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CNN Live At Daybreak
Highway Sniper?
Aired December 03, 2003 - 06:30 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Is it connected to a series of shootings on an Ohio highway? Police say they don't think so, but they are not sure.
Here's what we do know: Two men were driving north on the Ohio Turnpike 90 miles from Columbus. Both were shot. Stephen McMullin (ph) was shot in the head. He's now in a Toledo hospital. The other man was shot in the left hand.
Police are questioning another driver. No word on if that driver had anything to do with this latest shooting.
Now, the latest shootings just add more worries to an already uneasy public, though. Some Ohio residents are driving on edge.
We want to update you now on the latest in the investigation, and for that, we turn to our Kris Osborn live on the phone from Columbus, Ohio.
Have they linked all of these shootings -- Kris?
KRIS OSBORN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning to you, Carol.
Well, they have linked in a general way now 12 shootings. That was significant yesterday afternoon when Detective Martin stepped up to talk to the media. And he was pretty clear that in a general way there are, (A), now 12 shootings, and, (B), all 12 of them are related.
As for a specific link, of course, there being a slight difference between a general connection of sorts and a specific ballistic link, there are now four shootings that are linked through ballistics and ballistic evidence, and that is significant.
Also, the purview or the scope of the investigation and the concern about security has altered or changed slightly from merely the highway area to include an elementary school. There was on November 11 at 1:13 a.m. a bullet shot through the window at a nearby elementary school. That shooting from November 11 has now been linked as well. So, that certainly complicates the picture -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Kris, I'm just going to ask you a series of quick questions. Do we know what kind of gun is being used?
OSBORN: Authorities do know the kind of gun, but they don't want to talk about it for fear that it might compromise the investigation. Four of the ballistic matches have been linked to one weapon. COSTELLO: This shooting on the Ohio Turnpike, which is far from Columbus, is that in any way connected to the shootings on I-270?
OSBORN: So far, the indications are no. However, it's not completely impossible, but at this point it does not appear likely.
COSTELLO: Are police suggesting anything for drivers to do to protect themselves?
OSBORN: Yes, a number of things. They're suggesting that drivers remain extra vigilant and somewhat more cautious, but they also point out that between helicopters and various patrols, they have stepped up security along I-270. And also now, they are addressing security concerns in residential-type neighborhoods as well.
COSTELLO: And just a thought I had. It's deer season on Ohio, I think. I haven't lived there for a long time, but I do remember this time of year is deer season. Could that be a factor in this? Because sometimes hunters shoot the wrong way and people are hit by accident.
OSBORN: Well, it's interesting, Carol, because it's a factor in several respects. In one sense, you know, I asked officials repeatedly yesterday, 'Is there any chance that this could be random? Is there any chance that this could be a mistake?' And they said quite candidly, no, that these shootings show intent and purpose.
However, secondly, when it comes to the investigation -- so, it is pretty clear that this is not an accident. However, when it comes to the question of finding evidence and combing through the woods, because, as you say, it is deer season, there are a lot of bullet fragments in the woods. Because there are lots of people who hunt and shoot and lots of recreational gun use in the area, which makes actually finding specific evidence a lot more challenging just because there's a lot out there.
COSTELLO: All right, Kris Osborn reporting live from Columbus, Ohio, this morning.
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 3, 2003 - 06:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Is it connected to a series of shootings on an Ohio highway? Police say they don't think so, but they are not sure.
Here's what we do know: Two men were driving north on the Ohio Turnpike 90 miles from Columbus. Both were shot. Stephen McMullin (ph) was shot in the head. He's now in a Toledo hospital. The other man was shot in the left hand.
Police are questioning another driver. No word on if that driver had anything to do with this latest shooting.
Now, the latest shootings just add more worries to an already uneasy public, though. Some Ohio residents are driving on edge.
We want to update you now on the latest in the investigation, and for that, we turn to our Kris Osborn live on the phone from Columbus, Ohio.
Have they linked all of these shootings -- Kris?
KRIS OSBORN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning to you, Carol.
Well, they have linked in a general way now 12 shootings. That was significant yesterday afternoon when Detective Martin stepped up to talk to the media. And he was pretty clear that in a general way there are, (A), now 12 shootings, and, (B), all 12 of them are related.
As for a specific link, of course, there being a slight difference between a general connection of sorts and a specific ballistic link, there are now four shootings that are linked through ballistics and ballistic evidence, and that is significant.
Also, the purview or the scope of the investigation and the concern about security has altered or changed slightly from merely the highway area to include an elementary school. There was on November 11 at 1:13 a.m. a bullet shot through the window at a nearby elementary school. That shooting from November 11 has now been linked as well. So, that certainly complicates the picture -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Kris, I'm just going to ask you a series of quick questions. Do we know what kind of gun is being used?
OSBORN: Authorities do know the kind of gun, but they don't want to talk about it for fear that it might compromise the investigation. Four of the ballistic matches have been linked to one weapon. COSTELLO: This shooting on the Ohio Turnpike, which is far from Columbus, is that in any way connected to the shootings on I-270?
OSBORN: So far, the indications are no. However, it's not completely impossible, but at this point it does not appear likely.
COSTELLO: Are police suggesting anything for drivers to do to protect themselves?
OSBORN: Yes, a number of things. They're suggesting that drivers remain extra vigilant and somewhat more cautious, but they also point out that between helicopters and various patrols, they have stepped up security along I-270. And also now, they are addressing security concerns in residential-type neighborhoods as well.
COSTELLO: And just a thought I had. It's deer season on Ohio, I think. I haven't lived there for a long time, but I do remember this time of year is deer season. Could that be a factor in this? Because sometimes hunters shoot the wrong way and people are hit by accident.
OSBORN: Well, it's interesting, Carol, because it's a factor in several respects. In one sense, you know, I asked officials repeatedly yesterday, 'Is there any chance that this could be random? Is there any chance that this could be a mistake?' And they said quite candidly, no, that these shootings show intent and purpose.
However, secondly, when it comes to the investigation -- so, it is pretty clear that this is not an accident. However, when it comes to the question of finding evidence and combing through the woods, because, as you say, it is deer season, there are a lot of bullet fragments in the woods. Because there are lots of people who hunt and shoot and lots of recreational gun use in the area, which makes actually finding specific evidence a lot more challenging just because there's a lot out there.
COSTELLO: All right, Kris Osborn reporting live from Columbus, Ohio, this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
