Sniper kills for the thrill: 8th attack leaves teen near death

New York Daily News ^ | 10/08/02 | HELEN KENNEDY

[CobaltBlue]

The shootings are not in affluent areas, nor are they in poor areas.

The shooting in VA and the one of the kid yesterday were both close to interstate highways, on main roads close to interstate exits.

The earlier shootings in MD were on Connecticut Ave., Rockville Pike, Randolph Rd., Georgia Ave., all major roads close to I-495 and I-270, but not as close to the interstate highways as the one in VA and the one of the kid yesterday.

I think the killer is far more familiar with the area of the earlier shootings in MD. He either lives there or works there.

I think the fact that there were no shootings over the weekend is significant. My guess is that he may live with his parents, who were home during the day then, or maybe he has a job that requires him to work during the day on the weekends.

[bvw]

We are at war. A war with terrorists, they have been attacking us for over two decades, and since 9/11 it is undeniable. They have trained their warriors in random terror asassinations, they have used random terror asassinations in other countries. We have become their most direct enemy.

Yet, amazingly, even on FR, few see this DC sniping as most likely to be terrorism.

It is by such wooly-eyed denial of a war, that we will dwaddle to our own defense and our enemies will extract more havoc and horror from us and our children.

This is war. This sniping must be considered, first and most likely, to be terrorism.

[twyn1]

a serial killer addicted to shooting gallery games

Not sure I buy this theory...the killer seems too patient and organized..."arcade addiction" brings to mind a teenager or young man who is out of touch with reality, he'd be losing it by now. After each success, in order to keep the "thrill" going, the "kills" would get closer together, more risky, but less planned-out...and I would think he would begin to pick off more than one person at each site (more like the arcade games). The fact that he shot the kid, but not the aunt shows extreme discipline (could be he shot the kid and immediately took off). Plus, unless they had a "buddy" who was in strict control, a psycho like this wouldn't be able to keep in what he was doing, he'd have to "brag" to someone about what was going on

[sneakypete]

I personally have been wondering if it is a terrorist who dreamed up this scenario because he was out of touch with his leadership and frustrated, like the one who shot up LAX.

He is clearly a terrorist,but I don't think he is the style of terrorist you mean. I don't think he has any connection to the middle east. He's a homegrown nutcase. He may even be a gun-control freak doing to to "prove his point".

[sneakypete]

Look at the map. An obvious observation is that he is attacking all around Washington DC but not with in it.

Why would he do that?

To "prove" that gun control works? After all,guns are banned in DC for all but a few elites.

[Aquinasfan]

On a positive note, experts noted that the sniper took a greater risk by leaving his getaway car to climb around in the woods. He also may have left behind useful evidence on his grassy knoll - hairs, fibers or other debris.

Important development.

[CobaltBlue]

This map of the shootings shows how close they were to major roads and interstate highways.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/images/shootings_100702.html

He's out there, driving around, on the interstate highways, looking for more victims. Must have ice cubes in his veins.

[CobaltBlue]

My guess is that the reason he is not shooting anyone in DC is that the roads are too congested so he can't make a quick getaway.

All the shootings have been near large roads that are not congested at the time of the shootings.

DC traffic is always congested.

[sneakypete]

. The killer is alright as long as victims are adults, but one kid and then he goes over the line.

That's the logical result of hearing and speaking all that "hit's fore the chil-run" crap. Women pushing shopping carts don't count,and neither do men pushing lawn mowers.

[MichaelP]

"This person is killing for sport,"

This is purely supposition! The facts are that this crime doesn't fit any previous profile for serial or mass killers. It seems to me to better fit the motive of Al Qaeda....

Mike

[sneakypete]

they are all licensed in Maryland and DC,

Aren't privatelly-owned guns outright banned in DC? I know so-called Assault Rifles and handguns are.

[Aquinasfan]

Another thing I can't understand is the one-shot thing. Doesn't seem like that wouldn't correspond to the profile of a thrill killer.

Someone mentioned that the reason for a single shot is to prevent triangulation of the sniping position. But how important is that?

[Hatteras]

You might want to ask Carl Rowan.

[wcbtinman]

"...he may be providing a demonstration of just how effective such tactics could be."

Think this guy has read "Unintended Consequences'?

This very scenario is what scares the crap out of the liberal Socialists. They know there is no defense, and no real cover from a motivated sniper.

They are right to be afraid...very afraid.

[cynicom]

Thrill killing???? I think not. One gentleman yesterday suggested it was a killer "with a cause". Needless to say no one wanted to discuss that possibility.

[NukeMan]

The psychiatrist with the most aggressive personality and power is the one who is "right."

A very interesting observation. I'm gonna tuck this one away for future reference; I'll bet it has all sorts of applications outside psychiatry (how ironic that it applies to psychiatry itself though!).

[MedicalMess]

The motive of the shooter seems clear....inflict terror. Whether a member of a terrorist group or a lone terrorist, the shooter is none the less a terrorist - and he is being successful at inflicting terror on the citizens of the D.C. community.

Glad to see someone got it. This guy is affecting terror on a community. What caused him to be that way doesn't matter. He is a terrorist because of the affect created.

[CJ Wolf]

"I guess it's getting to be really, really personal now."

I think this comment was a mistake. The last mistake was reassuring the parents which was listed in the article. I cringed when they were doing that, sunday night. But I am glad someone called them on it now. It was a invite and a dare to the gutless sniper. Moose needs to relise that when he holds these news conferences he is talking directly to the sniper.

[M. T. Cicero II]

On the weekends, people are out and "just hanging-out". This would mean that the odds of being spotted increase significantly. I think this sniper is trained - either ex-military or state-terrorist. But, I admit, could be an amatuer wanting to go pro.