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CNN Live Saturday
Special Report: Sniper on the Loose, Part IV
Aired October 12, 2002 - 15:02 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Around the nation's capital, a climate of fear and uncertainty as thousands of police desperately search for the clues or clue that will help them catch a deadly sniper. This hour, we'll be hearing from a criminologist on the sniper investigation and get the latest from our crews right there on the scene.
And for now, we want to go to our CNN's Bill Hemmer, who is in Montgomery County, Maryland. We've been joined by Daryn Kagan all morning, and now, Bill, as you explained a little bit earlier, you're kind of picking up the baton now, and we're anticipating that press conference or the latest press briefing from investigators up there at about 5:00 Eastern time. But for now, people in the community certainly are waiting with bated breath, hoping that maybe these investigators will reveal to them they are getting more clues to kind of narrow in their search.
BILL HEMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Indeed. It appears that way, Fredricka.
And you mentioned the briefing in two hours' time, 5:00 Eastern. We do anticipate -- there is a strong indication, anyway, that this graphic aid that we talked about a day and a half ago yesterday morning may be released to the media here, and then distributed to the public.
It appeared earlier today when Chief Moose came out several hours ago that part of the reason for the holdup right now is that they continue to go over the stories from the witnesses to try and determine down to the last letter what indeed material description they need to contain in this aid.
So, again, we should get it right around 5:00 Eastern time. A bit of caution. We expected it yesterday morning. It did not happen. But we will track that.
In the meantime, though, the chief says this investigation still remains in his words, "rather complex." A bit of an understatement right now. Day 10, Fredricka, 10 victims, eight shot and killed, two others wounded. The latest victim yesterday morning in Spotsylvania County. We'll get you down there live in a moment, but first let's bring in Kathleen Koch to talk more about what we are hearing and seeing and picking up here in Rockville, Maryland. Good afternoon to you.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Bill. HEMMER: Let's talk about the graphic aid. Have you been given indication just yet about what this might be?
KOCH: We have, and the chief himself sort of let it slip a little bit in the last press conference. First of all, I can't overstate the importance of this information that's going to come out, because this police department here has been very reluctant over the last week to give out much information at all to the public. Now they themselves are saying this is critical, this is important. We want to get it out as soon as possible.
And the chief, though, he said there is a reason, again, why we're delaying. We want it to be just right. We want to make sure we get all the information in there. We want to make sure every single eyewitness is comfortable. Why don't we take a listen to what he said earlier this morning?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF CHARLES MOOSE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE: We are dealing with a number of witnesses, and when we're dealing with those witnesses in a graphic preparation, we are committed to not putting it out until everyone involved is comfortable. So we do have a delay. We are working on it diligently. We remain hopeful that it is later today that the graphics will be available. Again, we think it will help people understand, have a clearer idea, prompt their memories with regards to the box truck that you've heard so much about from us in Montgomery County.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOCH: Now, this is the box truck, Bill, that they've been talking about since the killings began here back on Wednesday, a week -- this past week before last. And this is a box truck, again, that they've described in great detail. But I think what they're going to do today is give us some sort of a composite sketch. Again, they told us that it has a roll-up rear door. It has got letters on the side and on the back, block letters, dark letters, two rows.
But I think what we're going to be seeing is some sort of a composite sketch, and again, there is apparently a bent bumper. They hope that if they show this versus just telling people what it looks like, it just might make something click, and someone will say, I saw that, I remember that.
HEMMER: Are they certain that this truck was involved, or is it just the hunch right now, based on the stories they've taken from various shootings over the past week and a half?
KOCH: Bill, this is the one thing they have refused to let go of since this began. They have said we believe that this box truck is connected. And there are other times when they've said, well, we just want to talk to this person. They may have been there, this may or may not have been involved. But they seem pretty confident on this one. HEMMER: Let's talk about the area and the community here. Boy, you pick up the paper this morning, "The Washington Post," everything outdoors in just about every surrounding county has been canceled. There were 1,000 soccer games on the schedule this morning, all wiped off the slate.
KOCH: It's tough, Bill. As a parent with children who are growing up, you know, in a surrounding county here, it has been so hard. You have children of all ages, from elementary up to high school, who have basically become prisoners in their own schools. They only come out when they leave. And no football games, no pep rallies. This was homecoming weekend. And you know how important that is for high schoolers. All that canceled. No homecomings, no dances.
An odd point, Bill, in all this: Some of the events that are going forward today outside are in downtown Washington, D.C. There is a National Book Festival that the first lady herself is participating in on the grounds. They have not canceled that. That's on the grounds of the Library of Congress. They believe they have established enough security there with the U.S. Capitol Police.
Another event that's going on is a huge food festival, the Taste of D.C. That's going on in downtown D.C. Thousands of people turn out for that every year. It's a big annual event. It raises money for charities all around the Washington, D.C. area. And I find it ironic that these events are going on in downtown Washington, because frankly, people feel safer down there now. The suburbs that people fled to to get away from crime are now the places where they feel the most vulnerable.
HEMMER: Let's talk about the investigation. The base of operations maintains itself here in Rockville, Maryland. There have been some talk earlier in the week the FBI might come with a heavy hand, take everything away from the local jurisdictions and overrule. That hasn't happened. It appears that the jurisdictions in the area are working in concert with one another, and that's the reason why things are staying here.
KOCH: And the reason why, also, everyone believes, is because police still think their best bet is that the killer's base of operations -- not necessarily where they live -- but their base of operations remains here in Montgomery County.
