Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Ballistics Tests Due in Maryland Killing

Aired October 23, 2002 - 09:06   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.


PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Ballistics tests today are expected to confirm what authorities, pretty much, already believe that the slaying of bus driver Conrad Johnson, just before sunrise Tuesday in Silver Spring, Maryland, was the work of the D.C.-area sniper.
Bob Franken joins us from there with one of our first looks from the scene. Good morning, Bob. Where are you?

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's it. You can't see me right now, Paula. And imagine now, when it's the darkness of about 6 o'clock in the morning, as it was yesterday. This is the area that was particularly heavily searched, this area right here. You can see where it's all beaten down, where the officials obviously spent a lot of time looking for evidence, this type of thing.

The theory is is that the sniper was operating somewhere along the wooded area. Now, as you can see, this is a very heavily wooded area. It is just across from the bus stop, which we'll show you in a minute, where Conrad Johnson was shot down.

You can see that it is very heavily wooded, but what you can't see, but which the sniper apparently scoped out, is that there is a path in the back. It's a jogging path, a bicycle path, with easy access to a variety of roads. You could go on one side and there's Connecticut Avenue, which you realize is a very heavily-traveled section, but at that time of day, it wouldn't be heavily traveled, but it would be some place where he could , escape very, very quickly. On the other side, there is a network of roads where he could also take backroads.

Now, I am standing by the bus stop. I am standing where Conrad Johnson was shot. You are seeing me from where the sniper probably would have operated from in the woods. It's very chilling, that he could be so close and take a life so easily and yet, be so well hidden. Paula?

ZAHN: Bob, I don't even know if you could pay attention. It's kind of unnerving seeing a guy taking your picture, as you are doing your stand-up there. But let's come back to your description of how dense the woods are. At that time of the morning, when it was as dark as it was, how could someone even have navigated through there? Would a flash light have provided enough light?

FRANKEN: It would have been fairly easy to figure out. There is a path, just a short distance away, which leads right down. This, of course, is a park area. It is an area that is designed to be people- friendly. It is an area that if somebody had very meticulously scoped it out, he would know that he could very quickly get to an escape route, before anybody would know.

ZAHN: And I know we've been reporting all morning long, Bob, that The Baltimore Sun reporting that a second letter was found somewhere in the woods, maybe not too far from where you're standing. Are there any evidence markers still in place to get an idea of where that possibly could have been found?

FRANKEN: Well, there are no evidence markers, Paula. But as we just mentioned just a moment ago, you can see that area, that area that was very, very chopped down, was beaten down, that is obviously where the police were focusing much of their investigation.

ZAHN: All right, Bob. Chilling to watch, but I guess it's a very clear idea of how effortlessly someone can navigate through that area.

Bob, appreciate it. Thanks.

And of course, parents in the Washington area are waking up this morning to the terrifying realization that the sniper may single out children as targets. Yesterday, Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose read verbatim from a letter found at the scene of Saturday's shooting in Ashland, Virginia.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHARLES MOOSE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE CHIEF: Your children are not safe anywhere at any time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHN: How could parents keep their kids safe, in light of this latest threat? Let's turn to CNN's security analyst Kelly McCann, who joins us now live from Washington. Welcome back, Kelly.

KELLY MCCANN, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: Hi, Paula.

ZAHN: Do you think the chief should release that information publicly, a bit sooner? I know he shared that information with law enforcement from various localities, but parents certainly didn't know about this until yesterday -- parents, who may have made the children -- decision not to send their kids to school yesterday.

MCCANN: Well, there's some unfair assumptions. You know, the assumption that there would have been some coherent compassion or maybe hope or a way to stop it. This was a punitive note, and it's scary language for people who don't normally consume that kind of language.

I think the chief erred on the side of, listen, I will put out a general warning out that will cover children and camouflage it a little bit, by saying everybody of all ages, gender, etcetera, and will address it that way. And then when the groundswell came out when it was leaked and there was a compelling need to say this was the specific language, they released that piece.

