Another SNIPER shooting

[Erika]

This just in...

-- Washington Beltway, bridges shut down as police investigate woman's shooting death in Virginia suburb parking lot.
Watch CNN or log on to http://CNN.com /AOL Keyword: CNN for the latest news.

 

[darthdarrel]

Sorry people but I think this guy needs to be put down!
I am a strong death penalty proponent!
Besides even when a person gets the death penalty it`s usually 20 years before they are even killed! cause they get atleast 13 apeals!

 

[DisneyWorldGuru]

Another SNIPER SHOOTING JUST HAPPENED!!!

Someone at a gas station in Falls Church VA was shot. I only heard the headlins, some one can fill in teh details.


EDIT : sorry might be old news, first time i saw the news today.

 

[Tramp]

Originally posted by DisneyWorldGuru
Another SNIPER SHOOTING JUST HAPPENED!!!

Someone at a gas station in Falls Church VA was shot. I only heard the headlins, some one can fill in teh details.


EDIT : sorry might be old news, first time i saw the news today.

Yes...a woman was shot dead tonight at 9:15pm...but not in a gas station... as in some of the other killings, she was shot in a shopping center....leaving Home Depot...

..this is getting way out of hand....now it's 9 dead, 2 wounded, 12 days...pray they get this guy real soon. The havoc he's wreaking on families in the area is astronomical.

..again, they're looking for a white or cream colored astro van with a tailight out seen leaving the area. I don't know how this guy could be driving around without being seen by someone.

A VERY sad part of this killing...the woman was killed as she was loading packages into her car with her HUSBAND. ..she was killed right in front of him.

 

[TURKEY]

Originally posted by Tramp


..again, they're looking for a white or cream colored astro van with a tailight out seen leaving the area. I don't know how this guy could be driving around without being seen by someone.

I hate to be somewhat pesimistic and being somewhat cynical in what I'm saying.

I'm not saying this information isn't accurate, but witness recollections aren't the greatest.

I mean at first it was a white box truck, then a white astro van, then back to a picture of a white box truck with a damaged bumper and writting on the side. Now it could be a cream colored astro van with a light out.

I hope that all accounts are correct, but I'm weary of every witness may be recalling what he/she has heard so far and morphing his/her actual account into some previous recollection.



I have a couple of issues in the way this is being handled.

1. I think this investigation should be handled primarily by a federal department (FBI, ATF, etc) and not the local sheriff/police. It's ok to have them involved, but I think federal agents should be in charge of all briefings and information released.

2. I hate how the police chief keeps telling this person/persons to turn themselves in. The chief keeps saying that once this person is caught, the death penalty will be sought. That would make me want to turn myself in so I could get fried/gased/drugged. I seriously doubt that anything someone says is going to make this person/persons turn themselves in.

Again, I'm sorry if I offend anyone with my comments.

 

[Goofette]

This is so horrible. Everytime I turn on the news this shooter has shot another victim. I keep thinking they are going to get him/her soon, then another shooting happens.

 

[DisneyWorldGuru]

Hey Brent I have to agree with you on this one. I feel that the FBI could handel it far better. And stop with the pleas. I mean it is just making this guy/girl feel like he is winning.

 

[no2apprentice]

The FBI cannot take over cases like this. A local or state agency can invite the FBI to assist in the investigation, but they will not be the lead agency in charge of the investigation. They have no jurisdiction. Until the suspect is identified, and he flees a state to avoid prosecution, then the FBI can be a lead agency from that perspective. If the sniper kills someone on federal property, then the FBI can become involved in that investigation. If they determine somehow that this is a terroist action, and not a serial killer, then the FBI can bring their weight to bare in the investigation.

This is a very frustrating situation for law enforcement, because the sniper is overcoming three of the major leads used to work homicide cases: there is no link of the victim to the suspect (random victims), lack of witnesses (the sniper uses distance from the victim), and lack of physical evidence at the scene that can help in initial identification. It also doesn't help that there doesn't appear to be a pattern to victim profile or location. Usually with serial killers, some type of pattern or link can eventually be determined, giving investigators a starting point.

As far as life imprisonment, I don't want to see tax dollars being used to food, house, pay medical bills, and educate this guy (or guys) at a cost of $30,000 a year. I'd rather see that money go towards more positive public services.

 

[SpongeScott]

Originally posted by no2apprentice
As far as life imprisonment, I don't want to see tax dollars being used to food, house, pay medical bills, and educate this guy (or guys) at a cost of $30,000 a year. I'd rather see that money go towards more positive public services.

When they find him/them--and they will--he/they will not be taken alive. He/They will either commit suicide or be shot by the police.

 

[no2apprentice]

Originally posted by sandjhooker


When they find him/them--and they will--he/they will not be taken alive. He/They will either commit suicide or be shot by the police.

Whatever happens, I fear there are going to be more innocent victims before a final outcome.

 

[TURKEY]

Originally posted by no2apprentice
The FBI cannot take over cases like this. A local or state agency can invite the FBI to assist in the investigation, but they will not be the lead agency in charge of the investigation. They have no jurisdiction. Until the suspect is identified, and he flees a state to avoid prosecution, then the FBI can be a lead agency from that perspective. If the sniper kills someone on federal property, then the FBI can become involved in that investigation. If they determine somehow that this is a terroist action, and not a serial killer, then the FBI can bring their weight to bare in the investigation.

What about killing a past/present federal agent?

 

[prberk]

The last lady hit (Falls Church, Va.) was confirmed today to have been a sniper victim. Also, she worked for the FBI, although not an agent and not in any way connected to the case.

As for the FBI taking over, it is not always best. Local police know the lay of the land and other things best, while FBI is more national. Their assistance, but not control, is best I think, as long as all parties are working together (as they are). Usually law enforcement here in Virginia (and Maryland/DC) has a plan for working together on multijurisdictional cases like these, anyway.

 

[no2apprentice]

Originally posted by turkey leg boy


What about killing a past/present federal agent?

To my knowledge, this would still be investigated by the local agency, or whoever has jurisdiction where the crime occurred.

Actually, one of the main mandates of the FBI is to assist local agencies with heinous crimes, crimes that the local agency does not have the resources to investigate, or corrupt political figures. All that has to be done is the head of the local agency (or state agency) to call the FBI and request assistance. When this is done, the local agency is still responsible for making the arrest, the court process, etc.

And, many people don't realize that with some exceptions, the FBI does not initiate it's own investigations. The FBI is under the umbrella of the Department of Justice, and cases are closely...um, how shall we say..."guided" by the federal Attorney General's offices.

 

[DisneyWorldGuru]

Did he not kill in both VA and MD. If so then the FBI could get involved as the lead because it is in two states. I might be wrong, but I think that would be the case.

 

[no2apprentice]

Originally posted by DisneyWorldGuru
Did he not kill in both VA and MD. If so then the FBI could get involved as the lead because it is in two states. I might be wrong, but I think that would be the case.

From what I'm aware of with federal law, FBI gets directly involved if someone does interstate flight to avoid prosecution. No suspect has been identified, no warrant has been issued, so there is no interstate flight (yet).

My real concern with these terrible shootings, is that a situation develops where someone spots a vehicle matching the description reported by the media, parked on a side street a block or two away from a gas station, store, whatever. A well meaning person calls 911, units are dispatched to check it out, and if it is the sniper, things go very, very sour. Hopefully not, but such scenarios have a major propensity to go wrong.

 

[Yellow Shoes]

You know, it occurred to me this morning as I was thinking about how horrible this all is, that we are still lucky to be living in the US.

We know that this guy will be caught, or perhaps that he will commit suicide, then it will be over. Until then, of course, we are all nervous as cats.

But I remember a few years back when there was trouble in Sarajevo, that there were snipers all over the city. People were getting killed trying to buy necessities. In that situation, there were no assurances that it would end. One sniper would be killed/captured and another would take his place.

Sorry for the sermon--I guess I'm a "glass half full" girl. As awful as this is, there are places where it is much worse. We should be grateful this isn't more frequent.

 

[lamarvenoy]

My guess on a profile is: 25-35 WM, with militia ties, a military background(comfortable with the .223, an odd round to snipe people with)and maybe a lifetime hunter. Disgruntled over a personal situation in life and feels like a loaner. This guy is a good shot, his mortality rate for one shot kills if very high considering the caliber he has chosen. He is likely using an AR-15 so if he does get spotted he can open fire with high capacity. He will be very hard to catch, one shot is hard to track. He will not be taken alive.

 

[no2apprentice]

Yeah, I was thinking about the AR also, but a Ruger mini-14 with a good scope would work at the distances he's shooting. Besides, Rugers are easier to come by and a lot less money. The authorities have enough recovered bullets that they should have a good idea of the twist ratio and land/groove numbers. Of course, they're not going to release what type of weapon they think he is using, that is too much of a key investigative lead.

 

[DisneyWorldGuru]

Well they keep saying they are looking for someone who was in the military. It might be someone still in the armed forces. Just my opinion.

 

[FutureCEO]

I heard that the military was coming in