8th Killing Linked to Sniper (Lots of new info including possible suspect visual descriptions)

Washington Post ^ | October 11, 2002 | Carol Morello and Josh White

[John H K]

"....Although Smith said investigators did not search any hotel rooms yesterday, witnesses said police with bloodhounds cordoned off Room 109 of the Ramada. Sources said they found nothing of interest.

Police briefly took a man linked to that room into custody yesterday at the crime scene. Hobert "Dewey" Epps, 36, who lives in Georgia and is staying with his fiance, said he was questioned

Epps, one of several people detained briefly yesterday, said FBI agents told him he matched a tentative description of the shooter and that they were concerned about his presence at the scene. Epps said agents showed him a picture – which he said appeared to have come from a video image – that slightly resembled him. Epps is about 5-feet-9, of medium build with sandy brown hair and a mustache.

Epps said agents asked him to show his profile. He eventually was released. "They said I looked like the picture of someone at another shooting," he said...."

[John H K]

Never quite certain how much of an excerpt is an excerpt the the WP legal team..it's only a tiny portion of the article.

Other info said the none of the witnesses had any indication that the van had anything to do with the shootings, witnesses don't agree on the number of people in the van, and the maid that saw the van saw a BLONDE woman driving it.

But it makes clear that whatever suspect description is being "covered up" isn't particularly very "Middle Eastern" appearing.

[Alberta's Child]

Epps, one of several people detained briefly yesterday, said FBI agents told him he matched a tentative description of the shooter . . .

I'm guessing that Mr. Epps will either leave the area immediately or spend the rest of his life walking around naked with his hands in the air. Just to reassure us.

[JulieRNR21]

This one deserves a Mega Ping.

[elbucko]

I wonder if the cowardly sniper is a recently fired gas station employee. He seems to like shooting at their customers (Thinking out loud).

[manfromlamancha]

I bet they are two kids between the ages of 16-19. PC Gamers as well as hunters. One kid is lower middle class the other is middle or upper middle class. They took the poaching and sniper idea from rabbits and video games to people. That is my personal opinion... but what the hell I know.

[John W]

I know you enjoy debunking things,but,have you seen a picture of Mr. Epps?If not,what is there in "about 5-feet-9, of medium build with sandy brown hair and a mustache" that "isn't particularly very "Middle Eastern" appearing."?

Another excerpt states:"Many are skeptical that the white van is more than a dead end. Some investigators said they don't doubt that witnesses to yesterday's shooting saw the van, but noted that none knew whether the occupants – some reported seeing one and others two – had anything to do with the shooting. Indeed, the focus on the van may be as much a reflection of the dearth of hard information as it is eyewitness reports."

So,maybe that BLONDE woman isn't very important to the case either.

[Shermy]

What picture? I don't think the perps would be anywhere near a gas station, etc. video camera.

[Ciexyz]

God, please give the police a break in this case.

[templar]

... PC Gamers as well as hunters.

I don't know about PC gamers, but he/she/they/it is definitely a hunter. Too bad it couldn't be deer instead of people.

[Parley Baer]

Actually a man and a woman does fit one of the profiles. Heard Mark Ferhman(sp) on the radio today mention a shooting spree in the 50's involving a man and a woman.

[MHGinTN]

That is probably why these shootings are near major roads ... the perps live down in Virginia or up in Maryland, far enough away that the authorities are not scanning tapes from gas stations in their area but close enough to make round trips on half a tank of gas.

[brightx]

BTTT!!!

[eastforker]

My 2 cents worth,these shooters are al-quida,plain and simple.Time to find them and kill them.

[John W]

I agree.

[John H K]

I know you enjoy debunking things,but,have you seen a picture of Mr. Epps?If not,what is there in "about 5-feet-9, of medium build with sandy brown hair and a mustache" that "isn't particularly very "Middle Eastern" appearing."?

Eh, I'm the only person not allowed to make "assumptions?" :-)

A sandy-haired man with a mustache who looks like someone named Hobart "Dewey" Epps frm Georgia SOUNDS like someone "Bubba" looking.