ZAHN: So you're saying no one was irresponsible here?

MCCANN: I don't think so. I think that they clearly made the case. And in fact, this attacker has demonstrated that he will shoot children. So the information was already out there.

You know, the fact that the information on the note was in bad grammatical syntax or that someone might recognize, is kind a red herring, because this fellow is -- people or whoever, is clever enough to use his left hand, have somebody else write a note, if there's many of them. that fact that it appears fragmented sentences. Maybe English is his second or third or second language. So, we can't assume anything, and we've have been inundated with assumptions.

ZAHN: When you're saying second or third language, that might make someone out there listening to jump to the conclusion that maybe you're talking about a foreign terrorist here? Is that what you meant?

MCCANN: I'm making no inference. I'm saying that if a person has English as a second or third language, then his use of English would appear to make him less intelligent than a person who -- is his first language. But, if you look at the behavior, this has been a person who is intelligent, he is clever and he's moving in a manner consistent with someone who's got a brain.

ZAHN: Let's have you analyze something else Chief Moose had to say yesterday that has caused, also, a lot of concern. Let's listen together.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOOSE: It is important that we do this, without anyone else getting hurt. Call us at the same number you used before to obtain the 800-number that you have requested. If you would feel more comfortable, a private post office box or another secure method can be provided. You indicated that this is about more than just violence. We are waiting to hear from you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHN: I can't help but think what a difference a couple of weeks has made in this investigation. It wasn't that long ago the chief was berating the media for compromising the investigation. Now we're a key part of communicating with the sniper. Is this going to work?

KELLY: Well, it depends on the electronic means. You know, it's been -- I don't think it came out in clear language that it meant a wire transfer of money. It could be a series of URLs, of Web sites that -- and bulletin boards that would disguise the end user, who would pull down the information. We don't know whether or not it meant an actual transfer of money or to open up a back channel method of communication that couldn't be intercepted or interfered with by the media or people or whoever.

ZAHN: It's also interesting first to analyze the tone and the tenor of what Chief Moose had to say. There is a report, I believe it is the in The Washington Post this morning, saying that the FBI is pretty much providing the language for Chief Moose. Do you have any thoughts on that?

KELLY: Publicly, at this point, we almost have to expect that there would be coded language, in other words, things that don't make sense to you and I, as we watch this very carefully structured language, means something very significant that the person he's sending this message to. It's by necessity. When he's lost all other method of communicating, and we know that this person or people are watching the networks, it's the obvious way to communicate, to get the word to him, so, by necessity.

ZAHN: Well, this guy's making it pretty clear, at least according to The Washington Post, what he thinks about the investigators. He actually berated him for putting -- having five people hang up on him, essentially, and not pay attention to him. And he, I guess, later found that a guy, an FBI trainee, handled the call so badly, the alleged writer of this letter said, he blew him off. What are investigators up against here?

KELLY: Incompetence or irresponsibility, you know, will not be tolerated by this guy. And I'm not a shrink, OK, but I am looking closely at his performance, measured against what he sees as his adversary. You know, it's very easy, for example, for everyone to get on with an opinion to try to be the guy who that has the crystal ball and figure this outright, you know, and all that stuff. But if you take all of that away and all this talk about fear and be courageous, it's easy before you are confronted with your own personal mortality and imminent potential death, to be courageous. It's only after you realize your mortality and are confronted with that, when you move have you are confronted with that, when you move forward, that defines courage. So again, people -- we really need to center on the fact and we really need to look at the issues. Chief is in a tough position. He's standing on a basketball, Paula, and it shifts routinely.

ZAHN: A final question for you, I need a quick answer to it, do you think investigators are any closer today to knowing who the shooter or shooters are?

KELLY: They can't not be, with the manpower that's on board, they are investigating daily and they will get closer and closer. Whether it meets this guys's schedule or not, we'll see.

ZAHN: J. Kelly McCann, as always, thanks for your insights. Appreciate it.

