Posted on 10/13/2002 1:43:35 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
US police have said they do not want to the muddy waters of an investigation into a sniper who has killed eight people and wounded two by releasing an inaccurate sketch, amid reports the meticulous killer circling the nation's capital has been sighted.
Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose was asked to comment on reports that the sniper who has electrified the Washington area has been spotted, and police are working on a composite sketch.
Chief Moose, struggling for the right words, said he did not want to "muddy the waters" by releasing an image to the media too soon.
"Please rest assured that when we have something where we are sure that the media can help us we will use that," Moose said.
"The concern is that we pollute the whole thought process, we cause people to have tunnel vision, think they see what they heard on TV and mix that up with reality."
The power of the media has taken center stage in the hunt for the shooter - or shooters, who has used a high-velocity rifle to slam a single bullet into 10 victims since October 2, eluding the largest federal, state and local manhunt in the history of the Washington region.
Chief Moose released a composite image of an older model, mid-sized commercial truck, with light damage to its right rear bumper and black lettering -- a row of large black block letters above a row of smaller letters, on each side.
Chief Moose said the white truck, which has a roll-up door at the rear, was seen at more than one of the shootings by more than one witness and he asked the media to distribute it widely.
He declined to discuss any of the witnesses further.
"None of the witnesses have been able to give us the exact wording" on the truck or its license plate number, Chief Moose said at a news briefing.
The chief said the image is generating new leads.
"Maybe he has had this vehicle repaired," he said, calling on mechanics and body shop workers to think back.
Investigators are working on a sketch of a second vehicle, described as a white Chevrolet Astro van, seen near the latest shooting on Friday, Chief Moose said.
"We're working with a sense of urgency" to get that photo to the public, he said.
Physical evidence has been scant, with one taunting clue apparently left by the shooter near where a 13-year-old victim was shot - a tarot "death" card with the words "dear Mr Policeman, I am God" scrawled on the back.
The cold, methodical killer, who picks off random victims while concealed in a sniper's nest at a comfortable distance, claimed his 10th victim and eighth fatality on Friday.
Kenneth Bridges, 53, a businessman and father of six on the road from Philadelphia, was killed on Friday at an Exxon gasoline station near a busy interstate highway in Virginia.
His actions didn't terrorize a nation but then, 9-11 hadn't occurred.
I'm not sure how we would respond to his bombings today.
Sac
No. You wouldn't think so at all. Firing more than one shot geometricly increases the odds someone will gather enough evidence about the shooter to apprehend the team. A single unanticipated shot--almost all witnesses will fail to identify the direction from which the shot was fired.
At this point, it is not clear the law enforcement community has any idea what the shooters look like or what their shooting platform looks like. These trucks we are talking about may or may not have anything to do with the event.
The shooter who fires a lot of rounds is incurring a huge risk of aprehension--these guys have really not yet been identified--it is the second shot that gives them away--that is why they don't fire it.
Absolutely. Even if the shooter(s) turn out to be caucasian, they are terrorists. The MO does not fit either the drive by or lone gun nut.
Why do you think that?
Just a reminder!
Sac
This is a "no witness" show at this time and it almost feels like we're being programmed.
Sac
I could think of countless vehicles more appropriate for the job.
Like over there in Israel where they are worried about getting caught... they just blow themselves up at the same time. All in name of Allah ya know!
Or maybe its like the shootings in Pakistan Christian churches? No that doesn't fit either. In those cases they fired indiscriminately at will, trying to maim and kill as many as poosible at one time.
In Israel they attack people going to synagogue. Any attacks at churches? Nope, didn't think so. Pakis hit churches, Palis hit synagogues...
No attacks on Saturday or Sunday. Why? The two BIG DAYS for Islamakazis to terrorize Jews and Christians. Yet, there are no shootings on those days.
Just doesn't seem to fit the ME terrorist mind think.
Sorry, but that IS my opinion. If some sort of EVIDENCE comes out to suggest otherwise, then perhaps I'll consider it, BUT NOT UNTIL THEN!
OK, who's Moose? Sorry for what is probably a dumb question.
Stay Safe...
Even though these attacks can't be defended effectively with your own firearms, it is still a good time to stress the merits of legal, individual gun ownership in one's community.
If you've got em, carry binoculars and do a quick scan wherever you have to stop. Quick, discreet glances, favoring wooded areas, parked trucks or jumbles of crap.
Yes. It is not just a get-away vehicle; it is a portable shooting platform, concealment device. Shooting from inside the back of the vehicle through a custom opening in the rear door, the shooter is not seen; the only exposure to being seen is to the witness who is looking at your door at the moment of firing--otherwise the van holds much of the noise and no one is likely to see the shot. You close the window cover immediately after the shot and drive off like you are part of traffic.
Again, the advantage is that for the most part, your truck is not likely to be identified as part of the action. The business sign on the side makes you part of the normal commercial traffic. If it is identified, you repaint it yellow and put a Ryder sign on the side; or paint it brown and put a UPS lable on the side; or whatever.
The White Isuzu would be a great choice because they are all over. You shoot out of the back, close your window and you have a good chance of being right next to an identical vehicle in DC traffic.
Not to say that the box van is really part of the operation, it may be only the Chevy Van or a pickup or some other unidentified truck.
The box van has another advantage--not only is it a complete comfortable shooting platform but in addition, you could mount a RPG launcher, and a couple of 50's, and maybe a couple of other personel with field weapons in the back--so if the authorities identified you, you could roll up the back door and have a good chance of having enough more firepower than your pursuers to fight your way out.
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