But I've long argued that people kid themselves about how obviously distinct "Middle Eastern" or "Arab" men look and how easy they are to ID when they don't cooperate by wearing robes and beards and such...since ALL Middle Easterns and Arabs ARE "Caucasians." Plenty are light skinned, plenty of Hispanics, Italians, Greeks, even Jews etc. look Arab but aren't....since what people REALLY mean but never use when they talk about "Middle Eastern" looking is someone MEDITERRANEAN in appearance.

I've also long argued the entire white vehicle thing may be a complete waste of time, myself, actually. Included that paragraph you mentioned when I first was going to post but deleted it as I was worried of having too long of a WP "excerpt."

My main point is a lot of people on FR seem absolutely convinced they have a description of the suspects but won't release it because they're Middle Eastern looking..that's clear from reading the board the past week.

I just found it ironic that they have a description they're not releasing but it sounds like a generic white guy.

Of course, the real reason they haven't released it is because they're not real confident of it and they're not confident that the person in the photo they have is actually the perp...hence, they're only showing it to future witnesses.

[tubebender]

d the maid that saw the van saw a BLONDE woman driving it.

I have a guy working for me that has beautiful long blonde hair that he keeps under wraps. Two years ago he was driving his wife Mercede convertable in Reno a cop stopped him thinking he was going to hit on a blonde. Jim said when the cop saw him his face turned beet red and became belligerent and searched the car looking for a excuse to bust him.

[ApesForEvolution]

I'm bursting with ideas, so this is what's been nagging at me the last couple of days. I could be WAY off, but I could be right on too.

They don't have a CLUE WHAT the shooter looks like. I'll bet a dollar to a dime that there is a connection between the 'stings' all over America on Al Queerda sleeper cells, the fact that we're starting to crack down on the local muslim nutsos and the fact that this marksman is shutting down gas stations (oil economy), attacking our public learning institutions (day care) and striking fear into Americans surrounding ordinarily safe outdoor activities like mowing the yard (freedom in general). They said McVeigh was contrary to my hunch last time, and it turns out that only a complete dolt would deny the evidence of an arab connection in OKC. I believe this is the next plan of attack from within, and the sleepers are waiting to see how we react and what freedoms we volutarily and by irrational and emotional legislation give up. This particular indvidual (do we really know it's just one shooter?!) could be a trained terrorist, but I doubt he's trained US military, because only a complete moron leaves shells behind after single and double round hits. I'm 75% convinced in my gut that we are seeing phase II of muslim terror striking America. If I'm right, how long will it take for the next major metro complex of sophistication like the beltway to start taking hits. Look at the result out east: high school football games closing, people avoiding gas stations and fearing for their lives, parents staying home with children from work and school, everday life totally disrupted over 1 (?) rifleman.
I believe the sleepers are waking and going 'hot' before they get nailed. The trail on their rears is starting to lead somewhere, stateside, and they know it. There are 1,000,001 reasons why NOW we would start seeing the next, rather simple but ingenious, more spooky form of terrorism. And, if I'm right, then it won't matter how many cops are on the streets, it's every man for himself.

That raises the next logical question. In light of all the freedoms that Americans, more than gladly, gave up shortly after OKC and 9/11, could registration, confiscation, nazi-neighbor-paranoia and door-to-door searches (freezing the constitution to protect us??) be far away for America?

People said that there would never be a Central World Government, today people are simply asking if it's a good idea. 24 US Senators voted yesterday to cede US warmaking powers to the United Nations.
The crazier things sound anymore, the more likely there's some truth in there somewhere.
Keep your thinking caps on folks...

[John W]

Ok.I think some people think this way because of the governments efforts at what I call "crowd control".There are times,during various "events",where the efforts at that seem of primary importance to "officials".

I heard a LE officer from that area today saying the traditional "we need to go on about our business".BS!

[Shermy]

The scuttlebutt was partly started here:

Two Hispanics Sought In DC Area Killings

[InvisibleChurch]

what is an officer's first duty? is it to check on the injured or is it to try to apprehend the criminal first. i understand that he ran to the injured man first...did he follow protocol? wondering...