MCCANN: Thanks, Paula.

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 - 09:06   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Ballistics tests today are expected to confirm what authorities, pretty much, already believe that the slaying of bus driver Conrad Johnson, just before sunrise Tuesday in Silver Spring, Maryland, was the work of the D.C.-area sniper.
Bob Franken joins us from there with one of our first looks from the scene. Good morning, Bob. Where are you?

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's it. You can't see me right now, Paula. And imagine now, when it's the darkness of about 6 o'clock in the morning, as it was yesterday. This is the area that was particularly heavily searched, this area right here. You can see where it's all beaten down, where the officials obviously spent a lot of time looking for evidence, this type of thing.

The theory is is that the sniper was operating somewhere along the wooded area. Now, as you can see, this is a very heavily wooded area. It is just across from the bus stop, which we'll show you in a minute, where Conrad Johnson was shot down.

You can see that it is very heavily wooded, but what you can't see, but which the sniper apparently scoped out, is that there is a path in the back. It's a jogging path, a bicycle path, with easy access to a variety of roads. You could go on one side and there's Connecticut Avenue, which you realize is a very heavily-traveled section, but at that time of day, it wouldn't be heavily traveled, but it would be some place where he could , escape very, very quickly. On the other side, there is a network of roads where he could also take backroads.

Now, I am standing by the bus stop. I am standing where Conrad Johnson was shot. You are seeing me from where the sniper probably would have operated from in the woods. It's very chilling, that he could be so close and take a life so easily and yet, be so well hidden. Paula?

ZAHN: Bob, I don't even know if you could pay attention. It's kind of unnerving seeing a guy taking your picture, as you are doing your stand-up there. But let's come back to your description of how dense the woods are. At that time of the morning, when it was as dark as it was, how could someone even have navigated through there? Would a flash light have provided enough light?

FRANKEN: It would have been fairly easy to figure out. There is a path, just a short distance away, which leads right down. This, of course, is a park area. It is an area that is designed to be people- friendly. It is an area that if somebody had very meticulously scoped it out, he would know that he could very quickly get to an escape route, before anybody would know.

ZAHN: And I know we've been reporting all morning long, Bob, that The Baltimore Sun reporting that a second letter was found somewhere in the woods, maybe not too far from where you're standing. Are there any evidence markers still in place to get an idea of where that possibly could have been found?

FRANKEN: Well, there are no evidence markers, Paula. But as we just mentioned just a moment ago, you can see that area, that area that was very, very chopped down, was beaten down, that is obviously where the police were focusing much of their investigation.

ZAHN: All right, Bob. Chilling to watch, but I guess it's a very clear idea of how effortlessly someone can navigate through that area.

Bob, appreciate it. Thanks.

And of course, parents in the Washington area are waking up this morning to the terrifying realization that the sniper may single out children as targets. Yesterday, Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose read verbatim from a letter found at the scene of Saturday's shooting in Ashland, Virginia.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHARLES MOOSE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE CHIEF: Your children are not safe anywhere at any time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHN: How could parents keep their kids safe, in light of this latest threat? Let's turn to CNN's security analyst Kelly McCann, who joins us now live from Washington. Welcome back, Kelly.

KELLY MCCANN, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: Hi, Paula.

ZAHN: Do you think the chief should release that information publicly, a bit sooner? I know he shared that information with law enforcement from various localities, but parents certainly didn't know about this until yesterday -- parents, who may have made the children -- decision not to send their kids to school yesterday.

MCCANN: Well, there's some unfair assumptions. You know, the assumption that there would have been some coherent compassion or maybe hope or a way to stop it. This was a punitive note, and it's scary language for people who don't normally consume that kind of language.

I think the chief erred on the side of, listen, I will put out a general warning out that will cover children and camouflage it a little bit, by saying everybody of all ages, gender, etcetera, and will address it that way. And then when the groundswell came out when it was leaked and there was a compelling need to say this was the specific language, they released that piece.

