And yet, they had no problem releasing a "profile" that called the killer a white guy between 20 and 30 years old.
"They're confident this is the guy," the official said.
Federal agents said the letter was "very lengthy" and poorly worded, bordering on broken English. Officials would not speculate whether the wording indicated whether the writer was a native English speaker or foreign-born.
Authorities close to the task force also said the letter contained unspecified threatening language about children — a warning that appeared to have played a role in prompting school officials in Richmond and surrounding suburbs to cancel classes Monday.
School superintendents in Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico counties and the city of Richmond had said earlier in the day that a surge in calls from anxious parents after the Ashland shooting led to the move. "People are very concerned about how we can assure safety," said Henrico Supt. Mark A. Edwards.
Federal officials said a man presumed to be the killer called the FBI's sniper tip hotline in Washington soon after the shooting in the Ponderosa parking lot. The caller said he had left a note.
"The telephone call saying the note is there came after the shooting," an FBI official said. "Whether the note was there beforehand is what they're trying to ascertain."
Officials have parceled out little about their dialogue. Montgomery County police spokeswoman Lucille Baur at one point canceled an appearance by Moose, saying police were at a "very sensitive stage of the investigation."
"The real issue is they don't want to put anything out there that would jeopardize this or tip the sniper to do something more," the FBI official said. "If you make the wrong move, it could set him off. They don't know what makes him tick."
Former investigators who have been involved in similar back-channel communications with criminal suspects said task force officials can only improve the prospects of capture by drawing out the killer in talks.
"Any kind of contact we have with him is good," said former FBI profiler Clint Van Zandt. "So many times we see a one-way taunting, and today there is some two-way communication going on. That's very positive."
Obviously the product of the gubmint schools. (or a terrorist!!!)
Who will collect the $500,000 reward ? Which competing agency will get the credit for arresting the sniper ? Whose LE career will get a boost and whose will suffer ? Book rights, movie rights, etc. When govmint agencies are involved just adapt the most cynical attitude you can imagine, and predicting their next move or motive is a picnic.
The Uni-bomber wasn't caught until they published his manuscript. They catch child snatchers in California by instantly publicizing information, and trust the people to find the bad guy. IT WORKS!
But Moose is apparently a democrat, with a PC investigation. They can't trust the people to help find this guy. They'd rather people died than let a non-cop find the perp.
. . .tell that to the latest victim.
This is not the 'old' story of communicating with a killer. . .but think they are handling it, like it is.
Time for a different tack, in my two cents humble opinion. . .stop talking to this guy; he is playing for the pleasure of control, pulling the chains of law enforcement. . .WHY cater to this person; tell the public what to look for; what he is saying. . .and why?
. . .or just stop the 'press non-conferences' and stop appealing to the public for help; when they do not know whom or what to even look for. . .
And yet, they had no problem releasing a "profile" that called the killer a white guy between 20 and 30 years old.
Hmm.. but we don't have a transcript anywhere?