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The people doing this are enormously familiar with the area roads.

Excellent point. Your mention of a cabbie also answers some questions.

Since there are probably two, its likely the driver is very knowledgeable about DC Metro roads, and not just the highways. He knows traffic patterns and methods of escape and how to plan a shooting for both impact and easy egress.

He knows how the traffic flows in different parts of the area, maybe even a few shortcuts around traffic "chokepoints." Obviously quite an experienced driver, not some newbie to the area (his whole pattern seems almost diabolically knowledgeable).

And it wouldn't be merely a local DC or Virginia cabbie, but someone who drives all around the metro area, for example an airport cabbie. If he serviced National DCA, he'd be in just about every suburban area so far targeted by the shooter: Manassas, Bowie, Falls Church, Kensington. The Fredericksburg shootings don't add up, but I suppose its possible someone might take an airport cab to/from there.

On the other hand the shooter is probably the al Qaeda import, probably not at all familiar with the roads, but experienced with killing.

I've been wondering from the outset how these guys knew so much about the roads and traffic. Airport cabbie make a great deal of sense.

I suppose its obvious, but most DC airport cabbies are not white male ex-Marine sharpshooters with NRA memberships.

A lot of the cab drivers here in D.C. are Moslems. There's a halal kebab house right across the street from my office building, in downtown D.C., and there are always a bunch of cabs parked outside it.

"... someone who drives all around the metro area, for example an airport cabbie."

Airport cab drivers are also particularly knowledgeable about avoiding lights and stop signs, saving time, etc.

I hae never lived in DC, but I know that in NY, a great number of the cabbies and particularly airport limo drivers were from Middle Eastern countries. They weren't natives, but they sure knew the roads. Aristeides mentioned that many of the DC area drives are from the ME.