Sniper attack

[JetMaster5]

Originally posted by The Guard
Not to freak people out more, but I had a thought listening to the radio. You know how the police keep closing down roads and highways around the areas like right after shootings happen? And this person still eludes them? Could he be a police officer?

The police probably took that into consideration. If not, then they're a bunch of donkeys' butt.

Originally posted by Sandro885
I agree with you totally. Of course this guy isn't going to be using the same van anymore (unless he's a total moron but it doesn't look that way). It's times like these that I wish that Freedom of the Press would be temporarily suspended if they keep doing dumbass reports like that.

As TimTwoFace said, there's a tradeoff to all this media. People will most likely spot a white van during the shooting, so therefore, police could collect more info about that moron. But yea, it makes that sniper more elusive.

Although, I don't think it's the police's decision to have the media leak things out. At least not at first.

 

[Sandro]

Well it looks like the situation is getting uber-serious.

Rumsfeld has okayed use of millitary resources to help catch this guy.

 

[Kaner]

It's actually not that big a deal that the info on the van was released. If the van has current tags for its licence plates, the DMV has a record of the vehicle and the owner. If the van doesn't have tags, it will eventually be pulled over by the police.

Releasing the information also makes people feel a little safer. It is evidence that the authorities are closer to finding the culprits and it gives the public something to look out for.

 

[TimTwoFace]

On a side note...I was just curious...what would a guy in Virginia, Maryland, or DC itself get for doing something like this? Is the death penalty used in those areas, or would he/she get life in prison?

You know, despite what I said regarding the media in my earlier threads, I still have to commend the media for not over-sensationalizing the sniper attacks, like they did with other big stories (like Columbine, for example).

-Tim

 

[wrenchien]

i h8 snipers

 

[Weatherman]

Assuming he's sane....

In D.C.- Life without the possibility of parole at a federal prison

Maryland and Virginia- Either life if the jury feels like being lenient, or death by injection

 

[TimTwoFace]

Originally posted by Weatherman
Assuming he's sane....

Yeah, here's hoping. I could scream over how many times people have gotten off charges of varying degrees and crimes because the judge believed them to be "temporarily insane". I don't think this guy is insane at all - he or she is playing the media like a cheap fiddle and it's making his ego grow and grow. That's not insanity - that's just a guy that's bored and thinks he's better than everyone else.

-Tim

 

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Could be a terrorist. Or terrorists. But usually terrorists make it clear who they are, and what message they're sending. If these are terrorists, then this is a very unusual method.

 

[gtracer72]

Originally posted by Leaping Larry Jojo
Could be a terrorist. Or terrorists. But usually terrorists make it clear who they are, and what message they're sending. If these are terrorists, then this is a very unusual method.

It could be terrorist(s), I personally don't think so.

Terrorists goal is to strike fear in the hearts of people. These shootings are doing just that. I mean come omn, my college has set up a counceling center for people who are stressed over this.

Anyway, since 9/11, the chances of terroist(s) strikeing in one big blow (i.e. airplanes, etc.) has dropped. I say this because people are more aware of things. If terrorist(s) did try somehing w/ airplanes,or something else, people now would make it extremelly difficult for them to accomplish their task.

It's all simple economics.

 

[Danielle]

Originally posted by Leaping Larry Jojo
Could be a terrorist. Or terrorists. But usually terrorists make it clear who they are, and what message they're sending. If these are terrorists, then this is a very unusual method.

Someone (not sure who) said something about the fact that there were 9 out of 11 killed (9/11)....but as gtracer said, I personally don't think this is a terrorist. If he wanted to make this number come out, he would have tried to make sure that two only got injured...but the shots fired at the two injured people were as bad as the other shots.

Hope this stops soon....

 

[Karkull]

I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't concerned, but I haven't made any major changes in my day-to-day life. I'm more worried about my parents, who commute to Virginia every day! Eek.

 

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Originally posted by gtracer72
It could be terrorist(s), I personally don't think so.