ZAHN: So you're saying no one was irresponsible here?

MCCANN: I don't think so. I think that they clearly made the case. And in fact, this attacker has demonstrated that he will shoot children. So the information was already out there.

You know, the fact that the information on the note was in bad grammatical syntax or that someone might recognize, is kind a red herring, because this fellow is -- people or whoever, is clever enough to use his left hand, have somebody else write a note, if there's many of them. that fact that it appears fragmented sentences. Maybe English is his second or third or second language. So, we can't assume anything, and we've have been inundated with assumptions.

ZAHN: When you're saying second or third language, that might make someone out there listening to jump to the conclusion that maybe you're talking about a foreign terrorist here? Is that what you meant?

MCCANN: I'm making no inference. I'm saying that if a person has English as a second or third language, then his use of English would appear to make him less intelligent than a person who -- is his first language. But, if you look at the behavior, this has been a person who is intelligent, he is clever and he's moving in a manner consistent with someone who's got a brain.

ZAHN: Let's have you analyze something else Chief Moose had to say yesterday that has caused, also, a lot of concern. Let's listen together.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOOSE: It is important that we do this, without anyone else getting hurt. Call us at the same number you used before to obtain the 800-number that you have requested. If you would feel more comfortable, a private post office box or another secure method can be provided. You indicated that this is about more than just violence. We are waiting to hear from you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHN: I can't help but think what a difference a couple of weeks has made in this investigation. It wasn't that long ago the chief was berating the media for compromising the investigation. Now we're a key part of communicating with the sniper. Is this going to work?

KELLY: Well, it depends on the electronic means. You know, it's been -- I don't think it came out in clear language that it meant a wire transfer of money. It could be a series of URLs, of Web sites that -- and bulletin boards that would disguise the end user, who would pull down the information. We don't know whether or not it meant an actual transfer of money or to open up a back channel method of communication that couldn't be intercepted or interfered with by the media or people or whoever.

ZAHN: It's also interesting first to analyze the tone and the tenor of what Chief Moose had to say. There is a report, I believe it is the in The Washington Post this morning, saying that the FBI is pretty much providing the language for Chief Moose. Do you have any thoughts on that?

KELLY: Publicly, at this point, we almost have to expect that there would be coded language, in other words, things that don't make sense to you and I, as we watch this very carefully structured language, means something very significant that the person he's sending this message to. It's by necessity. When he's lost all other method of communicating, and we know that this person or people are watching the networks, it's the obvious way to communicate, to get the word to him, so, by necessity.

ZAHN: Well, this guy's making it pretty clear, at least according to The Washington Post, what he thinks about the investigators. He actually berated him for putting -- having five people hang up on him, essentially, and not pay attention to him. And he, I guess, later found that a guy, an FBI trainee, handled the call so badly, the alleged writer of this letter said, he blew him off. What are investigators up against here?

KELLY: Incompetence or irresponsibility, you know, will not be tolerated by this guy. And I'm not a shrink, OK, but I am looking closely at his performance, measured against what he sees as his adversary. You know, it's very easy, for example, for everyone to get on with an opinion to try to be the guy who that has the crystal ball and figure this outright, you know, and all that stuff. But if you take all of that away and all this talk about fear and be courageous, it's easy before you are confronted with your own personal mortality and imminent potential death, to be courageous. It's only after you realize your mortality and are confronted with that, when you move have you are confronted with that, when you move forward, that defines courage. So again, people -- we really need to center on the fact and we really need to look at the issues. Chief is in a tough position. He's standing on a basketball, Paula, and it shifts routinely.

ZAHN: A final question for you, I need a quick answer to it, do you think investigators are any closer today to knowing who the shooter or shooters are?

KELLY: They can't not be, with the manpower that's on board, they are investigating daily and they will get closer and closer. Whether it meets this guys's schedule or not, we'll see.

ZAHN: J. Kelly McCann, as always, thanks for your insights. Appreciate it.

MCCANN: Thanks, Paula.

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