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.

[justshe]

Now a situation with a Russian airplane at JFK. It is being boarded.

[alisasny]

Germaldo was indeed in the sniper area after one of the shootings and then returned to the Middle East. He sure gets around...LOL

[antivenom]

REALLY!!! Been eating fish and not flossing?

Bated breath!

[Eroteme]

Quite possible. Mercenary or close cousin. I'm thinking along the lines of the Portland cell.

The difficulty in settling on either domestic nutjob or Middle Eastern terrorism is that it might be neither. Yet the media and LE seem to be in either/or mode. IMHO, everything we've seen is wholly compatible with an American citizen who's also a radical islamist. It also explains why the shooter's calls went unrecognized so consistently.

By accounts, the shooter was rebuffed by the FBI and/or Montgomery County at least six times, presumably by six separate operators. They can't all be inept. But they can all be constrained to checklists and fill-in-the-blank forms.

In a case of this magnitude and volume, call screeners, by necessity, employ some sort of formulaic "scorecard" to triage the thousands of calls pouring into the tip lines. Yet the real shooter couldn't get past them. He hit none of the filters or triggers.

Maybe there simply was no box to check for "radical Islamist sentiment spoken in perfect English with demand for money."

[aristeides]

If five people have died because they leaked the I am God phrase which the sniper intended to use to ID himselve to the police, they I think the media should have their bones rattled!!!

Only four victims have died since the media leaked the "I am God" phrase after the Bowie shooting.

[txhurl]

....what........

[Freedom2specul8]

Perfect example of how the written word on forums can be misunderstood.

[wewillnotfail]

Yep...and havin' a whale of a good time with it 'cause i'm a sucker for puns.

[areafiftyone]

Please keep us cubically challenged people here in NYC updated. Thanks

[TexKat]

Now a situation with a Russian airplane at JFK. It is being boarded

Someone told the FBI that they should interrogate someone that is on this plane.

[aristeides]

Frederick Forsythe's Day of the Jackal. It's also a movie.

[livius]

RELIGION OF PEACE ALERT!

Chechens have taken a whole theatre full of people hostage in Moscow. They claim to have bombs and have let any Muslim audience members leave.

[TexKat]

Where was Jerry signing the Hooters girls' shorts the other day? Wasn't he in the Beltway or am I totally off base?

I must have missed that one, Quilla. Thats too funny.

[wewillnotfail]

Radioactiviity alarm set off in Russia (at airport I assume) and word was passed to US authorities to check out a certain passanger says
MSNBC

[Darlin']

Absolutely, by the time someone calls 911 after a shooting until the police can set up roadblocks and get to the scene the killer is long gone.

[justshe]

You know as much as has been reported.

The airplane is on the tarmac. It is being boarded. That's all that FNC has reported.

Coinky dink that hostages in a theater in Russia have also been taken? Theater is under siege. Shots fired into the air. Children are being released. Actors locked themselves in their dressing rooms.

[harpseal]

I always floss. But your concern warms the cockles of my heart. Since we are doing fish puns. I suggest you just skate along with us.

Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - yorktown

[antivenom]

G-d the sniper has visited the "Gates of Heaven" 3 times now and killed 2 there and shot Michaels' (some lucky person should have bought a lottery ticket that day!)...we have a NUT hearing voices!

[Quilla]

Actors locked themselves in their dressing rooms.

Sounds just like what American actors would do as well - run and hide.