SNIPER UPDATE: Details on shooting gathered by local Fredericksburg newspaper

The reports of white vans are disturbing. They are common and easily spotted from the air. If everybody is looking for one, or is conditioned to look for one, they will see one.

A sniper is practicing the art of concealment. Knowing that a white vehicle sticks out on black top roads so bad you can see them from 35,000 feet, a clever sniper would pick something else. More likely a small, dark colored car. They blend into the environment. They can be easily hidden in a garage or under tree cover.

Instead of looking for something strange or out of the ordinary, to find a sniper you need to look for something that is just too average.

A car without working brake lights is a give away. A car driving without headlights near dusk or dawn is a give away. A car that is parked near the scene of the shooting, but doesn't belong there is a give away. A car left with the engine running is a give away. These are the kind of things that drive by shooters do, in the couple I have witnessed.

Parked cars need only be checked by hand for a warm hood, to tell if has been running recently. Park and run, ditch the gun, come back later.

The reports of white vans are disturbing. They are common and easily spotted from the air. If everybody is looking for one, or is conditioned to look for one, they will see one.

A sniper is practicing the art of concealment. Knowing that a white vehicle sticks out on black top roads so bad you can see them from 35,000 feet, a clever sniper would pick something else. More likely a small, dark colored car. They blend into the environment. They can be easily hidden in a garage or under tree cover.

Instead of looking for something strange or out of the ordinary, to find a sniper you need to look for something that is just too average.

A car without working brake lights is a give away. A car driving without headlights near dusk or dawn is a give away. A car that is parked near the scene of the shooting, but doesn't belong there is a give away. A car left with the engine running is a give away. These are the kind of things that drive by shooters do, in the couple I have witnessed.

Parked cars need only be checked by hand for a warm hood, to tell if has been running recently. Park and run, ditch the gun, come back later.

Milwaukee Guy might have a point BUT if i was the shooter i would really rather have a long gun with a silencer which isnt hard (for anyone thats had anything to do with weapons or a military background) to build. I also wanted to say i saw a news show last night that was comparing this shooter to the ZODIAC KILLER there is no comparison their (modis operindi?) are totaly different. excuse da spellin

Great report. Not only posting it here on FR, but the writing of the article as well.

I pray they find this perp, whomever it is, soon and stop the carnage.

I also pray that my gut feeling that we have a master terrorist amongst us creating a play book for other follow-ons is not correct.

Did the police release the graphic aid they were working on? Very hectic here and haven't tuned much since yesterday afternoon.

Thanks for the artcle, link and post.

Bookmarked the link for keeping up with this situation.

bttt while I'm at it. ;-)

SNIPER SCARE IN SUBURBIA Police weigh multiple killers, vehicles 'If this is 1 shooter, he's got a helluva lot of energy – and luck'

Worth exploring. The same weapon doesn't mean the same shooter. And if it's a Thompson Contender single-shot as some have suggested http://www.tcarms.com, which fits the tactics, that could confuse ballistics ID tests even more since the Contender can switch barrels.

Also, multiple shooters suggests something a lot more organized than a lone nut (uh, terrorists?).