Charles McCoy (Ohio Sniper) Captured In Las Vegas

Yes, I 've seen the video...it's a green metro sedan.

prisoner6

Ohio Sniper Suspect Caught in Las Vegas

Wednesday, March 17, 2004

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio sniper suspect Charles A. McCoy Jr. (search) has been caught Wednesday in Las Vegas, Las Vegas metropolitan police (search) said.

Officer Jose Montoya said McCoy, wanted in two dozen highway shootings, one of which killed a woman, was caught at a Budget Suites.

Earlier, McCoy's family members pleaded for their relative to turn himself in while police kept up a dragnet for the man they considered armed and dangerous.

McCoy Jr.'s sister asked for him to call home so the family could arrange for him to surrender peacefully.

"Charlie, we all love you very, very much and we're all concerned for your well-being," said Amy Walton, who read a statement standing in front of the home where her brother lives with his mother. "Mom and I need you to call us, we will arrange for you to come home. We love you, we miss you."

McCoy, 28, was identified as a suspect Monday, when authorities released his picture, vehicle description and license plate. A bulletin to police departments said McCoy was believed to have a semiautomatic pistol and ammunition.

"McCoy has had mental health issues in the past and is currently not on medication," the notification read. "He is believed to have suicidal or homicidal tendencies."

A check of court records in Franklin and nearby Delaware and Fairfield counties turned up a handful of traffic tickets for McCoy, but no other criminal or civil charges.

McCoy's brother-in-law refuted the description by law enforcement.

"Charles was a troubled individual, but he was always a very peaceful individual," Tye Walton said at a news conference Tuesday night. "He was never as we've heard some people portray him as homicidal or suicidal. There was never anything like that."

The shootings around several highways on the southern outskirts of the city have pierced homes and a school, dented school buses, flattened tires and shattered windshields.

The shootings prompted commuters to take back roads and schools to cancel classes or hold recess indoors. Police increased patrols and offered a $60,000 reward. The state installed cameras on poles along Interstate 270.

The only person struck, Gail Knisley, 62, was killed as a friend drove her to a doctor's appointment Nov. 25. Lab tests showed that bullets from nine of the shootings — including Knisley's death — were fired from the same gun.

Authorities haven't said what evidence led them to McCoy. Newspaper and television reports Tuesday said McCoy's family gave investigators at least one of his guns.

An arrest warrant charges McCoy with felonious assault in a shooting with a 9 mm handgun that damaged a house Dec. 15. Franklin County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Steve Martin said authorities believe McCoy had bought another gun.

McCoy's parents, both state employees, could not be reached for comment Tuesday. In a missing person's report filed Monday, McCoy's mother, Ardith, said her son was upset over a possible move.

She said he withdrew $600 from a bank account and left home Friday for a restaurant and bar that features video games at a nearby mall.

The sheriff's office was looking for a four-door, dark green 1999 Geo Metro with a black hood. The Ohio license tag is CGV7387.

The description of the car and McCoy were similar to what witnesses told investigators they saw in the three most recent shootings.

Neighbors on McCoy's street said they didn't know much about the suspect or his mother. The McCoys moved there about a year ago, did some repairs and put the house back up for sale.

The tan garage doors at the house were splattered with three eggs Tuesday. Police said they did not know who hurled the eggs or when they were thrown.

McCoy's high school football coach said he's praying for his former player.

"You hope and pray he does the right thing now. You hope he turns himself in," said Brian Cross, who coached McCoy for four years at Grove City High School. "He was an ornery kid, but a lot of kids are ornery at that age. I don't remember him doing anything extreme."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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21 posted on 03/17/2004 4:03:35 AM PST by prisoner6 (Right Wing Nuts hold the country together as the loose screws of the left fall out!)

CNN is showing his car being hauled away--it looks like the same dark green Geo.

22 posted on 03/17/2004 4:03:51 AM PST by Catspaw

You have to have a paper signed by a judge to verify medical mental illness. Being in an emergency care for a night doesnt legally constitute nutjobb-ness in order to purchase a gun.

23 posted on 03/17/2004 4:06:11 AM PST by smith288 (Who would terrorists want for president? 60% say Kerry 25% say Bush... Who would you vote for?)

It was indeed, and now everyone say "WOW, the capture story is a good one.

24 posted on 03/17/2004 4:07:11 AM PST by wita (truthspeaks@freerepublic.com)

To: William McKinley

I'm listening to the incredible story about the offer of pizza by the guy to McCoy in Las Vegas and the man recognizing McCoy..This man really pursues it to convince the authorities.He's a great citizen in my book.

25 posted on 03/17/2004 4:08:20 AM PST by MEG33 (John Kerry's been AWOL for two decades on issues of National Security!)

Wasn't Utah where they executed Gary Gilmore?

Sure was. Now if only he had comitted a crime there. Vegas is in Nevada. Ohio is in Ohio.

26 posted on 03/17/2004 4:08:55 AM PST by Glenn (What were you thinking, Al?)

27 posted on 03/17/2004 4:09:51 AM PST by billorites (freepo ergo sum)

"Ohio is in Ohio."

I presume you can back that up? ;-)

28 posted on 03/17/2004 4:11:07 AM PST by billorites (freepo ergo sum)

To: William McKinley

Let's pray that justice is served.

29 posted on 03/17/2004 4:15:17 AM PST by Caipirabob (Democrats.. Socialists..Commies..Traitors...Who can tell the difference?)

To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

30 posted on 03/17/2004 4:17:07 AM PST by Pan_Yans Wife (Much of your pain is self-chosen. --- Kahlil Gibran)

31 posted on 03/17/2004 4:18:51 AM PST by MEG33 (John Kerry's been AWOL for two decades on issues of National Security!)

To: William McKinley

Yipee! Throw an egg for me...

32 posted on 03/17/2004 4:20:35 AM PST by CharlotteVRWC

What are the odds?

Better than those of Florida A&M (hint; take Wisconsin)

33 posted on 03/17/2004 4:30:35 AM PST by steveegg (Why won't Ke(rr)y tell us who supports him? Is it because they're all enemies of the US?)

To: Hillarys Gate Cult

I thought that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. At least that's what their ads say.

Not since Bill Bennett

34 posted on 03/17/2004 4:51:58 AM PST by evad (Cut taxes again. Cut spending. Cut Guv Regulations. Cut Guv Programs...Repeat)

We all know this guy will be lucky if he ever sees a day in prison with the mental health defense,

You are probably right since he is supposedly a paranoid schizophrenic.

There was a little boy killed less than 3 miles from me, a month ago. They arrested his mother but I heard yesterday a judge has ruled she is incompetent to stand trial.

I have a paranoid schizophrenic tenant that I am trying to evict right now. He has decided I am evil and writes letters to me and tapes them to my door. He uses red ink because it signifies blood he says. In the twenty years I have been a property manager, he is the only tenant I have ever been really, really afraid of.

36 posted on 03/17/2004 4:55:34 AM PST by muggs

Hey I drive a Metro!!! :-)

37 posted on 03/17/2004 5:14:14 AM PST by amigatec (There are no significant bugs in our software... Maybe you're not using it properly.- Bill Gates)

hopefully this person is receiving competent medical/mental care, and is taking his prescription medication. Watch your backside. Now on the other hand, isn't it selfish of you to foist this problem onto someone else? Just kidding.

38 posted on 03/17/2004 5:18:00 AM PST by wita (truthspeaks@freerepublic.com)

"Vegas is in Nevada. Ohio is in Ohio."

I was referring to the statement that UT (that's Utah, not Nevada, Nevada is NV, you probably hadn't received the memo yet...) had banned firing squads.

39 posted on 03/17/2004 5:23:10 AM PST by Hatteras (Ask me about the Freeper NCAA Bracket Tourney!)

To: William McKinley

If he is mentely[sp] ill, we can be hearing from the gun grabbers soon!This is the reason for more gun grabbing laws to restrict ownership from leagle[sp]citzens. Then they will go after the person who sold the gun, the manufaturer of the gun,the ammo manufacturer, to the cops who should have known where this guy was at all times.

Here comes big brother!

40 posted on 03/17/2004 5:29:33 AM PST by TMSuchman (Vote like a lemming, vote demoRAT! & The only wasted vote, is one not used!)

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