows is there.

Last night they turned down the snipers demand....today they wonder what the next move is...

They all look very worried if you asked me.

[stlnative]

read all his feedback from the latest feedbacks given, tell me if you see something about Germany (it looks like he is located in Germany) and why does he reply that the feedbacks were given to the wrong person on many of them, how could this happened? FReepmail me back with your thought after reading over his feedback. To others no I DO NOT think this is connected to the sniper case, it is just odd.

[ET(end tyranny)]

Yeah I heard that guy, too. But, as you pointed out, it was for the families of the victims and NOT for anyone supplying info on catching the shooter.

[wewillnotfail]

I can't get to a page that shows an about me icon for sniper.

[Peach]

Just got in - heard about the immigration comments - screaming on many counts. With the 24-hour deportation of the two men the other day, I can't see immigrants feeling comfortable coming forward. Why isn't Moose authorized to grant immunity in this huge federal case? Jeez. Whiplash is right. Going out to plant pansies (we're in the south).

[maestro]

Your#638)...........but,........the hours and 'breaks' are perfect!

[AmericanInTokyo]

Yep. The appeal to the immigrant community in Maryland is probably not just for crime scene witnesses, but also for people in those specific, unique communities who may know of someone acting odd or who had made threats.

Based on the ethnicity of the suburban DC/Maryland immigrant communities (both legal and otherwise) the powers of logic then would tend to eliminate: Whites, African Americans and Native Americans. That leaves:

Asians

Hispanics

Middle Easterns.

It is hard to imagine an Asian doing this except perhaps Jemaah Islamiya from Indonesia or Abu Sayyef, or elsewhere. Also, I don't think the M-18 gangs from El Salvador or other vatos including homegrown gangbangers are doing this to the area, not to this level.

That leaves Middle Easterners.

And of course, we can't imagine any random terrorism against soft targets in the US by anyone from the Middle East, can we???? /sarc

All in All, Miss M and everyone, IMHO it's probably straight out of the Middle East. My best guess is Hamas-related, Iraq related or AQ related. My how they take the time to break the news slowly to the very source that can help them get the guy(s): The People!

[Letitring]

Makes sense to me. Good Morning everyone. Seems a much better day, so far. I missed the press conference, so will scan the thread to see what is going on.

[Darlin']

Hi and welcome. :) Yes, they are using the bloodhounds and you're right about them. Recently, I saw a demonstration of their work and it was fascinating, they are truly amazing.

[tomkat]

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we = why

[aeronca]

All the talk about "immigrant status" may be that the
perp(s) could be an immigrant with family in the area who may know something, but are afraid to report. Remember, some witnesses said they thought the man/men in the van could be hispanic. "Not Black-Not White"