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American Morning

53-Year-Old Man Latest Victim to be Shot, Killed

Aired October 11, 2002 - 08:34   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: Let's get down to Manassas, Virginia. This was the scene late Wednesday Night, a 53-year-old man the latest victim, victim number seven to be shot and killed.
and Michael Okwu continues to track any bits of evidence that has come out down there.

Michael, good morning.

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

Of course, very little coming out of here at this point. Just to review, seven people have been shot and killed. Of course, nine people overall have been shot. Of course, the latest victim, a Dean Myers, 53-year-old engineer from Gaithersburg, Maryland. Myers was just filling up his tank, or had just finished filling up his tank, and getting back into his car when he was shot by a single fatal bullet on Wednesday night.

This as the third time that the sniper has set his sights on a gas station. In fact, prosecutors here say they believe that the sniper will be -- will qualify for a capital murder charge here in Virginia.

And as you mentioned earlier this morning, Bill, this means now that the investigation spans some four counties and the District of Columbia, which, of course, means there is an increasing number of agencies and departments that will have to join forces 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, you know, a regional investigation, and we will be coordinating moment-to-moment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

OKWU: Now, needless to say, this has been an extraordinary, extraordinary chapter in local history. The fear here is very real, very palpable. There have been so many residents here and drivers who have been waiting to the very last possible moment to fill up their gas tanks and, in fact, when they do, they often crouch very low so to be as inconspicuous as possible. All outdoor activities and sporting events in this county and other counties across Maryland, as well as just here in Virginia have been canceled through the weekend.

The local police chief here saying that he wants all of the citizens here to exercise common sense. When they see something, to report it immediately and to leave, which, of course, might be very small comfort to the residents here, because thus far, the victims have had very little warning and the damage has been done by a single shot -- Bill.

HEMMER: Michael, quickly just to underline this point, the police chief down there says they may have witnesses that may offer information of value. But at this point, there is no shell casing that has been located or no other public evidence that we know of, correct, from Wednesday night?

OKWU: That is exactly what we know. We are hoping, obviously, to find out more in the coming hours, if not the coming days. There were some reports, as you know, Bill, that there was a vehicle seen leaving from that scene, and because it fit a description that other people had seen in other of the locations, that being a white vehicle, they thought perhaps that might have been the sniper or that might have been other people who were involved, but it turns out that there is an explanation for that vehicle as the police folks here put it, and it's not related at all -- Bill.

HEMMER: Thank you, Michael. Michael Okwu, working that part of the story in Manassas, Virginia.

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 - 08:34   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get down to Manassas, Virginia. This was the scene late Wednesday Night, a 53-year-old man the latest victim, victim number seven to be shot and killed.
and Michael Okwu continues to track any bits of evidence that has come out down there.

Michael, good morning.

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

Of course, very little coming out of here at this point. Just to review, seven people have been shot and killed. Of course, nine people overall have been shot. Of course, the latest victim, a Dean Myers, 53-year-old engineer from Gaithersburg, Maryland. Myers was just filling up his tank, or had just finished filling up his tank, and getting back into his car when he was shot by a single fatal bullet on Wednesday night.

This as the third time that the sniper has set his sights on a gas station. In fact, prosecutors here say they believe that the sniper will be -- will qualify for a capital murder charge here in Virginia.

And as you mentioned earlier this morning, Bill, this means now that the investigation spans some four counties and the District of Columbia, which, of course, means there is an increasing number of agencies and departments that will have to join forces 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, you know, a regional investigation, and we will be coordinating moment-to-moment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

OKWU: Now, needless to say, this has been an extraordinary, extraordinary chapter in local history. The fear here is very real, very palpable. There have been so many residents here and drivers who have been waiting to the very last possible moment to fill up their gas tanks and, in fact, when they do, they often crouch very low so to be as inconspicuous as possible. All outdoor activities and sporting events in this county and other counties across Maryland, as well as just here in Virginia have been canceled through the weekend.

The local police chief here saying that he wants all of the citizens here to exercise common sense. When they see something, to report it immediately and to leave, which, of course, might be very small comfort to the residents here, because thus far, the victims have had very little warning and the damage has been done by a single shot -- Bill.

HEMMER: Michael, quickly just to underline this point, the police chief down there says they may have witnesses that may offer information of value. But at this point, there is no shell casing that has been located or no other public evidence that we know of, correct, from Wednesday night?

OKWU: That is exactly what we know. We are hoping, obviously, to find out more in the coming hours, if not the coming days. There were some reports, as you know, Bill, that there was a vehicle seen leaving from that scene, and because it fit a description that other people had seen in other of the locations, that being a white vehicle, they thought perhaps that might have been the sniper or that might have been other people who were involved, but it turns out that there is an explanation for that vehicle as the police folks here put it, and it's not related at all -- Bill.

HEMMER: Thank you, Michael. Michael Okwu, working that part of the story in Manassas, Virginia.

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