Archive through October 21, 2002
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TV ClubHouse: Archive: Beltway Sniper (formerly 5 Shootings...): Archive through October 21, 2002

Hermione69

Saturday, October 19, 2002 - 06:22 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
The local news station affiliated with ABC just interrupted Lethal Weapon 3 to say that there has been a shooting in the Ashland area of Virginia, which is off of I-95, south of the other Virginia shootings and about 10-15 miles north of capital city of Richmond. (I live south of Richmond.) There is no word on whether it is related or even suspected to be related to the sniper shootings, but it is unusual for a show to interrupted like that so of course I'm thinking the worst. If anyone else out there hears anything, please post. I'm deaf and cannot losten to NPR.

Hermione69

Saturday, October 19, 2002 - 06:31 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
The local news just came back on and gave more information. A man was shot one time at, I think, a Ponderosa restaurant in Ashland, VA. It was not a fatality. The man is alive and en route to the hospital. The police do not seem to think this is the sniper, but are treating it as a "worst case scenario." I'm sorry if I jumped to conclusions, but it is just so close to home that it is hard not to assume the worst.

Silksmoke

Saturday, October 19, 2002 - 07:01 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Hermione, Fox news is all over this story. The man that was shot was 60 years old and is now in surgery. He was shot in the back, and you are correct, it was in front of a Ponderosa restaurant in Ashland Virginia.

They are speculating as to whether or not this shooting is related to the beltway sniper shootings. They have shut down I-95 north and south as well as a couple of other major roadways in the area.

Twiggyish

Saturday, October 19, 2002 - 07:04 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
This is awful.

Silksmoke

Saturday, October 19, 2002 - 07:22 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Apparently they misreported earlier, a sheriff on the phone to the reporter on Fox just said it was a 37 year old man.

Also, like the other shootings, it was a single shot.

Car54

Saturday, October 19, 2002 - 07:30 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
CNN just reported a witness reported seeing a white van in the vicinity.

They are live right now. Anderson Cooper is anchoring...they are saying there are a lot of white vans on the road.

They say there was one shot...the man is in surgery now. No known altercation at the restaurant...a single shot. Police are stopping and searching all cars on Rt 95. They have roadblocks up as far out as 60 miles from the scene.

Twiggyish

Saturday, October 19, 2002 - 07:38 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
The sniper is one sick individual. I hope the poor man he shot recovers.

Hermione69

Saturday, October 19, 2002 - 07:55 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks to everyone who posted some info. When I first heard about it, I couldn't find confirmation on CNN.com or anywhere else. The live news reports are not captioned and I could only pick up parts of it from lipreading.

Right now, it is being covered on ABC and CBS locally. Still not captioned, and I am missing a lot of it, but from the response by law enforcement, this thing certainly has the signs of another strike by the sniper. It was reported that there was no altercation before it happened, so it doesn't look personal, and the man was shot once either in the back or the stomach. There are police all over the place.

Whoami

Sunday, October 20, 2002 - 01:39 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Hermione, I'm guessing that theory that is a plot in an Agatha Christie novel may even be where I'd "heard of it" before. I'd almost forgotten I read AC in my youth. So, where I'd thougth I'd heard of it before may have been that I read the novel.

I'm a bit embarassed now. But, you're right. Truth is stranger than fiction. At least you redeem me by saying the thought had crossed your mind too!

Hermione69

Sunday, October 20, 2002 - 07:16 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Whoami, don't be embarrassed. No one has any idea what is going on and that possibility is as good as any other.

UPDATE: From what I have read on the local newspaper web site this morning, they may not ever be able to say if this one is linked to the sniper. The man who was shot was conscious and talking before surgery, but the bullet is inside his body in a precarious place and the doctors do not want to remove it so it cannot be compared by ballistics to the other bullets from the sniper. The man and his wife were travelers and had stopped for dinner at the Ponderosa so it is extremely doubtful it was something personal against him. There are woods behind the restaurant and they think the shot came from the woods. Roadblocks were set up almost immediately, but to no avail.

Kaili

Sunday, October 20, 2002 - 08:18 am EditMoveDeleteIP
What I don't get is this- Obviouslly I want him stopped but come on- With all the news coverage and searching, why is this guy STILL driving around in a white van?! He must either want to be caught or just dumb. If I were a criminal and everyone was looking at white vans in the east, I would be getting a paint job or a new vehicle to use. It just seems like the investigation is limiting itself. Everything is about the white van now.

