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CNN Live At Daybreak
Look at How Some Metro Area Residents are Coping
Aired October 10, 2002 - 05:30 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get back to the D.C. area sniper story. Maryland investigators are examining weapons found at the home of a Kensington man to see if they are related to the shootings. Authorities say the man's mother called police to say her son was mentally disturbed and was shooting a gun in the house. Police say the man is not considered a suspect.
And with no suspects, no motives and no apparent pattern to the string of shootings, people across the D.C. metro area are on edge.
Our Serena Altschul talked with some residents about how they're coping.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SERENA ALTSCHUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For some people here in the town of Bowie, daily chores are a way of easing nerves and reclaiming familiar routines. But for many parents and their kids, the recent shootings are having a lingering effect.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't feel safe ever, except for when I'm in my house.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just literally duck under my window.
ALTSCHUL: At Tasker Middle School, dropping kids off and picking them up has parents waiting and cars backed up for blocks. Even with the strong police presence, some parents aren't taking any chances.
(on camera): Do you always come to pick up your kids or are you doing it now specially?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, specially now.
ALTSCHUL: You're doing it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Considering what happened and how things turned out, you know, I just feel safer coming to get them myself.
ALTSCHUL: When will you let him come back on his own?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know. I don't know.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, and I'm picking up a couple other people's kids, because they work and we don't want them walking. They usually walk. So...
ALTSCHUL: At least for the next few days or for how long do you think you'll...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Indefinitely. I mean I know I won't feel comfortable until he's caught.
ALTSCHUL: Do you think the kids in the middle school have any idea like what really happened and what it means to have somebody like, you know, opening sniper fire? Do they, have they processed it or will they process it?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know my kids are just really scared and my daughter wrote me a note and left it on my pillow what she wants to be buried with.
ALTSCHUL (voice-over): And as long as the shooter is still out there, getting home safely is everyone's priority. We met up with some Tasker students after school.
(on camera): How has your life changed since Monday?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I spend a lot of time outside. I mean I am always outside. I'm always walking places, walking to my friend's house. I'm just going everywhere outside. And now that this has happened, it's just scary to go outside. You just like wonder.
ALTSCHUL: How much did you guys actually know about this shooter before he hit Tasker? Did you know about him at all?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I knew a little. All my mom told me was that there's this guy killing people, but I didn't take it that seriously until, you know, it hits, you know, right where you live. Then it's just freaking you out.
ALTSCHUL: What scares you most about the shooting and what happened Monday?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm scared I'm just going to be walking into the school and get shot and, you know, alls I wanted to do is get an education, not go to the hospital.
ALTSCHUL: Can you imagine anything that would make you feel any safer?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Like if we don't, if we hear that there's no more attacks. Like if you just don't hear about it for a long time, it'll just make you feel a lot better or if they catch him.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Definitely if they catch him, yes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: That report from Serena Altschul.
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 10, 2002 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get back to the D.C. area sniper story. Maryland investigators are examining weapons found at the home of a Kensington man to see if they are related to the shootings. Authorities say the man's mother called police to say her son was mentally disturbed and was shooting a gun in the house. Police say the man is not considered a suspect.
And with no suspects, no motives and no apparent pattern to the string of shootings, people across the D.C. metro area are on edge.
Our Serena Altschul talked with some residents about how they're coping.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SERENA ALTSCHUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For some people here in the town of Bowie, daily chores are a way of easing nerves and reclaiming familiar routines. But for many parents and their kids, the recent shootings are having a lingering effect.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't feel safe ever, except for when I'm in my house.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just literally duck under my window.
ALTSCHUL: At Tasker Middle School, dropping kids off and picking them up has parents waiting and cars backed up for blocks. Even with the strong police presence, some parents aren't taking any chances.
(on camera): Do you always come to pick up your kids or are you doing it now specially?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, specially now.
ALTSCHUL: You're doing it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Considering what happened and how things turned out, you know, I just feel safer coming to get them myself.
ALTSCHUL: When will you let him come back on his own?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know. I don't know.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, and I'm picking up a couple other people's kids, because they work and we don't want them walking. They usually walk. So...
ALTSCHUL: At least for the next few days or for how long do you think you'll...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Indefinitely. I mean I know I won't feel comfortable until he's caught.
ALTSCHUL: Do you think the kids in the middle school have any idea like what really happened and what it means to have somebody like, you know, opening sniper fire? Do they, have they processed it or will they process it?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know my kids are just really scared and my daughter wrote me a note and left it on my pillow what she wants to be buried with.
ALTSCHUL (voice-over): And as long as the shooter is still out there, getting home safely is everyone's priority. We met up with some Tasker students after school.
(on camera): How has your life changed since Monday?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I spend a lot of time outside. I mean I am always outside. I'm always walking places, walking to my friend's house. I'm just going everywhere outside. And now that this has happened, it's just scary to go outside. You just like wonder.
ALTSCHUL: How much did you guys actually know about this shooter before he hit Tasker? Did you know about him at all?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I knew a little. All my mom told me was that there's this guy killing people, but I didn't take it that seriously until, you know, it hits, you know, right where you live. Then it's just freaking you out.
ALTSCHUL: What scares you most about the shooting and what happened Monday?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm scared I'm just going to be walking into the school and get shot and, you know, alls I wanted to do is get an education, not go to the hospital.
ALTSCHUL: Can you imagine anything that would make you feel any safer?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Like if we don't, if we hear that there's no more attacks. Like if you just don't hear about it for a long time, it'll just make you feel a lot better or if they catch him.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Definitely if they catch him, yes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: That report from Serena Altschul.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
