Report: Father Helps Identify Ohio Sniper Suspect

Yahoo News ^ | Tue, Mar 16, 2004 | Reuters

[Monitor]

Police identified the suspect in a string of two dozen sniper-style shootings in central Ohio with the help of his father, who turned over a gun used in the shootings, a published report said on Tuesday.

One of two handguns belonging to the suspect, Charles McCoy, Jr., 28, matched ballistics tests done on nine bullets from the serial shootings, the Columbus Dispatch newspaper reported. The article quoted unnamed sources.

McCoy is believed to have bought another gun, Franklin County Sheriff's Department chief deputy Steve Martin said on Monday. He released a photograph and a description of the suspect and his car.

McCoy's mother described him in a missing person's report filed before he was named a suspect in the shooting as suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, the newspaper reported.

Ardith McCoy told police she last saw her son on Friday, when he withdrew $600 from his bank account and departed, apparently upset because she had decided they would move. If there was a reference to paranoid schizophrenia in the report, it had been blacked out, a police spokeswoman said.

A warrant for McCoy charging him with felonious assault said he is mentally unstable, armed and dangerous.

Most of the 24 shootings linked to the spree since May have struck vehicles on highways on the South Side of Columbus, the area where McCoy lived with his mother. Bullets have also been fired at homes, a school and parked vehicles. The last shooting was on Feb. 14.

The only person hit was 62-year-old Gail Knisley, who was killed on Nov. 25 while riding in a car on Interstate 270.

[smith288]

Already gearing up for the insanity plea....

[ConservativeMan55]

At least the father did the right thing.

[nightdriver]

As in the case of the Unibomber and the DC snipers, the police didn't have any success until some regular citizen came forth with the critical lead.

Doesn't make one feel very secure about relying on police protection these days.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

He wants the Metro back.

[johnfrink]

If there was a reference to paranoid schizophrenia in the report, it had been blacked out, a police spokeswoman said.

The rights of one person trump the rights of the populace to be fully informed about the lunatics running around. On another note--aren't people with mental conditions like paranoid schizophrenia usually prohibited from owning guns? They should be.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

You post is idiotic. Regular citizens are supposed to assist law enforcement. We don't live in a police state.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Sometimes they ARE insane. Not often, but sometimes.

[Ann Archy]

The father did a very hard CORRECT thing.

[smith288]

As in the case of the Unibomber and the DC snipers, the police didn't have any success until some regular citizen came forth with the critical lead.

Doesn't make one feel very secure about relying on police protection these days.

I dont see a police officer standing outside my door protecting me... Do you expect that?

Police are often times report takers and security detail for murder mop up. They arent there to protect nightdriver from the worlds dangers. Not sure if you caught it or not but Columbus has been putting out information almost daily about information to get the citizenry to help.

Sometimes, crap happens and the police, who isnt all knowing mind you, just cant win them all. Luckily, this man might be caught thanks to the citizenry that you claim Columbus is ignoring.

I live right by the 270 area that been getting pelted and I dont feel unsafe at all...perhaps you are just a nervous wreck.

[sarasota]

Armed and dangerous and now he knows his father ratted him out...

[Jaxter]

"Doesn't make one feel very secure about relying on police protection these days."

I don't expect the police to protect me. However, if someone breaks into my house or threatens my life or a loved ones life, I do expect the police to help remove his body.

[tkathy]

A very courageous father. He could have stayed in denial and done nothing. True grit.

[opbuzz]

Could it be the same guy in Vallejo, CA with a rifle in a van?

[FreePaul]

Sniping with a handgun? I was sure that he had to be using one of those nasty assault weapons. I guess people were lucky that he didn't have a bayonet lug or extended magazine or any other prohibited additions on his sniper pistol.

[spunkets]

" I dont see a police officer standing outside my door protecting me..."

Where I'm at there's a whole bunch driving around with the intent to make sure no one dares attempt a successful self defense. The chiefs even get paid to show up and lobby to make sure it stays that way.

[17th Miss Regt]

Sniping with a handgun is extremely difficult unless the sniper is also an SUV owner and a white male. Then it is fairly easy. If the sniper uses his handgun/SUV combination correctly, he can decimate endangered species in no time flat.

[FreePaul]

The "owner" and "white male" are superfluous here. Either a hand gun or an SUV are capable of massive destruction without any human intervention. I can't comprehend the damage a combination could do.

[oyez]

suspect in the shooting as suffering from paranoid schizophrenia,

I recall at one time, it seemed like we kept these people locked up.