Article

2002-10-10 Home Front

Police probe sniper link in fatal Virginia shooting

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Fred Pruitt 2002-10-10 04:09 pm|| || Front Page|| [4 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I don't mind telling you, Fred, that for the first time I'm really starting to feel a sense of trepidation about all this. The killing happened at the Battlefield Sunoco on Sudley Road, which is Manassas' main shopping drag on the west side of the city, between downtown and the National Battlefield Park. I've driven by that station any number of times, though I've never patronized it (I get my gas at Crown or Sheetz).

I've feared all day that the latest shooting is part of this spree, because I could already recognize from what I've learned about it that the M.O. is consistent with almost all of the other incidents; busy commercial area, person alone, near major road, etc. For those who think there's a Michael's connection, there's a Michael's outlet in another shopping center several hundred yards south of the crime scene. If you stand on the side of the road by that shopping center, which is on a slight slope, you can in fact see all the way down the road to I-66. Actually, I think the shooter took his position from somewhat closer in, because there are a lot of commercial buildings in the area to give shelter, but it's something I thought of. In fact, there are so many businesses in the area that it would be very difficult for a white truck - if in fact the killer is still driving a white truck, he might just have been smart enough to switch vehicles - to be noticed in all the traffic, even though everyone is looking out for one.

All I can say is, right now, I'm going to be looking around _very_ carefully next time I get gas, and I'm not going near any shopping center that has a Michael's in it.

Posted by Joe 2002-10-10 16:24:45|| 2002-10-10 16:24:45|| Front Page Top

#2 I'm thinking. Fred-- How old are most of the victums? Mary Lu

Posted by Mary Lu 2002-10-10 16:32:43|| [radio.weblogs.com/0100243] 2002-10-10 16:32:43|| Front Page Top

#3 Youngest is 13. I think this latest victim, at 55, might be the oldest, but I could be mistaken.

Joe, I find myself eyeballing the woods out behind our office building in Seabrook, too. But this is a high population density area, so the actual odds of this fellow potting me, specifically, or you, specifically, are pretty long. I'll be a lot happier when he's been caught, of course; the odds have come out wrong for too many people who were peacefully going about their business.

Posted by Fred 2002-10-10 17:02:16|| 2002-10-10 17:02:16|| Front Page Top

#4 I thought the oldest was a 72 yr old in DC?

Posted by Frank G 2002-10-10 18:33:59|| 2002-10-10 18:33:59|| Front Page Top

#5 I once read that serial killers who target at random, are trying to break all personal connections with the world. That would make the killer a sociopath, who will probably kill until he or she is killed. I hope that I am wrong, and that there is a shred of conscience left in this person.

Posted by Allah the Dog Faced God 2002-10-10 20:10:45|| 2002-10-10 20:10:45|| Front Page Top

02:06 Paul
00:21 France
20:32 Fred
20:27 Tripartite
20:25 Allah the Dog Faced God
20:10 Allah the Dog Faced God
18:52 John B.
18:33 Frank G
18:28 Frank G
17:02 Fred
16:34 Suman Palit
16:33 Tom Roberts
16:32 Mary Lu
16:24 Joe