caught the sniper like a duck in a noose. First I wonder when this was given to the police to say.
At any rate, I think it implies that LE are the rabbit, and they have fallen into that hollow stump, from which there is no way out. Meaning... perhaps that as has been postulated that perhaps other cells will now go into action? No return? It just gets worse from here on out?? The shooter's way of using LE to get the message out to other cells. We all figured cell were watching this stuff unfold and getting ideas... maybe they have been watching and waiting....