Terrorists goal is to strike fear in the hearts of people. These shootings are doing just that. I mean come omn, my college has set up a counceling center for people who are stressed over this.

Anyway, since 9/11, the chances of terroist(s) strikeing in one big blow (i.e. airplanes, etc.) has dropped. I say this because people are more aware of things. If terrorist(s) did try somehing w/ airplanes,or something else, people now would make it extremelly difficult for them to accomplish their task.

It's all simple economics.

While I don't think they are/he is terrorist(s), I'm not sure how this explanation refutes the fact that they aren't terrorists. Witnesses have said that they might have looked Arab or Hispanic. They could be being paranoid. Maybe not.

And terrorizing Washington? Seems like a good place to strike fear in people's hearts.

The only thing that's preventing me from concluding this is terrorism related to Al Qaeda is that they would have made it clear who (or what group) was sending them this message. "I am God" doesn't say much about being upset about America's foreign policy or political whatnot, so I tend to believe these are just a bunch of fanatical serial killers.

 

[Sandro]

It could be terrorist(s), I personally don't think so.

Well this all depends on your definition of "terrorist". This guy(s) sounds like he's just a frantic serial killer.

 

[Ajax]

Damn you can't even pump gas in peace anymore. How many has it been? 9? Sucks for the guy who play sports up there. I think this guy is a frantic serial killer.

 

[gtracer72]

Originally posted by Leaping Larry Jojo
While I don't think they are/he is terrorist(s), I'm not sure how this explanation refutes the fact that they aren't terrorists. Witnesses have said that they might have looked Arab or Hispanic. They could be being paranoid. Maybe not.

I was just trying to tell you that if this killer is a terrorist that this method would not be unusual.

 

[Clayface]

Not to add to people's fears, but here's a scarey thought my coworkers and I had at lunch yesterday. Let's say this guy is a terrorist. Why would he keep using the same mini-van/truck? Maybe, as has already been suggested, this is a work vehicle, so its easy for him to use. But, what if the reason is something a bit more sinister? The bombing in Bali was done with an explosives-filled mini-van/mini-bus. Maybe this sniper knows he's going to get caught eventually, and plans to take as many people with him as possible when he does - maybe he's driving around the same van because he's got it packed with explosives.

Just a theory, and probably not a very good one, but its certainly not a pleasant thought.

Originally posted by The Guard
Not to freak people out more, but I had a thought listening to the radio. You know how the police keep closing down roads and highways around the areas like right after shootings happen? And this person still eludes them? Could he be a police officer?

It's possible he's a police officer, and this was something considered back at the beginning of all this, but it sounds like they kind of doubt it. Either way though, the fact that he keeps eluding the road shut-down/searches wouldn't imply to me that he's police. The fact is, though I commend law enforcement for shutting down the roads in an attempt to stop him, this practice is just not practical. With this last shooting, there was a half hour gap between when the shooting occured and when the police finally started shutting down roads. In that half an hour, the sniper could have gotten anywhere he wanted to, and easily found cover. And even after the shut-down, you could still get around the road blocks if you knew the back-streets well enough. They just can't shut the roads down quick enough to truely be able to trap the guy.

 

[The Guard]

There's been another shooting, 90 miles south of Washington DC, in Ashland, Virginia. And there were more witnessess this time. Reports are that witnessess heard shots coming from a "wooded area" behind a restaurant. Not connected to the DC sniper yet, but...

 

[BayouLady]

Damn...looks like he/she might have struck again....


Ya know, I was supposed to be going to washington DC in a few weeks for a march...forget that!

 

[TimTwoFace]

Yeah, I just heard that someone in Virginia along the I-95 corridorr was hit tonight. I don't know many details and they're not saying if it's connected, but who cares - enough is enough. I bet NO ONE is going out for Halloween this year. And who can blame them?

-Tim

 

[gtracer72]

Originally posted by TimTwoFace
I bet NO ONE is going out for Halloween this year.
-Tim

More candy for me .

Whatever happened to that white truck that they confiscated?