http://www.cnn.com/2002/U...index.html

ROCKVILLE, Maryland (CNN) -- Police have two possible new clues -- a Tarot card and shell casing -- that may help them in their search for the sniper who has killed six people and wounded two in a weeklong crime spree that has unnerved the nation's capital.

Sources said it is unclear whether the card -- inscribed with the message "Dear Policeman: I am God" -- is related to the shootings. The card represents death in the fortunetelling deck.

Authorities said they believe the card could have been left by a prankster after Monday's shooting of a 13-year-old boy at Benjamin Tasker Middle School in Bowie.

But Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose said Wednesday he was upset about the leak of the Tarot card information to reporters, saying it "is not something I authorized for release" and said "it is inappropriate to comment on this card."

"There are a lot of things that have the potential to hurt the investigation," Moose said.

Moose also criticized statements from retired law enforcement personnel who are news analysts for TV networks and stations. Moose said it is insulting to hear commentary from "talking heads" who have not been briefed, seen evidence or talked to investigators.

Boy critical but stable
The boy, who was shot after his aunt dropped him off at school, remains in critical but stable condition at Children's National Medical Center in Washington.

Authorities also found a shell casing near the middle school and are determining whether it can help them determine the type weapon used in the shooting. (Tracing the bullets)

Forensics evidence, including ballistics tests on the bullets, have linked the eight shooting attacks that have occurred since last week. Authorities said each victim was hit once with a .223-caliber bullet fired from a rifle from a relatively long distance.

Montgomery County schools will be closed Wednesday for a previously scheduled teacher workday. A heavy police presence will monitor schools in Prince George's County.

Investigators -- about 100 from Montgomery County and 95 from other agencies -- are sifting through 1,600 tips and leads deemed credible. They continue to search for a suspicious white van seen by a witness near the scene of one of the shootings.

Reward fund growing
The shootings began October 2 when someone fired a shot through a window of a Michaels crafts store in Wheaton, but no one was hit.

Five people were shot and killed in Montgomery County during a 16-hour period from October 2 into Thursday morning. A sixth victim was shot dead Thursday night on a Washington street.

A seventh person was wounded Friday in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She was released Tuesday afternoon from Inova Fairfax Hospital, a spokeswoman said. (Trail of the sniper)

Authorities have not identified a suspect, but they said they hope a growing reward fund may help persuade anyone who knows anything about the killings to come forward.

Late Tuesday, the reward stood at nearly $240,000 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the person responsible for the killings. The fund includes $100,000 from the state of Maryland, $50,000 from Montgomery County and $10,000 from a victims' rights foundation.

Donations also have been coming in from across the country, said Donna Bigler of the Montgomery County executive's office, which is managing the fund. The county has set up a telephone number for people to call to donate money using credit cards.

"We've had donations from a local law firm, a crime solvers' group in Wisconsin, a couple from Virginia and a businessman in California, giving from $100 to $50,000," Bigler said.

Precautions in nation's capital
Investigators also are reconsidering a September 14 shooting outside a Silver Spring liquor store, trying to determine whether the same culprit might be responsible. A man was wounded there but survived. Michael Bouchard, a special agent with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, said the ballistics evidence from that crime scene was inconclusive.

Authorities also are looking into a fire at a Michaels crafts store near the middle school in Bowie. The crafts store burned down, and the case remains open. Several of the shootings have taken place near Michaels crafts stores.

The fear in Washington's suburbs has spread into the District of Columbia, with Capitol Police implementing "added precautionary measures" in response to the attacks.

A memo sent Monday to "all office emergency coordinators" on Capitol Hill urged people who work and visit the Hill to "exercise an abundance of caution," including "reducing outside activities to the extent possible."

The memo states "there is no indication that a threat is directed toward the Capitol or members of Congress."

The White House called the outbreak of violence "traumatic" and "scary."

Maryland Gov. Parris Glendening called the sniper a "coward."

Maryland Gov. Parris Glendening called the sniper a "coward," and he called on the suspect to "stop this insane killing."

