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Police Link Manassas Killing to Sniper

Aired October 11, 2002 - 11:02   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Want to get down to Manassas, Virginia, quickly, in Woodbridge. CNN's Michael Okwu has been following the latest developments. Quick reminder, this is the location in Manassas, anyway, the location where the 53-year-old man was gunned down Wednesday night. More details, few and precious as they are. Here's Michael on that.
Good morning.

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Bill.

Just a few moments ago, within the past hour or so, we saw about a half dozen ATF agents leaving the Prince William County police headquarters here, and we do know that there have been various agents from the various -- from the joint task forces inside working on this case.

Just to review what has happened here in the past week or so, and specifically near the Manassas area, seven people, of course, have been killed, nine people have been shot overall. The latest victim, a Dean Meyers, 53-year-old engineer from Gaithersburg, Maryland. He was shot as he just finished filling his gas tank and was about to get back into his car by one fatal bullet.

Now, all of this occurred on Wednesday night. It happened at a Sunoco station. It is the third time, now, that the sniper has set his sights on a gas station. The local prosecutors say that they believe that the sniper will, in fact qualify for a capital murder charge if he or she is caught in this state. The investigation now spans some four counties and the District of Columbia. So it is clear that there is an increasing number of agencies and departments who will have to roll up their sleeves to solve this case.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF CHARLES DEANE, PRINCE WILLIAM CO. POLICE: Well, it certainly looks like these cases are linked, and we are going to be in direct participation with the task force and be in direct communication from here on out. Our part of the investigation is going to be very much linked with the Montgomery County and the other jurisdictions. This is a, you know, a regional investigation, and we will be coordinating moment to moment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

OKWU: This is an extraordinary chapter in local history, needless to say. Anybody who has spent any time in this area knows that the fear is very palpable. It is very, very real. Many of the motorists here who have to fill up their gas tanks wait until the last possible moment. And when they finally do, they crouch in such a way as to make themselves as inconspicuous as possible.

In this county, Prince William County, and in other counties in Maryland, we understand that all outdoor activities, including sports activities, have been canceled throughout the weekend, and the local police chief here telling residents to exercise caution, to be careful, to watch for anything suspicious.

If they see something suspicious to leave right away and report it to local authorities as soon as possible.

And As you know, Bill, that may be very small comfort to the residents here, because as you know, the sniper has left very little warning for his victims, and the damage has been done with a single bullet -- Bill.

HEMMER: The fear is rooted in the unknown. At this point, Michael, as you point out, there is so much not known now. Michael Okwu, again, in Woodbridge, Virginia, not too far from Manassas, where the shooting went down Wednesday night.

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 11, 2002 - 11:02   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Want to get down to Manassas, Virginia, quickly, in Woodbridge. CNN's Michael Okwu has been following the latest developments. Quick reminder, this is the location in Manassas, anyway, the location where the 53-year-old man was gunned down Wednesday night. More details, few and precious as they are. Here's Michael on that.
Good morning.

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Bill.

Just a few moments ago, within the past hour or so, we saw about a half dozen ATF agents leaving the Prince William County police headquarters here, and we do know that there have been various agents from the various -- from the joint task forces inside working on this case.

Just to review what has happened here in the past week or so, and specifically near the Manassas area, seven people, of course, have been killed, nine people have been shot overall. The latest victim, a Dean Meyers, 53-year-old engineer from Gaithersburg, Maryland. He was shot as he just finished filling his gas tank and was about to get back into his car by one fatal bullet.

Now, all of this occurred on Wednesday night. It happened at a Sunoco station. It is the third time, now, that the sniper has set his sights on a gas station. The local prosecutors say that they believe that the sniper will, in fact qualify for a capital murder charge if he or she is caught in this state. The investigation now spans some four counties and the District of Columbia. So it is clear that there is an increasing number of agencies and departments who will have to roll up their sleeves to solve this case.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF CHARLES DEANE, PRINCE WILLIAM CO. POLICE: Well, it certainly looks like these cases are linked, and we are going to be in direct participation with the task force and be in direct communication from here on out. Our part of the investigation is going to be very much linked with the Montgomery County and the other jurisdictions. This is a, you know, a regional investigation, and we will be coordinating moment to moment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

OKWU: This is an extraordinary chapter in local history, needless to say. Anybody who has spent any time in this area knows that the fear is very palpable. It is very, very real. Many of the motorists here who have to fill up their gas tanks wait until the last possible moment. And when they finally do, they crouch in such a way as to make themselves as inconspicuous as possible.

In this county, Prince William County, and in other counties in Maryland, we understand that all outdoor activities, including sports activities, have been canceled throughout the weekend, and the local police chief here telling residents to exercise caution, to be careful, to watch for anything suspicious.

If they see something suspicious to leave right away and report it to local authorities as soon as possible.

And As you know, Bill, that may be very small comfort to the residents here, because as you know, the sniper has left very little warning for his victims, and the damage has been done with a single bullet -- Bill.

HEMMER: The fear is rooted in the unknown. At this point, Michael, as you point out, there is so much not known now. Michael Okwu, again, in Woodbridge, Virginia, not too far from Manassas, where the shooting went down Wednesday night.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com