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CNN Live At Daybreak

Sources: Sniper Seeking $10 Million to End Spree

Aired October 23, 2002 - 06:03   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.


CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Authorities are urging the sniper, as you heard, to stop killing -- stop his killing rampage, and they say they will remain open and ready to talk to him about the options indicated in his latest message.
Here with some insight into this investigation, CNN law enforcement analyst, Mike Brooks.

Interesting revelations about that letter that was found on Saturday. Why release that now, and what does that tell us about their investigation and about the sniper?

MIKE BROOKS, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: I think the information that they gained, there's no harm in putting it out there, and especially last night, the chief talking about children not safe anywhere. I think that was -- early on, he wasn't going to say it.

CALLAWAY: Right.

BROOKS: And I think then the next news conference, they felt duty bound, because he couldn't live with himself, neither could anyone else on the task force live with themselves if anything happened to any of the children.

CALLAWAY: And also something about "not about violence."

BROOKS: Yes, "It's not just about violence." What does he mean by that?

CALLAWAY: Yes, what does it mean?

BROOKS: We talked about a number of different things along the way about what the motive of this shooter is. They talked about, is it terrorism? You know, we talked about he is terrorizing our community.

When we talk about terrorism, the two main objectives of terrorism are political or social objectives. Has he achieved this political or social objective? I say on the social objective side, he's changed everyone's life in the Washington Metropolitan area.

CALLAWAY: Yes, he has.

BROOKS: So, what -- you know, what he means about, 'It's more than just violence," that's another cryptic message from the shooter.

CALLAWAY: Very critical of law enforcement in his letter apparently. What does that -- does that mean anything?

BROOKS: Now, there's talk, you know, is this guy -- is this shooter, because he's critical of law enforcement, is he, she, they -- are they former law enforcement?

CALLAWAY: Right.

BROOKS: They're looking into that. Right now, it's not believed that this shooter is former law enforcement.

CALLAWAY: Well, why the need to be in such constant contact with officials?

BROOKS: Well, if you look at serial killers, the history of serial killers, they always want to communicate. They can't keep silent. But the more that this shooter communicates with law enforcement, the more likely that he, she or they are going to get caught.

CALLAWAY: And it doesn't seem that the so-called $10 million demand really means anything to this sniper.

BROOKS: I don't know if he's just throwing it out there just to toy with police. $10 million is a lot of money. Will police give this person $10 million?

CALLAWAY: Right.

BROOKS: It's highly unlikely.

CALLAWAY: Do you think we're going to hear anymore communications revealed between the police and the sniper?

BROOKS: There's a possibility. I just hope it's not -- the next communication we get isn't because of another shooting.

CALLAWAY: All right, thank you very much, and you'll be with us throughout the morning.

BROOKS: Yes, I will.

CALLAWAY: Mike, thank you.

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 23, 2002 - 06:03   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Authorities are urging the sniper, as you heard, to stop killing -- stop his killing rampage, and they say they will remain open and ready to talk to him about the options indicated in his latest message.
Here with some insight into this investigation, CNN law enforcement analyst, Mike Brooks.

Interesting revelations about that letter that was found on Saturday. Why release that now, and what does that tell us about their investigation and about the sniper?

MIKE BROOKS, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: I think the information that they gained, there's no harm in putting it out there, and especially last night, the chief talking about children not safe anywhere. I think that was -- early on, he wasn't going to say it.

CALLAWAY: Right.

BROOKS: And I think then the next news conference, they felt duty bound, because he couldn't live with himself, neither could anyone else on the task force live with themselves if anything happened to any of the children.

CALLAWAY: And also something about "not about violence."

BROOKS: Yes, "It's not just about violence." What does he mean by that?

CALLAWAY: Yes, what does it mean?

BROOKS: We talked about a number of different things along the way about what the motive of this shooter is. They talked about, is it terrorism? You know, we talked about he is terrorizing our community.

When we talk about terrorism, the two main objectives of terrorism are political or social objectives. Has he achieved this political or social objective? I say on the social objective side, he's changed everyone's life in the Washington Metropolitan area.

CALLAWAY: Yes, he has.

BROOKS: So, what -- you know, what he means about, 'It's more than just violence," that's another cryptic message from the shooter.

CALLAWAY: Very critical of law enforcement in his letter apparently. What does that -- does that mean anything?

BROOKS: Now, there's talk, you know, is this guy -- is this shooter, because he's critical of law enforcement, is he, she, they -- are they former law enforcement?

CALLAWAY: Right.

BROOKS: They're looking into that. Right now, it's not believed that this shooter is former law enforcement.

CALLAWAY: Well, why the need to be in such constant contact with officials?

BROOKS: Well, if you look at serial killers, the history of serial killers, they always want to communicate. They can't keep silent. But the more that this shooter communicates with law enforcement, the more likely that he, she or they are going to get caught.

CALLAWAY: And it doesn't seem that the so-called $10 million demand really means anything to this sniper.

BROOKS: I don't know if he's just throwing it out there just to toy with police. $10 million is a lot of money. Will police give this person $10 million?

CALLAWAY: Right.

BROOKS: It's highly unlikely.

CALLAWAY: Do you think we're going to hear anymore communications revealed between the police and the sniper?

BROOKS: There's a possibility. I just hope it's not -- the next communication we get isn't because of another shooting.

CALLAWAY: All right, thank you very much, and you'll be with us throughout the morning.

BROOKS: Yes, I will.

CALLAWAY: Mike, thank you.

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