"This is a person who is shooting elderly men, shooting women and now shooting little children," Glendening said at a Tuesday news conference with local and federal law enforcement agencies.

"It is extremely important that he understands that no one is looking up to him, that no one is thinking this is a great act that he's doing. We're all thinking that this is an act of absolute cowardice."

James Fox, a professor of criminal justice at Northeastern University, told CNN's Connie Chung he believes the killer is shooting people "for sport."

"This is an insignificant nobody that, through this killing spree, feels very much important," Fox said. "He feels that he's overpowering the whole community. He feels very good about the fact that he can outsmart the police."

Recently we (in France)'ve had our bunch of paranoids bastards murders too..., I didn't know that he even shot a kid

Nep2nes said:

That's enough,I ain't got time for novels on the org.
At least post that it is a long read.

jnoel said:

When I first heard about the sniper I thought that it may be someone who worked for the government at one time, because this guy is a sharp shooter.

Obviously this guy has gone off the deep end. These random killings suggest that he cannot make any distinction between right and wrong. My prediction is that they will find this guy soon and that he will be someone who worked for the FBI but has had some sort of psychiatric problem. But I could b wrong.

4LOVE said:

How unnecessary is this remark?

Tsk tsk...no patience!

Y does reading scare u? This is information people. When it happens in ur neck of the woods u'll want 2 read all about it, won't u?




OR u could just read until u want 2 stop then go 2 the next thread.

Lazy ass!



.
[This message was edited Wed Oct 9 7:34:58 PDT 2002 by Nep2nes]

It's so senseless

Beyond tragic. *deep sigh*

I live in DC, and everyone here is afraid to leave their houses...it's insane...and that tarot card is OBVIOUSLY a play to the media, because they interviewed a former FBI psychological profiler who said that the sniper "thinks he's God"...the sniper obviously saw this and planted that card.

LadyCabDriver said:

They did suggest the possibility that it could be a prank. U know there r sick people out there that love 2 add 2 the confusion.

It's scary enough that this guy is shooting people, I doubt he'd take the risk of venturing out and planting a tarot card there. 2 risky. This guy is smarter than that. But I could b wrong. Maybe he did, I wouldn't put it past him either, I suppose.

Anyway, hopefully nothing happens 2 u, lcd, or 2 any1 else 4 that matter.

-
[This message was edited Wed Oct 9 9:15:00 PDT 2002 by shausler]

POOK said:

Nice one Pook.





|
V
[This message was edited Wed Oct 9 8:54:17 PDT 2002 by npgsmfc]

POOK said:

POOK said:

Nep2nes said:

That's true.


That's true also.


Me neither.



Thanx.

This "sniper" works in a way that makes it damn hard to catch him/her...unlike a "normal" killer like this who plants himself in one place and starts firing until stopped or is killed himself, this guy shoots once, apparently from a sizeable distance, and then leaves...no time to figure out where the bullet came from until after he's long gone...and it is very scary because there really is no real protection from someone like this, beyond wearing a bulletproof vest 24-7...I have family around the Maryland/D.C. area...and this definitely hits close to home...

LadyCabDriver said:

I am sorry to hear this Lady. Be safe..

POOK said:

I like silly humour but it's a so dramatic affair

if he is God ... the God is DEAD!

Every fucking year some asshole has to go on a killing spree to get attention for his/her half-assed cause.

Someone whos over the top and wants to become an instant celebrity KNOWS the media will turn them into a star and talk about them to no end.

I wish the news stations would have enough willpower to hold back reporting this stuff. If he/she wasn't getting any recognition for their murders, perhaps that would send a message to the person who plans on doing this shit next year or the year after...

Thanks for the update Nep2nes.

This whole thing has been awful. I was raised in Montgomery County. My brother and his wife, my Mother-in-law, Sisters-in-law, Brothers-in-law, ALL my family, still lives there. My husband works there. Every day has been a nightmare. The damn media was not supposed to release the tarot card information. I hope this bastard is caught soon. This is no way to live.

The sniper is obviously lying... we all know that neppy peppy pudding pie is god.

:LOL: