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CNN Live Today
Authorities Processing Leads in Sniper Case
Aired October 08, 2002 - 11:03 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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Up first this hour on CNN, high anxiety and tight security in suburban Washington. Parents there are on edge, and schools are now on lockdown in the wake of the latest sniper shooting, a 13-year-old wounded outside a Maryland middle school almost this time yesterday.
CNN's Patty Davis is standing by in Prince George's County, Maryland, where yesterday's shooting took place, and our Jeanne Meserve is in Montgomery County where the sniper shooting spree began last week.
Let's start with Patty -- good morning, Patty.
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon. Well, parents and students are definitely on edge here at the Benjamin Tasker Middle School in Bowie, Maryland, where that shooting took place yesterday. The 13-year-old boy, we are told, is in serious but stable condition, now he remains that way.
Police and school officials greeted students this morning as they arrived. Some by bus, some with their parents, either in their cars or their parents walked them to school today. Those parents determined not to let the sniper interfere with their children's education, but they are nervous all the same.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If they can't supply safety for our students, well, I'm going to be a stay-home mom and teach them at home.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In my opinion, what I've seen on TV, the coverage of the schools, the lockdown that started last week with the incident in Montgomery, my opinion is police are doing an excellent job.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DAVIS: Now, you heard that woman talking about a lockdown. That is what form all schools are in around here. That is basically, kids are not allowed outside for recess, they are not allowed outside to go to lunch. A lot of after-school activities have been canceled. Now, as far as attendance is concerned at this middle school behind me where the shooting took place yesterday, the principal's office tells me that attendance is down 34 percent from what is normal. They say that is much better than what they expected.
In Montgomery County, attendance is normal -- the superintendent saying the lower end of normal -- Leon.
HARRIS: All right. Thanks, Patty.
Boy, the fallout from this shooting spree around Washington, in the Washington area and the metro area continues to unfold here.
Now we're just getting word here an announcement made by the Starbucks chain. Starbucks is now announcing that they are pulling all of their outdoor tables inside as long as this shooting spree remaining as an unresolved problem in the area.
KAGAN: In the Washington area.
HARRIS: In the Washington area.
So keep your eyes open for that, folks, and be careful while you're out there.
All right. Let's go to our Jeanne Meserve, who is standing by now in Montgomery County, where she has been for the last couple of days -- Jeanne, good morning.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon. Police here are saying they have two missions -- protection and investigation, and they say they have been able to do both because of a massive infusion of personnel and resources from state and federal law enforcement agencies, and other local jurisdictions.
Investigators today are doing a lot of old-fashioned gumshoe detective work, checking out some of the 1,250 credible leads that have come into them, but they are also relying somewhat on technology. Today, they are looking at databases to try and figure out if this sniper has committed other crimes here or elsewhere.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL BOUCHARD, ATF: We operate the National Integrated Ballistics Identifications Network, and what we ask all police departments is to enter projectiles and cartridge casings from shootings into that system. There are about 230-plus systems throughout the United States.
We've entered the information from this case into that system to query if there are any other similar-type projectiles or cartridge casings in that system nationwide.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MESERVE: Now, the ATF won't say whether they have found any matches. Just one example of how closely information is being held in this investigation. When the Montgomery County police chief was asked today about progress, all he would say is that we are moving forward, and that he is optimistic.
Now, the fear and anxiety in this community is palpable. Police here this morning responded to a report of gunshots. It turns out what people had heard was the backfire of a dump truck.
However, this fear has not had a profound impact on school attendance. It is reported to be on the lower end of normal. Staff attendance reported to be exemplary. School officials here worried somewhat about the stress on both staff and students, 550 counselors and psychologists are in the schools today working with people. Also, printed materials have been distributed to staff and also to parents to help them deal in an age-appropriate way with the fears of their children.
People here being urged to go about their business, but with caution and with their eyes open, looking for something unusual that might help investigators crack this very perplexing and difficult case -- Leon, back to you.
