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Breaking News
D.C. Area Killing Similar to Sniping
Aired October 11, 2002 - 14:02 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: As you know, if you've been tuned to CNN, there's been another deadly shooting with eerie similarities to the sniper who's been terrifying the Washington, D.C., area.
Let's get the very latest from our own Michael Owku, on the scene in Fredericksburg, Virginia -- Michael.
MICHAEL OWKU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, hello.
Police just moments ago confirming the fact that a man was shot at an Exxon station here and that that man is dead. It all happened at about 9:30 a.m. Apparently police say that this person, the circumstances surrounding this particular case, fits very much with what has been going on with the sniper for the better part of a week or so, although it has not been officially linked at this point.
There is no information at this point regarding any ballistics evidence. Police were very tight lipped about that. But we do know that there have been search dogs combing through this area, not only on I-95 on Route 1, but also at points beyond and not far from where the woods are here in this county.
We also understand from a producer who is on the I-95 now that police are taking a yellow piece of paper and putting it in a bag. It's very unclear at this point what that might be.
But police did say that they were pursuing a white van earlier this morning that fits the description of a vehicle that had been placed at those locations in the past week by other eyewitnesses. They say that everybody that they have detained at this point has been let go. They have been questioning a number of people along the highways, stopping cars up for about three to four miles along Route 1 and I-95.
Coincidentally, a state trooper was in the area just moments after the shooting occurred.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJ. HOWARD SMITH, SPOTSYLVANIA SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: At the time of that -- at the time the shot was fired, a Virginia state trooper was across the street working a traffic accident. He heard the shot, responded over to assist the victim. Rescue squad responded. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
(END VIDEO CLIP) OWKU: I have been repeating this to viewers all morning. The fact is what's been going on here for more than a week now has really changed life in the Washington, D.C. area. The fact is people are very, very nervous, Because this latest shooting also matches the M.O. of what the sniper has been doing for more than a week now. People have been very mindful about going to the gas station, waiting until the very last moment to fill their gas tanks. And when they do, often crouching down to make themselves as inconspicuous as possible. No doubt whether or not this shooting ends up being linked to the sniper, it will not change that sense of tension here.
We understand from police here in Spotsylvania that they will have another briefing 6:00 Eastern Standard Time.
PHILLIPS: Michael Owku, thank you so much.
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 - 14:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: As you know, if you've been tuned to CNN, there's been another deadly shooting with eerie similarities to the sniper who's been terrifying the Washington, D.C., area.
Let's get the very latest from our own Michael Owku, on the scene in Fredericksburg, Virginia -- Michael.
MICHAEL OWKU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, hello.
Police just moments ago confirming the fact that a man was shot at an Exxon station here and that that man is dead. It all happened at about 9:30 a.m. Apparently police say that this person, the circumstances surrounding this particular case, fits very much with what has been going on with the sniper for the better part of a week or so, although it has not been officially linked at this point.
There is no information at this point regarding any ballistics evidence. Police were very tight lipped about that. But we do know that there have been search dogs combing through this area, not only on I-95 on Route 1, but also at points beyond and not far from where the woods are here in this county.
We also understand from a producer who is on the I-95 now that police are taking a yellow piece of paper and putting it in a bag. It's very unclear at this point what that might be.
But police did say that they were pursuing a white van earlier this morning that fits the description of a vehicle that had been placed at those locations in the past week by other eyewitnesses. They say that everybody that they have detained at this point has been let go. They have been questioning a number of people along the highways, stopping cars up for about three to four miles along Route 1 and I-95.
Coincidentally, a state trooper was in the area just moments after the shooting occurred.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJ. HOWARD SMITH, SPOTSYLVANIA SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: At the time of that -- at the time the shot was fired, a Virginia state trooper was across the street working a traffic accident. He heard the shot, responded over to assist the victim. Rescue squad responded. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
(END VIDEO CLIP) OWKU: I have been repeating this to viewers all morning. The fact is what's been going on here for more than a week now has really changed life in the Washington, D.C. area. The fact is people are very, very nervous, Because this latest shooting also matches the M.O. of what the sniper has been doing for more than a week now. People have been very mindful about going to the gas station, waiting until the very last moment to fill their gas tanks. And when they do, often crouching down to make themselves as inconspicuous as possible. No doubt whether or not this shooting ends up being linked to the sniper, it will not change that sense of tension here.
We understand from police here in Spotsylvania that they will have another briefing 6:00 Eastern Standard Time.
PHILLIPS: Michael Owku, thank you so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
