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CNN Live At Daybreak

Blowgun Dart Attacks in Washington, D.C.

Aired July 18, 2002 - 06:44   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Moving on to another story that we've been following, Washington, D.C. police are looking for a shooter, one who uses darts instead of bullets.

But as CNN's Kathleen Koch tells us, the results can be just as deadly.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Four inch darts fired from a blowgun that can hit a target up to a hundred feet away. But here in Washington, D.C. and nearby Maryland, the targets have been people. The last attack, Tuesday, at a bus stop in northeast D.C. in broad daylight. Other incidents over the weekend were at night on main roadways like New York Avenue or in Georgetown.

One hit Paul Bailey Saturday near this auto repair shop.

PAUL BAILEY, BLOW DART VICTIM: Atop the hill is a Food Mart, I believe it is, to get a candy bar for my wife. On the way back, I felt a prick in my arm. And I looked at it (ph) -- looking down, there was a dart sticking out of my arm.

KOCH: Police say a white car, perhaps a Chevy, has been spotted nearby when some attacks occurred. No suspects yet, though, in what is being classified as assault with a deadly weapon.

SGT. JOE GENTILE, D.C. METROPOLITAN POLICE: Could penetrate into an organ. It could nick an artery. As in one case, the man was driving his car. He could have easily lost control of the vehicle killing himself or someone else.

KOCH: The blowguns are cheap, available for under $10. You can buy them at sporting goods stores or on the Internet. They are not supposed to be sold to minors.

(on camera): With this blowgun we bought, the smallest, cheapest model available, we were still able to pierce entirely through a paperback book three-eighths of an inch thick.

(voice-over): Bizarre attacks that police hope they can stop before they turn deadly.

Kathleen Koch, CNN, Washington. (END VIDEOTAPE)

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