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Washington sniper vanishes after signature hits
ABC NEWSONLINE ^ | 10/14/02

Posted on 10/13/2002 1:43:35 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection

US police have said they do not want to the muddy waters of an investigation into a sniper who has killed eight people and wounded two by releasing an inaccurate sketch, amid reports the meticulous killer circling the nation's capital has been sighted.

Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose was asked to comment on reports that the sniper who has electrified the Washington area has been spotted, and police are working on a composite sketch.

Chief Moose, struggling for the right words, said he did not want to "muddy the waters" by releasing an image to the media too soon.

"Please rest assured that when we have something where we are sure that the media can help us we will use that," Moose said.

"The concern is that we pollute the whole thought process, we cause people to have tunnel vision, think they see what they heard on TV and mix that up with reality."

The power of the media has taken center stage in the hunt for the shooter - or shooters, who has used a high-velocity rifle to slam a single bullet into 10 victims since October 2, eluding the largest federal, state and local manhunt in the history of the Washington region.

Chief Moose released a composite image of an older model, mid-sized commercial truck, with light damage to its right rear bumper and black lettering -- a row of large black block letters above a row of smaller letters, on each side.

Chief Moose said the white truck, which has a roll-up door at the rear, was seen at more than one of the shootings by more than one witness and he asked the media to distribute it widely.

He declined to discuss any of the witnesses further.

"None of the witnesses have been able to give us the exact wording" on the truck or its license plate number, Chief Moose said at a news briefing.

The chief said the image is generating new leads.

"Maybe he has had this vehicle repaired," he said, calling on mechanics and body shop workers to think back.

Investigators are working on a sketch of a second vehicle, described as a white Chevrolet Astro van, seen near the latest shooting on Friday, Chief Moose said.

"We're working with a sense of urgency" to get that photo to the public, he said.

Physical evidence has been scant, with one taunting clue apparently left by the shooter near where a 13-year-old victim was shot - a tarot "death" card with the words "dear Mr Policeman, I am God" scrawled on the back.

The cold, methodical killer, who picks off random victims while concealed in a sniper's nest at a comfortable distance, claimed his 10th victim and eighth fatality on Friday.

Kenneth Bridges, 53, a businessman and father of six on the road from Philadelphia, was killed on Friday at an Exxon gasoline station near a busy interstate highway in Virginia.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Culture/Society; US: District of Columbia; US: Maryland; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: sniper
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To: river rat
This could be an under funded "cell"

Underfunded that's for sure! For those of you who believe in the sleeper cell theory, the good news is that they're really running out of money...

141 posted on 10/13/2002 3:54:02 PM PDT by Elenya
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To: nicmarlo
I posted before reading the replies, which I don't usually do. Wouldn't have commented otherwise.

;-)

142 posted on 10/13/2002 3:54:11 PM PDT by mombonn
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To: Mo1
And as for that truck .. it took a WEEK to come up with a picture and yet still no reference to the white van

It always comes back to the white box truck. The same truck which, according to WND's source, a BOLO went out on very soon after the first shootings. It was originally reported that there were two hispanic looking (or ME looking -- whichever you want to believe), inside the truck. We never heard another word about this report..... but apparently, the white truck is still in play as we've seen from the composite - only without the Hispanic (or ME men)

143 posted on 10/13/2002 3:57:58 PM PDT by freeperfromnj
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To: Gritty
"Then, the primary attack takes place."

Killers do multiple shootings in different areas, the conditioned response to shut everything down with everyone out in the open happens and bang- WMD goes off.

144 posted on 10/13/2002 3:58:55 PM PDT by spunkets
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To: DAnconia55
We can nuke most of the Middle East and it won't stop these guys. It'll set off more of them.

But that doesn't mean I'm not for trying it. 'Nothing ventured, nothing gained', as they say. ;^)
145 posted on 10/13/2002 4:04:37 PM PDT by 4Freedom
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To: evad
I do know what you mean, sadly. This whole thing with the moslems is very sad.
146 posted on 10/13/2002 4:06:06 PM PDT by nicmarlo
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To: WarSlut
>>...My fear is that this cell's sole function is to paralyze the Metro DC-area while a second cell prepares its attacks on the usual Washington targets....<<

Perhaps, but why put the authorities in your target area on a heightened state of alert?

147 posted on 10/13/2002 4:07:47 PM PDT by FReepaholic
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To: Husker24
I thought I heard that the shot actually went over the police officers head before it hit the guy pumping gas, if this is true the sniper almost had to see him.

I don't remember that. Will have to check the reports.

148 posted on 10/13/2002 4:09:16 PM PDT by Elenya
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To: Mo1
I have to agree....and it will probably take another week to get a graphic of an Astro van with ladder rails.
149 posted on 10/13/2002 4:10:13 PM PDT by mystery-ak
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To: river rat
Kind of like chasing VC and sappers, huh?


Yeah, only then we could call in an airstrike...

150 posted on 10/13/2002 4:14:27 PM PDT by CIB-173RDABN
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To: Sacajaweau
Yes I'm getting the feeling that this thing is not what it appears to be.
151 posted on 10/13/2002 4:16:51 PM PDT by exnavy
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To: Nogbad
Yes, I had just read it. I wrote about searching Atta last year and when I got into the site on Egypt, somehow I wound up with gysies and Tarot cards. I ignored it at the time.

Sac

152 posted on 10/13/2002 4:17:24 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: freeperfromnj
freeperfromnj wrote: A lot has been discussed on other threads about the first shot being fired at Michael's and the significance the name itself may hold.

Michael is an ancient name that can be traced back thousands of years. Its language of origin is Hebrew, "Mikha'el", and it appears in the scriptures common to Christianity, Judaism and Islam in reference to the Archangel Michael, one of seven archangels in Hebrew tradition. It's meaning is a question: "Who Is Like God?".

This archangel is always portrayed as being on the side of right and good, and is a protector. He is the patron saint of soldiers, policemen and sailors.


That sounds like what's happening to me & a clue to who our sniper is and why they might hate the name of Michael:

Dan 10:21 Only Michael, the angel who guards your people Israel, will be there to help me.

Dan 12:1 "At that time Michael, the mighty angelic prince who stands guard over your nation, will stand up (and fight for you in heaven against satanic forces), and there will be a time of anguish for the Jews greater than any previous suffering in Jewish history. And yet every one of your people whose names are written in the Book will endure it.

Dan 12:2 "And many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Dan 12:3 "And those who are wise--the people of God--shall shine as brightly as the sun's brilliance, and those who turn many to righteousness will glitter like stars forever.

Dan 12:4 "But Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal it up so that it will not be understood until the end times, when travel and education shall be vastly increased!"
153 posted on 10/13/2002 4:18:30 PM PDT by Ready2go
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To: VRWC For Truth; David
VRWC - Here's the excerpt from page 13 of the Al-Qaeda Training Manual:

Missions Required of the Military Organization:

The main mission for which the Military Organization is responsible is:

The overthrow of the godless regimes and their replacement with an Islamic regime. Other missions consist of the following:

1. Gathering information about the enemy, the land, the installations, and the neighbors.
2. Kidnaping enemy personnel, documents, secrets, and arms.
3. Assassinating enemy personnel as well as foreign tourists.
4. Freeing the brothers who are captured by the enemy.
5 . Spreading rumors and writing statements that instigate people against the enemy.
6. Blasting and destroying the places of amusement, immorality, and sin; not a vital target.
7. Blasting and destroying the embassies and attacking vital economic centers.
8 . Blasting and destroying bridges leading into and out of the cities.
Etc. Etc.
154 posted on 10/13/2002 4:23:33 PM PDT by LurkedLongEnough
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To: VRWC For Truth
Please don't take this personally but y'all are starting to sound like the Rats defending Klinton. In order to believe A, you have to believe in things that are improbable.

Not sure I see the correlation here, but no, it won't take it personally. Or seriously.

155 posted on 10/13/2002 4:24:10 PM PDT by WarSlut
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To: freeperfromnj
why doesn't some expert come up with a profile of an Islamic terrorist for us.    ...because we "can't handle the truth!"?  </sarcasm off>
Good question by the way.

156 posted on 10/13/2002 4:27:40 PM PDT by GirlShortstop
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To: tscislaw
Perhaps, but why put the authorities in your target area on a heightened state of alert?

Misdirection, distraction. They could be trying to draw authorities out into the surrounding areas, making the city itself more vulnerable.

Just thinking out loud, here...

157 posted on 10/13/2002 4:28:26 PM PDT by WarSlut
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To: DAnconia55
There's nothing you can do.    Sure there is. We can turn Mecca into a radioactive parking lot, right after we steal their holy meteorite.    ROFLMAO!   
158 posted on 10/13/2002 4:31:19 PM PDT by GirlShortstop
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To: LurkedLongEnough
The overthrow of the godless regimes and their replacement with an Islamic regime.

And above all, Alla, the prince of darkness, will not favor you for free. There will be a price. The immoral soul. The virgins of promise? All male goats. Stinking and ready for their first piece of Muslim butt.

159 posted on 10/13/2002 4:33:57 PM PDT by concerned about politics
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To: Tacis
The shooter is a trained military guy, maybe SAS or IRA, ...

You're turning this guy into some kind of super hit man. No way. this is probably a local (legal, illegal, or us citizen) who is not particularly extraordinary in any way. His marksmanship is not that wonderful, no matter what everyone tries to ascribe to him. He is really good at escape and evasion though, or maybe the police are really bad at detection and capture. I'm beginning to think it could be a cop of some sort. Someone who was bumped out and now has an attitude of "So you think you're so great? Well lets see how you handle this!" In any event, this is most definitely no super villan.

160 posted on 10/13/2002 4:42:08 PM PDT by templar
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