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Washington sniper vanishes after signature hits
ABC NEWSONLINE ^ | 10/14/02

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.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Culture/Society; US: District of Columbia; US: Maryland; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: sniper
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To: TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
This is what's there now. In order to have better quality journalism (maybe 4 internet selections), one must wait either until 1:00AM ET or the following day (Drudge is far too often hyperlinked to the Washington Post). It's that or watch FOX.
61 posted on 10/13/2002 2:43:52 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
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To: exnavy
When I saw Moose this AM, it almost sounded like someone was feeding him information on what to say in response to the question.

Anyone else get that feeling??

Sac

62 posted on 10/13/2002 2:45:10 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: VRWC For Truth; Dog; Squantos; harpseal; Travis McGee; Lurker; SLB; Fred Mertz; freeperfromnj; ...
Terrorists create terror. Whom ever is doing this (and I certainly believe it could be a terror cell but am holding off on my final opinion) is certainly creating an environment of terror.

Whome ever is doing it is acting like a very cool, professional killer, or killing team. They are on a mission and are taking great care to take on shot and then cooly leave the area. Shoot and scoot. In that regard they are acting a lot like an SF Team behind enemy lines carrying out a mission IMHO.

I believe they are not in a white van, but are likely taking care to wait on their shot until a white van goes by to use our own information against us.

Could very easily be a terror cell in my opinion ... and if it is, they are creating a play book for future cells to operate off of, while terrorizing a whole region of the nation. Very economiical for such a proposition when compared to their cost in dollars and lives for the WTC.

Point is, they are capable of both kinds of operations and we'd be wise IMHO to NOT discount it until proven oterwise ... and I hope and pray it is proven otherwise.

63 posted on 10/13/2002 2:46:19 PM PDT by Jeff Head
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To: Sacajaweau; Samwise
From this web site (http://www.elexion.com/lakota/textos/origin2.htm), I found the following (excerpt):

An author named Covelluzo wrote in 1480 that playing cards came to Italy in 1379 from North Africa, perhaps brought by Arabs, but no one knows if these included the Tarot.

Prior to 1750, most, if not all, known Tarot packs bore Italian labels. This, of course, suggests an Italian origin. French names with Italian suit-marks followed.

German woodblock printing and the 18th century French occult revival helped spread the Tarot far and wide. The Gypsies and modern Western interest in the occult further increased its popularity. Tarot packs are sold today in most of the largest cities in the world.

Words

Some scholars seek the Tarot's beginnings in the word "Tarot," which may derive from:

The Taro river in Northern Italy.
Orat (Latin), "it speaks, argues."
Rota (Latin), "a wheel."
Taru (Hindu), "cards."
Tarosh (Egyptian), "the royal way."
Torah (Hebrew), "the Law."
Thoth, an Egyptian god.
Ator, from the Egyptian goddess Hathor.
Troa (Hebrew), "gate."
Tares, meaning the dot border on old cards.
Tarotee, meaning a pattern on the backs.

64 posted on 10/13/2002 2:48:19 PM PDT by nicmarlo
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To: freeperfromnj
Come to think of it, why doesn't some expert come up with a profile of an Islamic terrorist for us.

It's un-PC. Terrorists vote Democrat.

65 posted on 10/13/2002 2:51:17 PM PDT by concerned about politics
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To: Ben Hecks
2) 18 urban areas have a population greater than D.C. What are the odds that a domestic crazy would pop up in D.C. instead of one of the other areas with a greater population density? 1 in 19?

I suspect too high a population density would work against this form of attack (as opposed to, say, a car bomb).

66 posted on 10/13/2002 2:51:29 PM PDT by Eala
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To: All
Investigators defend release of little information in sniper case
WTNH

(Rockville, Md.-AP, Oct. 13, 2002 3:40 PM) _ Investigators hunting an increasingly brazen sniper defended their meager release of information, saying Sunday they don't want the killer to know what they know.

Authorities pointed to the dangerous balance between pleading for public help and revealing too much.

"We don't want to release anything that may cause ... anyone to think they're a suspect," said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent Mike Bouchard.

Montgomery County police Chief Charles Moose, meanwhile, has cut back on his news briefings while saying he wishes there was more he could reveal.

"I wish we could give you a name, a mug shot and an address but we're not at that point," he said in one of four appearances he made Sunday on national TV talk shows.

Moose has become the public face of a massive task force investigating a random shooter who has fired a single round into each of 10 victims, killing eight, in suburban Washington since Oct. 2.

The last killing occurred Friday morning, when a 53-year-old father of six was shot while fueling his sedan in a gas station just south of Fredericksburg, Va. At the time, a state trooper stood just 50 yards away, investigating a traffic accident.

Also Sunday, calls continued to flood tipster hot lines with information about white box trucks and a second white vehicle, a Chevrolet Astro van, seen at two or more of the killing sites.

And authorities began describing the serial sniper as not just a local threat, but an attempt to terrorize an already anxious nation.

"This reminds us that people in our past have tried to intimidate and put fear into Americans," Moose said. "This a strong nation ... and we will not be intimidated."

At the sprawling Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, Va., pastor C.J. Mahaney urged Sunday worshippers to turn off their televisions and turn to God.

"I am concerned there is too little faith and too much fear," the preacher said from the pulpit.

The victims, in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., were shot as they carried out daily errands, including mowing grass, shopping and pumping gas. Four were killed at service stations.

County, state and federal investigators won't say if they know much about the killer, whose only apparent communication to police was a tarot card left at one shooting scene with the words, "Dear Policeman, I am God."

