Post by funkygirlk16 on Oct 5, 2002 15:35:39 GMT -5
By DAVE DISHNEAU
.c The Associated Press
ROCKVILLE, Md. (Oct. 5) - Authorities urged residents in the Washington suburbs not to let a string of sniper shootings keep them from their normal routines Saturday. But with the shooter still on the loose, they admit they are worried.
``My level of concern about the ability of the suspect to strike again is high,'' said Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose. ``This brings us to a higher degree of recklessness by this suspect or suspects.
``We implore him to surrender, stop this madness.''
On Friday, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said the same high-powered rifle had been used to kill at least four of the six victims, three in the suburbs and a 72-year-old man shot to death on a Washington street.
Moorse said Saturday that forensics testing was still under way in the other two shootings but the bullets were in pretty poor shape. ``We just may not be able to link them,'' he said.
Each of the victims was felled by a single .223-caliber bullet shot from some distance away, authorities said.
ATF Agent Michael Bouchard said agents also were examining evidence from a shooting Friday outside a crafts store in Fredericksburg, Va., 55 miles south of Rockville. The victim, a woman shot once in the back, survived the attack and was hospitalized Saturday in serious condition.
Investigators were examining the woman's vehicle Saturday for possible evidence, but it was too early to tell if the shooting was related to the Maryland attacks, Moose said.
The craft store shooting raised concerns, in part, because the store is part of the same chain as a Michael's store in Maryland where a window was shot out Wednesday night, 45 minutes before the first killing.
Moose said authorities also wanted to talk to a man missing in North Carolina described as affiliated with militia and white supremacist groups. Moose stressed that the man was not being sought as a suspect in the shootings.
``Clearly he is a missing person that was brought to our attention by people in the community. They may have some concerns about guns, his state of mind, his well-being,'' Moose said.
``We don't want to make any assumptions, we simply want to talk to him,'' he said.
FBI Agent Chris Swecker in Charlotte, N.C., could not immediately confirm details about the man Saturday, and calls to the ATF were not answered. The News & Observer of Raleigh reported in its Saturday editions that the ATF had issued a bulletin for the man.
Police were still searching for a white box truck with dark lettering, a description that came from a witness who saw two men in a truck leaving one of the scenes. Police pulled over white trucks Friday and plastered orange stickers on the back to show the vehicles had been checked. Moose said Saturday that investigators don't believe they have found the truck. They were chasing more than 500 leads.
The search went on amid a mix of fear and defiance among residents of the economically and culturally diverse slice of the suburban county where the shootings occurred.
Meanwhile, all over Montgomery County, people appeared to carry on with business as usual - though with a lot more caution. Many said they were afraid but wouldn't stop getting groceries, going to work or leaving their children with a baby sitter.
``I had to shop. I need to eat. I can't stay at home all day,'' said Kira Leonova, who works at a bookstore near one of the slaying scenes. ``I have to work and I have a family.''
Dexter Evans, 20, scanned the traffic as he waited for a bus to Rockville, and he took a second look at every white truck. ``You can't even walk down the street without looking over your shoulder,'' he said.
Five of the victims died within five miles of one another during a 16-hour span between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. All five in Montgomery County were gunned down in broad daylight in public places: two at gas stations, one outside a grocery, another outside a post office and the fifth as he mowed the grass at an auto dealership.
``There's still no information to lead us to think our victims are associated,'' Moose said. ``They don't appear to be anyone's enemies, just random targets.''
Officials at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville canceled a Friday night pep rally and police were posted at the football game against rival Wooten High. Dani Young, a 17-year-old senior, said: ``It kind of ruins the mood of homecoming.''
In Bethesda, Mary Patterson said as she leaving home for a hair appointment: ``I'm not afraid. After all, I'm 81 years old - my time could be anytime.''
10/05/02 14:55 EDT
Copyright 2002 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
What are your views on this?
.c The Associated Press
ROCKVILLE, Md. (Oct. 5) - Authorities urged residents in the Washington suburbs not to let a string of sniper shootings keep them from their normal routines Saturday. But with the shooter still on the loose, they admit they are worried.
``My level of concern about the ability of the suspect to strike again is high,'' said Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose. ``This brings us to a higher degree of recklessness by this suspect or suspects.
``We implore him to surrender, stop this madness.''
On Friday, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said the same high-powered rifle had been used to kill at least four of the six victims, three in the suburbs and a 72-year-old man shot to death on a Washington street.
Moorse said Saturday that forensics testing was still under way in the other two shootings but the bullets were in pretty poor shape. ``We just may not be able to link them,'' he said.
Each of the victims was felled by a single .223-caliber bullet shot from some distance away, authorities said.
ATF Agent Michael Bouchard said agents also were examining evidence from a shooting Friday outside a crafts store in Fredericksburg, Va., 55 miles south of Rockville. The victim, a woman shot once in the back, survived the attack and was hospitalized Saturday in serious condition.
Investigators were examining the woman's vehicle Saturday for possible evidence, but it was too early to tell if the shooting was related to the Maryland attacks, Moose said.
The craft store shooting raised concerns, in part, because the store is part of the same chain as a Michael's store in Maryland where a window was shot out Wednesday night, 45 minutes before the first killing.
Moose said authorities also wanted to talk to a man missing in North Carolina described as affiliated with militia and white supremacist groups. Moose stressed that the man was not being sought as a suspect in the shootings.
``Clearly he is a missing person that was brought to our attention by people in the community. They may have some concerns about guns, his state of mind, his well-being,'' Moose said.
``We don't want to make any assumptions, we simply want to talk to him,'' he said.
FBI Agent Chris Swecker in Charlotte, N.C., could not immediately confirm details about the man Saturday, and calls to the ATF were not answered. The News & Observer of Raleigh reported in its Saturday editions that the ATF had issued a bulletin for the man.
Police were still searching for a white box truck with dark lettering, a description that came from a witness who saw two men in a truck leaving one of the scenes. Police pulled over white trucks Friday and plastered orange stickers on the back to show the vehicles had been checked. Moose said Saturday that investigators don't believe they have found the truck. They were chasing more than 500 leads.
The search went on amid a mix of fear and defiance among residents of the economically and culturally diverse slice of the suburban county where the shootings occurred.
Meanwhile, all over Montgomery County, people appeared to carry on with business as usual - though with a lot more caution. Many said they were afraid but wouldn't stop getting groceries, going to work or leaving their children with a baby sitter.
``I had to shop. I need to eat. I can't stay at home all day,'' said Kira Leonova, who works at a bookstore near one of the slaying scenes. ``I have to work and I have a family.''
Dexter Evans, 20, scanned the traffic as he waited for a bus to Rockville, and he took a second look at every white truck. ``You can't even walk down the street without looking over your shoulder,'' he said.
Five of the victims died within five miles of one another during a 16-hour span between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. All five in Montgomery County were gunned down in broad daylight in public places: two at gas stations, one outside a grocery, another outside a post office and the fifth as he mowed the grass at an auto dealership.
``There's still no information to lead us to think our victims are associated,'' Moose said. ``They don't appear to be anyone's enemies, just random targets.''
Officials at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville canceled a Friday night pep rally and police were posted at the football game against rival Wooten High. Dani Young, a 17-year-old senior, said: ``It kind of ruins the mood of homecoming.''
In Bethesda, Mary Patterson said as she leaving home for a hair appointment: ``I'm not afraid. After all, I'm 81 years old - my time could be anytime.''
10/05/02 14:55 EDT
Copyright 2002 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
What are your views on this?
