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CNN Live Today

Ohio Highway Shootings

Aired December 01, 2003 - 10:14   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Rush hour commuters in Columbus, Ohio, have again poured onto Interstate 270. It's not likely they're keeping their eyes only on the road. Within the past week, a fatal shooting made police aware of 11 shooting incidents since May, and ballistic tests confirm at least two of them are linked.
Our Kris Osborn is in Columbus with the latest on the case.

Kris -- good morning.

KRIS OSBORN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Good morning to you, Daryn.

There are some drivers who are, to say the least, a little bit anxious about driving on I-270. Franklin County authorities, along with a joint task force, which involves some FBI personnel, have been looking into each and every lead, of course, related to a series of tough-to-explain, seemingly inexplicable, seemingly random shootings along, as you mentioned, I-270. People are just beginning to learn of the story.

We can give you a look at it from the aerial perspective and tell you it is a stretch of interstate highway that basically wraps around Columbus. And this general geographical area has been the location of 11 shootings, resulting in one death. Now, 10 of them have been in just the last couple of months. Vans have been hit. Cars have been hit. One woman, Gail Knisley, from Washington Courthouse, Ohio, was killed.

Investigators continue to praise the public, and say they want more people to call into the tip line. And they also, because today is the start of hunting season, issued a specific caution about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF DEP. STEVE MARTIN, FRANKLIN CO. SHERIFF'S OFFICE: Considering the current investigation undertaken, we ask that the public use caution if hunting or around hunting areas and immediately report any suspicious persons.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

OSBORN: Now, the bullet was connected to Gail Knisley, the woman that was killed. That bullet was connected to at least one of the other shootings. Authorities are very hesitant to use the term or even conjure up the image of a potential sniper shooting. However, they do acknowledge, upon questioning, that they are in contact with D.C.-area law enforcement. They are, of course, very concerned about this. Some people say that I-270 is trafficked in a normal way. Others say they're just, well, frankly, trying to find another way to go -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Understandable. And so, how are they doing with this investigation in trying to put it together and trying to figure out who exactly might be responsible?

OSBORN: They are doing a number of different things. One of the things they're doing is listening to callers who call in on the tip line. And what that gives them the occasion to do is to eliminate potential suspects, because people will be calling in about suspicious behavior or calling in about a vehicle that might be in an area that is some cause for concern.

So, that, in addition to a series of questions, of course, and various personnel are going out and about trying to find people who might have known the area, might know what's happening in the area, and so lead them to answers in that way, Daryn.

I can also tell you that they are saying, baby steps, is a word they use to describe the progress of the investigation. They say they are making progress, but not a whole lot more than that.

KAGAN: Yes. Well, the people that have to drive that highway probably wish they'd make some huge giant steps. Forget the baby steps for now.

OSBORN: Without question.

KAGAN: Kris, thank you for that -- Kris Osborn in Columbus, Ohio.

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 December 1, 2003 - 10:14   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Rush hour commuters in Columbus, Ohio, have again poured onto Interstate 270. It's not likely they're keeping their eyes only on the road. Within the past week, a fatal shooting made police aware of 11 shooting incidents since May, and ballistic tests confirm at least two of them are linked.
Our Kris Osborn is in Columbus with the latest on the case.

Kris -- good morning.

KRIS OSBORN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Good morning to you, Daryn.

There are some drivers who are, to say the least, a little bit anxious about driving on I-270. Franklin County authorities, along with a joint task force, which involves some FBI personnel, have been looking into each and every lead, of course, related to a series of tough-to-explain, seemingly inexplicable, seemingly random shootings along, as you mentioned, I-270. People are just beginning to learn of the story.

We can give you a look at it from the aerial perspective and tell you it is a stretch of interstate highway that basically wraps around Columbus. And this general geographical area has been the location of 11 shootings, resulting in one death. Now, 10 of them have been in just the last couple of months. Vans have been hit. Cars have been hit. One woman, Gail Knisley, from Washington Courthouse, Ohio, was killed.

Investigators continue to praise the public, and say they want more people to call into the tip line. And they also, because today is the start of hunting season, issued a specific caution about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF DEP. STEVE MARTIN, FRANKLIN CO. SHERIFF'S OFFICE: Considering the current investigation undertaken, we ask that the public use caution if hunting or around hunting areas and immediately report any suspicious persons.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

OSBORN: Now, the bullet was connected to Gail Knisley, the woman that was killed. That bullet was connected to at least one of the other shootings. Authorities are very hesitant to use the term or even conjure up the image of a potential sniper shooting. However, they do acknowledge, upon questioning, that they are in contact with D.C.-area law enforcement. They are, of course, very concerned about this. Some people say that I-270 is trafficked in a normal way. Others say they're just, well, frankly, trying to find another way to go -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Understandable. And so, how are they doing with this investigation in trying to put it together and trying to figure out who exactly might be responsible?

OSBORN: They are doing a number of different things. One of the things they're doing is listening to callers who call in on the tip line. And what that gives them the occasion to do is to eliminate potential suspects, because people will be calling in about suspicious behavior or calling in about a vehicle that might be in an area that is some cause for concern.

So, that, in addition to a series of questions, of course, and various personnel are going out and about trying to find people who might have known the area, might know what's happening in the area, and so lead them to answers in that way, Daryn.

I can also tell you that they are saying, baby steps, is a word they use to describe the progress of the investigation. They say they are making progress, but not a whole lot more than that.

KAGAN: Yes. Well, the people that have to drive that highway probably wish they'd make some huge giant steps. Forget the baby steps for now.

OSBORN: Without question.

KAGAN: Kris, thank you for that -- Kris Osborn in Columbus, Ohio.

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