Archive through October 19, 2002
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TV ClubHouse: Archive: Beltway Sniper (formerly 5 Shootings...): Archive through October 19, 2002

Fluff

Wednesday, October 16, 2002 - 10:12 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Yep Mack. It was just a saying. Heheeee.

I can believe it too, because everywhere around me, whether I'm at school in VA or at home in DC, I see white vans. It's almost frightening because there are so, so, so, so many of these vans with or without ladders, not to mention the what....thousands of white box trucks I see (it feels like a thousand to me)! And in VA, there are more Hispanics that live here, and usually they are driving these white vans with or without racks because a lot of them are on some type of job assignment.

Mack

Wednesday, October 16, 2002 - 10:32 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Fluff - Have you had the "thrill" of filling your car lately? That's a whole bunch of fun (not). I filled up Monday afternoon...my wife in the car watching all around us and me pumping the gas but moving like a chicken. Most have looked really stupid but I'd rather look a little stupid right now. News last night even had videotape of folks pumping gas while hiding behind their vehicles. We were just getting over the sound of low flying airplanes (we work in the Pentagon) and now we have to worry about gassing our cars...INCREDIBLE!!!

Hermione69

Wednesday, October 16, 2002 - 10:34 am EditMoveDeleteIP
My gas guage is just below the halfway point and I hope they catch him before I need to fill up again. There is nothing logical about fear, is there?

Fluff

Wednesday, October 16, 2002 - 10:39 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I'm sorry to hear that Mack.

I can't belive that I am saying this, but fortunately, I don't drive. Sounds stupid, I know. But yet, that can be one of the perks of living in the Washington Metropolitan area. Once we get over one thing, here comes another obstacle.

Oh, and I am sure that you didn't look stupid! Everyone is tense around these areas. They showed one guy on the news and he was filling up his car, and he had on a bullet proof vest! It wasn't funny, but we couldn't help ourselves. But, he had nothing covering his head, though.

Anyway, it seems like yesterday when I shuddered at the sound of a loud ariplane.

Max

Thursday, October 17, 2002 - 01:19 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Oh, terrific. This is just what we DON'T need! Police may charge witness who gave false leads on sniper.

Seems that some sicko just felt COMPELLED to give "eyewitness" accounts of something he didn't even see! Of course, a lot of what he said is what has been all over the media.

Oh, and let's not forget the subheadline: "Al Qaeda detainees in Cuba to be questioned"

Can we do anything ELSE to whip up the war fever?!

I HIGHLY doubt that Al Qaeda has ANYTHING to do with this sniper except for maybe in his own deluded mind. It's just not their style. I hate to say it, but I hope when they finally catch this jerk it's a good-old-white-boy from multiple generations of American-born folks.

Car54

Thursday, October 17, 2002 - 01:50 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Um, see what I meant?

Yankee_In_Ca

Thursday, October 17, 2002 - 02:05 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Somehow I just KNEW that it was a false lead. Call it intuition, I dunno. I just know that it makes me SICK that someone wanted notoriety, fame, whatever... enough to LIE about what they saw. Doesn't this guy realize that PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE AT STAKE???

Personally, I don't "hope" it's any one type of person in particular, I just hope they catch the man/woman/people as soon as possible.

But I'm also not surprised that, once again, we're all (and I say that collectively) so quick to jump all over the "us versus them" mentality. Doesn't anyone remember Oklahoma City???

Fluff

Thursday, October 17, 2002 - 02:22 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
GGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whoever would lie about something as serious as this needs to be thrown in jail for a couple of days. I am serious!!!!

Gail

Thursday, October 17, 2002 - 02:30 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Actually, they should be thrown in jail for a lot longer - interfering in a criminal investigation is punishable.

Fluff

Thursday, October 17, 2002 - 04:06 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
You darn skippy they should!!!

Goddessatlaw

Thursday, October 17, 2002 - 04:33 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I hate to throw this out there, particularly considering the alternative, but I'm getting concerned with how relatively quiet this murderer has been the past couple of days (really, relatively speaking, the past week). I'm worried he's setting up for a larger target, like a public figure. I guess I'm just sort of channeling the Gianni Versace murder, and everything leading up to it. The murder of a public figure is certainly no more heinous than that of an ordinary citizen, it's just more of a personal shock out here in the flatlands. I hope I'm wrong and he's just gone somewhere and offed himself.

Fluff, I see you're very young and attending school in the area. I hope you feel safe and are not suffering too much stress over such a dreadful set of events out there in D.C.

Max

Thursday, October 17, 2002 - 04:37 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Goddess, I share your worry. I worry that the shooter is moving to a new location where there's less 'heat.' Could be your theory, too. Either way, it's not good.

Car54

Thursday, October 17, 2002 - 04:54 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
NPR said the police say they have "several suspects" under surveillance...maybe he knows they are watching.

Dallasbbfan

Friday, October 18, 2002 - 01:01 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
One of the DJs here in Dallas had a theory going this morning. I don't know if he thought of it or heard is somewhere but the sniper has killed 9 our of 11 and shot at someone 9 out of 11 days. Two 911's. Coincidence?

Twiggyish

Friday, October 18, 2002 - 01:15 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
My cousin lives near the Home Depot in VA. It's awful.

My thoughts are with you all.

Bob2112

Friday, October 18, 2002 - 01:44 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
IMO, the sniper's intention was 11 out of 11, but thankfully at least 2 people have survived.

Tomorrow will make it 9 out of 12, and then 9 out of 13, and then, hopefully 9 out of ¥.

So, I guess I don't put much stock in that theory.

Neko

Friday, October 18, 2002 - 02:58 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Or...we can hope it'll stay at 9 out of 11 and that this sniper will be caught.

Bob2112

Friday, October 18, 2002 - 03:35 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Oooops! I meant days, of course! Ack!

<I really need to proofread better!>

Silksmoke

Friday, October 18, 2002 - 03:43 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Maybe this guy was suicidal, and he's laying dead somewhere. This would not make me unhappy.

I'm just praying it's over and they (or he) aren't on the road to another city. I still think it's possible it's terrorism connected to the sniper training they had in Al Qaeda camps.

Yankee_In_Ca

Friday, October 18, 2002 - 03:56 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Smoking Gun.com just posted a photo of the numbskull (their word) who lied to the police. I'm really mad about this liar, for some reason...

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/doc_o_day/doc_o_day.shtml

Wiseolowl

Friday, October 18, 2002 - 04:04 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Nothing of great insight to add here - just to let you know that those of us who aren't living in the area are feeling for the folks in Washington - Northern Virginia. It is absolutely appauling that one (or two ) derranged people can cause this much damage. It could happen to any of us.

Whoami

Friday, October 18, 2002 - 04:19 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I haven't been able to read the whole thread, or keep completly up on all the newscasts.

Has the following theory been raised: That the sniper may have a personal agenda, and one of the nine killed was for a personal reason. The rest of the killed are "decoys" so those close to the victims aren't seen as suspects. What I mean is, someone wanted someone dead, but would have been looked at as an immediate suspect, if that was the only one killed. So, being the sicko they are, they go on a spree, with their true victim just one of the ones on the list of victims.

I've heard of it done before, and heard of the theory being researched before. Just wondering if it's been explored in this case.

Angelnikki

Friday, October 18, 2002 - 04:37 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
they were saying on the news last night or the night before that maybe his name is Michael or he worked or works at Michaels or even that it could be some biblical term for Michael??? Who knows, i just hope that they catch the scums or scums and this doesnt happen again. Everyday i turn on the news to see whats going on with the case.

Kaili

Friday, October 18, 2002 - 07:18 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Police seize white box truck with shell casing inside
ROCKVILLE, Maryland (CNN) -- Investigators of the Washington-area sniper shootings Friday night seized a white box truck after a shell casing was found inside the vehicle at a Virginia car rental agency, Montgomery County Police said.

The caliber of the casing is unknown at this point. The casing and the truck are to be examined by forensics experts at an undisclosed location. The federal bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is expected to have results of ballistics testing on the shell casing no sooner than 9 a.m. Saturday.

The Montgomery County Police Department, which is leading the multi-jurisdictional task force to find the sniper who has killed nine people and wounded two others since October 2, has sent a team of investigators to the rental car agency.

The shootings have taken place in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Authorities would not say when Friday night they seized the vehicle or how they were tipped to it.

However, a source close to the investigation said an employee at a rental agency near Washington Dulles International Airport found the shell casing when he was cleaning out the truck and then notified authorities.

Police would not disclose further details about the truck, for instance, if it had lettering on the side or a damaged right rear bumper as did the composite graphic of a suspect vehicle some witnesses have reported near shooting scenes in Maryland.

Police also said they are still actively searching for the vehicle in that composite and still want the public to provide information pertaining to the shootings.

Man charged for false information
Meanwhile, the person who claimed to have seen a man with a gun just before the latest shooting has been arrested and charged with giving false information, authorities said.

The would-be witness was identified as Matthew M. Dowdy, 37, of Falls Church, Virginia, according to Fairfax County Police Officer Sophia Grinnan. Law enforcement sources said he has a criminal record and goes by the nickname "Slim."

Dowdy originally was thought to be a key witness in the shooting of 47-year-old Linda Franklin outside the Home Depot store in Falls Church Monday.

He's been charged with one count of knowingly and willfully making a false statement to an officer who was in the course of investigating a crime by another, a Class 2 misdemeanor, Grinnan said.

Dowdy is in police custody and faces up to six months in prison if he's convicted.

Montgomery County, Maryland, Executive Doug Duncan said he was pleased with the arrest.

"This is a serious matter, lives are at stake. We cannot have people misleading police and wasting our time," he said.

On Thursday and Friday police were back at the parking garage searching for new clues.

Sources said other people at the crime scene provided partial license plate numbers and those are still being evaluated.

With the sniper investigation now in its third week, the only "common denominator" in all reports is that the shooter is a male. (What is known about the sniper)

From CNN.com

Hermione69

Saturday, October 19, 2002 - 07:12 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Whomai, that thought actually occurred to me, but I haven't heard about it on the news. That is actually the plot of an Agatha Christie novel called the ABC Murders. Since truth is stranger than fiction, who knows? I'm sure something is going on in this sicko's mind, even if it is totally incomprehensible to the rest of us.

As of 10 a.m. EST, there was no update on the shell casing found in the rental truck. They are still testing it. I hope that is it because then they will have some leads to follow.