Moose refused to comment on reports that the FBI has asked the Pentagon to search its records for recently discharged GIs who had gone through sniper school. FBI spokesman Mike Saltz declined to comment on any investigative leads and the ATF's Bouchard said: "I don't think you need special training. Obviously the person has practiced before."

Investigators also would not discuss reports that a scrap of paper found at the site of the latest killing contained scribbled directions from northern Maryland to the Capital Beltway.

Authorities told residents to keep looking for a white truck matching composite images released Saturday and based on witness descriptions from more than one shooting.

With no known shootings since Friday morning, a reporter asked Moose if he was worried about Monday. One week ago, the killer apparently took the weekend off, only to strike again on Monday, Oct. 7.

"We won't make any assumptions about any kind of pattern," Moose said. "I never approach Monday morning with a sense of dread."

67 posted on 10/13/2002 2:51:29 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
These are code words from the Politically Correct Moose, phd graduate of Portland Diversity U!:

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.

Now I will translate the Ebonics of Portland Diversity U into "Gooder English":

"The image we came up with ain't no White Cracker Racist Conservative. So we be holding that picture until our sketch artists can make him blue eyed, blonde, whiter than snow and with a Nazi tattoo on his forehead. He will shown listening to conservative talk radio while reply to a racist thread on Free Republic.!"

Or in plain English without any massaging. "The suspect we are are after is not a white guy. Therefore, we can't release a picture or description of him. We will have 3.5 million people living in fear until we can work this Diverse situation in a politically correct one!

68 posted on 10/13/2002 2:52:14 PM PDT by Grampa Dave
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To: Nogbad
Tarot is a derivation of the Arab word turuq, which means "four ways."
69 posted on 10/13/2002 2:54:38 PM PDT by TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
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To: VRWC For Truth
Terrorists don't attack Arts & Crafts stores, but high viz targets ala the WTC.

What if a terrorist wanted to terrorize a whole community for weeks with random shootings? What if they start showing up elsewhere?

Do You Think they might be able to inflict some serious terror if people in multiple large cities start staying inside, keeping their kids out of school, etc...

I think it's at least 75/25 this is a Islamic Nutcase.

70 posted on 10/13/2002 2:55:04 PM PDT by RobFromGa
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To: nicmarlo
I understand your theory regarding the tarot card and muslims. That muslims would not use such a device, etc.

But remember, the Koran proscibes actions that czn be taken in the name of Allah during a jihad. Thus I believe that the tarot card is a ruse be an islamonazi terrorist team

71 posted on 10/13/2002 2:55:05 PM PDT by abigkahuna
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To: Dog
Notice how people aren't going out in the DC area...afraid to even pump their own gas......imagine if this keeps up for say another 3 weeks.....they will wreck the local economy.

Do you live in the DC area? I do, and I've been out and about all weekend, campaigning in Montgomery and Howard Counties, no less. I haven't noticed significantly less people outside. I think you've been watching too much cable news.

As far as "wrecking" the local economy, that would only happen if tourists buy into the media hype and cancel their travel plans.

You're a thousand times more likely to get killed by one of the many local bad drivers than you are of being within 5 miles of getting shot by this sniper.

72 posted on 10/13/2002 2:56:11 PM PDT by mr.sarcastic
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To: Sacajaweau
When I saw Moose this AM, it almost sounded like someone was feeding him information on what to say in response to the question.

I felt something wasn't right yesterday when all they came up with was a composite of the truck. Speculation: they're on a very hot trail and an arrest could be imminent, or they're being blackmailed by the perps who threatened to do something MUCH bigger if they go after them.

73 posted on 10/13/2002 2:56:28 PM PDT by Elenya
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To: VRWC For Truth
I disagree regarding this case. This sniper is managing to terrorize people in the DC area more than just about anybody or anything (threat) else in the past. Seems pretty effective to me.
74 posted on 10/13/2002 2:56:36 PM PDT by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
A number of my friends now have a better understanding of 'line of sight', and have started taking some 'evasive maneuvers' while shopping over the past few days. Being a little more cautious certainly can't hurt.



75 posted on 10/13/2002 2:57:49 PM PDT by who knows what evil?
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To: Grampa Dave
We don't want to release anything that may cause ... anyone to think they're a suspect," said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent Mike Bouchard.

Code for he doesn't fit the lone white guy ...gun nut theory....

76 posted on 10/13/2002 2:58:16 PM PDT by Dog
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To: VRWC For Truth
You never know, it could be either a nutjob or a terrorist. This is genuinely making people afraid - that is the goal of a terrorist. Now i am not saying it definitely is or isnt but if it does wind up being a terrorist i would not be surprised in the least.
77 posted on 10/13/2002 2:59:29 PM PDT by DM1
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To: nicmarlo
I have thought about this as well. What if, however, the terrorists did NOT mean us to think that they believe themselves to be god, but rather that they are sending a message to us from allah. For the infidels to see these shootings as the judgement of god and as a message communicated from allah directly. Thoughts?
78 posted on 10/13/2002 2:59:49 PM PDT by xeno
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To: HoustonCurmudgeon
Bump for later FRUITCAKE analysis.
79 posted on 10/13/2002 2:59:49 PM PDT by HoustonCurmudgeon
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To: Abcdefg
hat is the quality of journalism these days. Sad.

I don't get it? That's exactly what he's done.

80 posted on 10/13/2002 3:00:12 PM PDT by BearCub
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