HARRIS: All right. Thank you very much, Jeanne. Jeanne Meserve reporting for us live from Montgomery County, Maryland.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 8, 2002 - 11:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Up first this hour on CNN, high anxiety and tight security in suburban Washington. Parents there are on edge, and schools are now on lockdown in the wake of the latest sniper shooting, a 13-year-old wounded outside a Maryland middle school almost this time yesterday.
CNN's Patty Davis is standing by in Prince George's County, Maryland, where yesterday's shooting took place, and our Jeanne Meserve is in Montgomery County where the sniper shooting spree began last week.
Let's start with Patty -- good morning, Patty.
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon. Well, parents and students are definitely on edge here at the Benjamin Tasker Middle School in Bowie, Maryland, where that shooting took place yesterday. The 13-year-old boy, we are told, is in serious but stable condition, now he remains that way.
Police and school officials greeted students this morning as they arrived. Some by bus, some with their parents, either in their cars or their parents walked them to school today. Those parents determined not to let the sniper interfere with their children's education, but they are nervous all the same.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If they can't supply safety for our students, well, I'm going to be a stay-home mom and teach them at home.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In my opinion, what I've seen on TV, the coverage of the schools, the lockdown that started last week with the incident in Montgomery, my opinion is police are doing an excellent job.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DAVIS: Now, you heard that woman talking about a lockdown. That is what form all schools are in around here. That is basically, kids are not allowed outside for recess, they are not allowed outside to go to lunch. A lot of after-school activities have been canceled. Now, as far as attendance is concerned at this middle school behind me where the shooting took place yesterday, the principal's office tells me that attendance is down 34 percent from what is normal. They say that is much better than what they expected.
In Montgomery County, attendance is normal -- the superintendent saying the lower end of normal -- Leon.
HARRIS: All right. Thanks, Patty.
Boy, the fallout from this shooting spree around Washington, in the Washington area and the metro area continues to unfold here.
Now we're just getting word here an announcement made by the Starbucks chain. Starbucks is now announcing that they are pulling all of their outdoor tables inside as long as this shooting spree remaining as an unresolved problem in the area.
KAGAN: In the Washington area.
HARRIS: In the Washington area.
So keep your eyes open for that, folks, and be careful while you're out there.
All right. Let's go to our Jeanne Meserve, who is standing by now in Montgomery County, where she has been for the last couple of days -- Jeanne, good morning.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon. Police here are saying they have two missions -- protection and investigation, and they say they have been able to do both because of a massive infusion of personnel and resources from state and federal law enforcement agencies, and other local jurisdictions.
Investigators today are doing a lot of old-fashioned gumshoe detective work, checking out some of the 1,250 credible leads that have come into them, but they are also relying somewhat on technology. Today, they are looking at databases to try and figure out if this sniper has committed other crimes here or elsewhere.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL BOUCHARD, ATF: We operate the National Integrated Ballistics Identifications Network, and what we ask all police departments is to enter projectiles and cartridge casings from shootings into that system. There are about 230-plus systems throughout the United States.
We've entered the information from this case into that system to query if there are any other similar-type projectiles or cartridge casings in that system nationwide.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MESERVE: Now, the ATF won't say whether they have found any matches. Just one example of how closely information is being held in this investigation. When the Montgomery County police chief was asked today about progress, all he would say is that we are moving forward, and that he is optimistic.
Now, the fear and anxiety in this community is palpable. Police here this morning responded to a report of gunshots. It turns out what people had heard was the backfire of a dump truck.
However, this fear has not had a profound impact on school attendance. It is reported to be on the lower end of normal. Staff attendance reported to be exemplary. School officials here worried somewhat about the stress on both staff and students, 550 counselors and psychologists are in the schools today working with people. Also, printed materials have been distributed to staff and also to parents to help them deal in an age-appropriate way with the fears of their children.
People here being urged to go about their business, but with caution and with their eyes open, looking for something unusual that might help investigators crack this very perplexing and difficult case -- Leon, back to you.
HARRIS: All right. Thank you very much, Jeanne. Jeanne Meserve reporting for us live from Montgomery County, Maryland.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