Someone saw a white van after this most recent one. How many white vans are there in the world? I bet there was a red truck in the vicinity to, and probably a black one too. Yeah, I believe there is a connection to the white van. BUT does that mean he is still driving around in it? So what about the article I posted in here the other day? They found a white rental van with casings in it. Maybe that indicates he is no longer in a white van.

Hermione69

Sunday, October 20, 2002 - 01:34 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
The casings in the white van found at the rental agency don't match according to what I have heard, so who knows about the white van? Maybe he is superstitious about it. Same with the gun. He uses the same gun every time, why not another gun? The bullets always match that gun. It's incriminating, but he keeps using it. I would imagine he has other guns. People who like guns rarely only have one.

The white van (and the gun) also may be vanity... he wants people to know it is him and not a copycat so he is keeping everything the same, that way he continues to look so much smarter, in his mind, than law enforcement.

He may be driving a different vehicle altogether now, but those were just some thoughts I had.

Cricket

Sunday, October 20, 2002 - 02:36 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
It was discussed last night on Fox News they may be able to tell the type of bullet with an x-ray. Seems implausible, but you never know.

This morning it was reported that a white box truck was also seen in the area. This shooting was 90 miles below DC so I guess the surveillance planes didn't see it. It's like this guy or people listen to the media and plan their hits accordingly.

For the 3rd time this morning I heard a news reporter say the sniper usually shoots people who are alone. Ummm..knock it off Mister, because the last 2 people shot were with their spouses. This sniper seems to be toying with the Media.

Car54

Sunday, October 20, 2002 - 04:04 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
On the morning news on CNN this morning they asked one of their "experts" the same question..could they tell if the bullet matched the previous shooters if it was not removed from the victim...the CNN guy said no.

Guess it depends who their expert is whether they can do it or not.

Chief Moose just gave a press conference...He said that someone left the police a "message" at the Ponderosa restaurant last night and they want to talk to them.

CNN is going nuts over this.

Hermione69

Sunday, October 20, 2002 - 06:12 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
They just cancelled all the public schools in the Richmond, VA area for tomorrow, including my county. This is really crazy. The news said that the superintendents met earlier today and, I think, were going to go ahead and have school, but then got a phone call that changed their minds. I wonder why he is doing this with the message. I hope he gives himself away.

Twiggyish

Sunday, October 20, 2002 - 06:21 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
That's very scary.

Car54

Sunday, October 20, 2002 - 06:47 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
One expert on CNN said the note may have had a public phone number...where he/she would call a police contact and that the police are setting it up so they would be safe ...in case it is a setup.

Hermione69

Sunday, October 20, 2002 - 06:56 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I wonder if he is trying to set something up so that the law enforcement attention is focused elsewhere while he does something in a totally different place? Surely they would think of that also?

Fluff

Monday, October 21, 2002 - 06:54 am EditMoveDeleteIP
It is so sad.

My school is down the street from where the funeral is for the lady that was killed who was the FBI agent. When our shuttle bus drove past, I saw some cameras, and then across the street, I saw them taking her casket in. Very, very sad.

Silksmoke

Monday, October 21, 2002 - 06:59 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I'm praying the man they just arrested in Richmond is this murderer and this nightmare is over. The swat team is still surrounding a phone booth, I'm wondering if the man they arrested in the white van was waiting for an accomplice who may be in that phone booth.

Twinkie

Monday, October 21, 2002 - 07:56 am EditMoveDeleteIP
CNN: 2 suspects arrested. 1 in the white van at Exxon station and the other nearby. Police briefing to be held at approx. 1 PM ET. Suspects being questioned at Henrico Police HQ.

Fluff

Monday, October 21, 2002 - 08:03 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Great News!

Car54

Monday, October 21, 2002 - 08:05 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Thank God. I hope these are the right ones.

Judyjetson

Monday, October 21, 2002 - 08:12 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I hope it is the right person. Moose just did a press conference as if he is still speaking to the sniper who is not in custody. He basically said they are still working on a response to his letter they found.

I hope they got him, but it seems that might not the case.

Fluff

Monday, October 21, 2002 - 08:15 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Cross your fingers, cross your toes...