Police Hunting Sniper Get 'Lengthy' Note at Scene

Reuters ^ | 10-21-02 | Saul Hudson

[Oldeconomybuyer]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Police hoped to hear from whoever left a message at the scene of a Virginia shooting in what could be a breakthrough in the hunt for the sniper whose deadly attacks have traumatized the Washington area.

Montgomery County, Maryland, Police Chief Charles Moose revealed on Sunday that a message had been left at the scene of a shooting on Saturday near a restaurant in Ashland, Virginia, and appealed to the person who left it to contact the police.

"To the person who left us a message at the Ponderosa (restaurant) last night, you gave us a telephone number. We do want to talk to you, call us at the number you provided," Moose, the head of the regional investigation, said in a televised appeal.

Moose declined to elaborate or take questions.

The Washington Post reported on Monday that authorities believe the person who left the message is the sniper who has killed nine people in the Washington area since Oct. 2.

NBC reported on Monday that note was "very lengthy" and contained "detailed threats." The Richmond Time-Dispatch newspaper said the note, containing the phone number and "significant text," was found in the woods behind the restaurant. Contents of the note were not disclosed.

Police were taking the message seriously and appeared convinced of its authenticity, though it could also be a hoax.

TAROT CARD MESSAGE

Police in Prince George's County, in Maryland, east of Washington, found the first apparent message from the sniper in Bowie, Maryland, where a 13-year-old was shot and critically injured at his school. The message on a Tarot death card directed to police said, "I am God."

Montgomery County, where the first five shootings took place, is the lead agency in the sniper investigation.

The 37-year-old shot on Saturday was fighting for his life after a second round of surgery during which doctors recovered the bullet that ripped through his stomach. Ballistics experts were examining it.

"They were able to successfully remove the bullet and it's now in the hands of law enforcement officials," said Joe Kuttenkuler, spokesman for the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals in Richmond. "The patient is still critical and in the intensive care unit."

Dr. Rao Ivatury said the prognosis for the man, who was not identified, was "fair to good" and he was in "very stable" condition.

In a brief statement, the man's wife, also unidentified, expressed gratitude for the support of hundreds of people.

"Please pray also for the attacker and that no one else is hurt," she said in the statement released by the hospital.

Police were acting on an assumption that the same gunman who has killed nine and wounded two others in the Washington area was responsible for the latest attack, about 80 miles south of the nation's capital, the furthest to date.

The previous shootings in Washington and the normally tranquil Maryland and Virginia suburbs had been linked by ballistics evidence.

A funeral service was scheduled for Monday in Arlington, Virginia, for Linda Franklin, 47, the victim of the last shooting definitively linked to the sniper.

Franklin, an FBI (news - web sites) intelligence analyst, was shot in the head on Oct. 14 as she and her husband loaded packages into their car outside a busy home-improvement store in Falls Church, Virginia, about 6 miles west of the White House.

Despite an intense hunt -- involving a small army of local, state and federal law enforcement officers -- police have made little headway in finding the unpredictable serial shooter.

A wide range of sports and other outdoor events have been canceled and schools have kept children locked in during recess for two weeks.

Hanover County, Virginia, announced that schools in Ashland and elsewhere in the county would be closed on Monday in response to the shooting. Schools in Richmond, the capital of Virginia, and two other nearby counties were also closed.

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

I cant believe this not case has gone this long without someone seeing him get in or out of a car or truck thats pulled along side of the road.

Oh well, now I know why people were so hysterical in the "Son of Sam" days in NYC.

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

not

nut

[Blood of Tyrants]

"We do want to talk to you, call us at the number you provided,"


I have heard that the Fox movie about a sniper contains a scene where the sniper calls a number at a pay phone and tells the person who answers that they will be shot if they hang up. It seems that this guy believes he can tell them where he will be and they still can't catch him. I predict that this guy won't be taken alive.

[Focault's Pendulum]

Pre paid cell cell phone, perhaps.

[johnny7]

"Please pray also for the attacker and that no one else is hurt,"

Poor woman is confused... gone fishing... toys in the attic.

If somebody shot my spouse, I'd pray the shooter gets testicle cancer!

[Types_with_Fist]

I cant believe this not case has gone this long without someone seeing him get in or out of a car or truck thats pulled along side of the road.

Likely because it is one lone nut shooter who blends in and not an Al Qaeda terror cell. With the way people are freaking out, Middle Easterners - especially several - would stand out rather well. Oh! That's right! I forgot! Those who are adamant for Al Qaeda suspects say it could also be a group of non-Middle Eastern Muslims. (Sarcasm) Right, that would be more likely than a single home grown nut.(/Sarcasm)

[fooman]

It is infuriating that the police have several writing samples and have not released the writings(with the phone # redacted).

The public also has a right to know what the specific threats were, but you can bet that they were school related.

Remember the Unibomber was caught with handwriting....

[Xenalyte]

"We do want to talk to you, call us at the number you provided."

I'm neither a cop nor a sniper, nor do I play one on TV, but it seems to me that if I leave (say) my phone number for the cops, my calling it myself won't do much good.

[billhilly]

I agree that the schools were probably part of the threat; however the phone number left at the scene could very well have been the tip hotline. That could have been the shooter's way of telling them who he was.

[ladyinred]

Either it is a pay phone number, or the police have taken over the phone number themselves, which they can do.

[ravingnutter]

Pre paid cell cell phone, perhaps.

Speculation on talk radio this morning was that it was a pay phone which could be called from another pay phone without a trace...but I would think with all the technology available, the phone company could trace that type of call as long as they had "isolated" the receiving number...are there any phone company people here on FR that could clarify this?

[Chemist_Geek]

it seems to me that if I leave (say) my phone number for the cops, my calling it myself won't do much good.

Perhaps the police expect that the shooter will be so busy dialing and re-dialing the number trying to not get a busy signal, that he won't have the time to shoot anyone else?

;-)

[ravingnutter]

Man reportedly arrested at a phone booth...info here

[Diamond]

Poor woman is confused."Please pray also for the attacker and that no one else is hurt,"

She is a Christian. She is not confused. She understands God's love, grace and mercy toward those who hate him. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it.

Cordially,

[cryptical]

I'd guess that it was an unassigned number, and the note said "I'll contact you at XXX-XXX-XXXX". This would work as a verification of the snipers identity.

I'm also guessing that he'll call from pre-paid cellphone(s), rather than a pay-phone.

[kennyboy509]

How this is going to end:

I believe that there is a terriorst cell bickering among themselves weather to keep this a "strickly" religous jihad or make some money out of this deal.

The note was left near the scene of the last shooting with out the knowledge of ALL the perps imvolved. There may be 4 or more.

The 1 or 2 indeviduals who want to make some money out of this sniping are going to get the WHOLE terriorist cell busted out of greed and stupidity.

This is going to be a comedy as soon as it pans out. Thats why every one is confused at this piont and media speculation is rampant.

The phone number on the note was for that phone booth the cops staked out and busted the nitwits.

Maybe these 2 guys were the greedy ones or the 2 left in the dark by the greedy ones.

Man this is getting interesting!!!!!!!!!!!!!