[DonQ]

My amateur theory: This indicates that the sniper (or one of them) is English-speaking. An examination of his handwriting might indicate more about his education, background, age, etc. He evidently doesn't have any spirituality; he's not only unafraid to describe himself as God but also unafraid to deface a tarot deck.

The tarot card might itself be a clue. If it's new, he may have bought the deck for the purpose of using a card to leave a message. There are at least a dozen different tarot decks on the market; the Waite design is sold everywhere, but some of the other decks are sold only in a few places.

I don't think there is a racial or other slant to his targets; he seems to shoot "targets of opportunity" as they appear out of doors (so far, he hasn't shot anyone inside a car or house). But, one odd thing, one victim in Maryland and the one in Virginia were each shot at shopping centers with a "Michael's" art supply store. Maybe that is pure coincidence.

[Miss Marple]

The Chief is making a good point about all the "experts" on television ranting and raving and making statements about who the killer prpobably is, which is causing people not to call the tip line.

Says that these people are using this crime to get face time on TV and asking them to quit, and asks the media to quit using them. WOW! The Washington Post or Channel 9 is not going to solve this case, and if the people of the community want to have the media solve it, then they can take a vote and we will go do other police work.

[Quilla]

He evidently doesn't have any spirituality; he's not only unafraid to describe himself as God but also unafraid to deface a tarot deck.

Pardon my naivete, but why would one have qualms in defacing a tarot card?

[kaylar]

Another failed artist, like Hitler? More likely, he's the son (or they're sons) of fairly affluent people. Mom's a SAHM who can afford to waste time and money on the overpriced stuff at Michael's , and his hatred of his mother is reflected in his targeting of the kind of places at which she shopped.

I agree that the tarot card makes a Muslim terrorist less likely. Unless he's diabolically clever and used it to throw the police off, Muslims are not supposed to use anything to predict the future. It's an insult to Allah, who is a giant global slaveowner who controls everything. There is no 'fate' or 'chance' or even rational cause and effect, it's all in the hands of Allah. Yeah, I know, the 9-11 guys weren't supposed to be going to titty bars either, but anyway...Homegrown loser of fairly high socioeconomic background now seems more likely, IF the taro tcard is indeed from the shooter.

[FeliciaCat]

I also am curious about the Tarot design. There are ALOT of them. Could be very telling.

[T. P. Pole]

But, one odd thing, one victim in Maryland and the one in Virginia were each shot at shopping centers with a "Michael's" art supply store.

I had a thought this morning that the guy's name was Michael.