Let's take a look back at the killings that have occurred over the last week and a half. The first cluster were in Montgomery County, and the first cluster of killings took place from Wednesday night through Thursday, in a period of just about 16 hours. And then the killings that Thursday morning were in a time span of just under four hours. That killer had to know the Montgomery County area very well. And this was not an area near a major interstate, on ramp or exit ramp. These were twisting small streets. The killer moved quickly. Within half an hour, sometimes these killings took place from one point to another. The killer had to know how to evade police, had to know how police would respond and he or she could get around them. HEMMER: But what they don't know in that is whether the killer lives in this area or just works in the area.
KOCH: Precisely. Precisely. Or has a property in this area so he or she knows this area, or maybe they grew up in this area.
But then the killings since then, again, have all taken place very near these on ramps and off ramps. One officer yesterday told me if it weren't for the cluster that began here in Montgomery County on Wednesday and Thursday, that they would be calling this killer "the interstate killer."
Another thing that they're looking at, Bill, that is very interesting: Not only have these killings, this last cluster taken place near the interstate, on ramps and off ramps, but also, when you have those on and off ramps, you not only have gas stations, you have hotels there very nearby. All of the last cluster of killings -- so they're looking at the hotels to see perhaps if this killer is slipping away because he or she has a room in a hotel right next door to this gas station, right behind this Michaels craft store. It's a possibility.
HEMMER: And as they look at the guest list, they say it may take a week to get through all the leads there.
KOCH: So many names.
HEMMER: Kathleen, thanks. We'll talk next hour, OK? Kathleen Koch working the scene from day one here in Rockville, Maryland.
I want to get our viewers down now to Spotsylvania County. That's the location yesterday where the eighth victim shot and killed by the sniper. Carried out his deed at 9:30 a.m. local time. And Charles Molineaux right near that Exxon station this afternoon for us. Charles, what are you picking up on down there?
CHARLES MOLINEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, Bill, of course we are looking at the Exxon station and beyond it. Easy access to Interstate 95. Yet another access to an escape route, yet another access to a major highway that this killer is apparently using. Earlier, you wondered how was it that somebody so bold, so brazen has managed to avoid capture.
Well, I talked to the supervisor of the FBI's office in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and he said in a situation like this, the advantage goes to the sniper regardless of the incredible force that police brought to bear yesterday investigating the situation in this area, and regardless of the fact that there was a Virginia state trooper across the street when the shooting happened, killing a Philadelphia man as we have been reporting.
Kenneth Bridges was 53. He had six kids, and he helped start an organization to help black businesses. He was on a business trip and he was getting gas for the drive home when he was shot here at the Exxon station. Police responded very fast. Roadblocks in the area were set up in a matter of minutes. FBI geographic profilers arrived at the scene immediately.
A big part of that quick response is the fact that investigators have been looking at Spotsylvania County since the sniper struck here a week ago. After that shooting, the sniper task force was up to speed here. They were looking for him already. Well, yesterday's huge effort did not bring any snipers. Some witnesses, but no sniper.
Now, investigators have been, shall we say, parsing questions about whether the shootings are a case of terrorism. Officially, they are not saying. Practically speaking, they say, what else could you call it?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERIFF RONALD KNIGHT, SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, VIRGINIA: I'm certainly not going to stand here and say it's al Qaeda or anything like that. But any time somebody is doing something, the terror is here, and that is terrorism. So whether it's local terrorists or global terrorists, I don't want to say.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOLINEAUX: And investigators say the fact that this state trooper was on the scene at the time is very telling. They say there is really no way that the sniper could have failed to see this trooper across the street working on this accident scene. And nonetheless, went ahead with the shooting anyway, showing that this is a very bold and dangerous person -- Bill.
HEMMER: Charles, thank you. Charles Molineaux in Spotsylvania County. Thank you, Charles. We'll be in touch throughout the day.
In the meantime, back here in Rockville. We have talked at great length over the past week and a half about the ballistics testing that is carried out, that has connected essentially every case of this serial sniper. And what they all zero in on is one shot, one bullet, that .223 caliber bullet that can do extensive damage to the human body.
Elaine Shannon is with "Time" magazine. She covers law enforcement for the magazine. She is our guest here this afternoon. Good afternoon to you.
ELAINE SHANNON, "TIME" MAGAZINE: Hi.
HEMMER: Let's talk more about the ballistics right now. Do you have a better indication right now why it takes sometimes half a dozen hours to release the results of testing, and sometimes it takes a day or even more?
SHANNON: Well, it's -- first of all, they have to get the bullet where if it's in a body, that takes some time, and particularly if the person is only wounded. Life comes first. And then it goes to the ATF lab, which I think is the best ballistics lab in the country. There are seven examiners there. There's one guy who will look at it first and who will take a long time looking at that and an earlier bullet that he knows from the shooter under a dual microscope and see if the lines match up.
And then his results need to be confirmed by a second person. They have to take very careful notes, measurements, weights, and then write a formal report, and then it comes out. So he may see something and it will look pretty good, or pretty bad, but it will take a few minutes.
HEMMER: But the point is, every time a bullet is fired from this weapon or any weapon for that matter, it leaves a fingerprint on the shell casing and the bullet itself?
SHANNON: Yes.
HEMMER: Have they been able to find in any of the shootings, with the exception of the elementary school on Monday morning, a shell casing in any other place?
SHANNON: As far as I know -- I know about that one. There have been reports of a second one. I haven't confirmed that. The shell casing gives you different information. That will give you the brand of the ammunition, and it may tell you something about the workings of the rifle that will give you -- let you narrow down to the family of rifles.
HEMMER: Which gives you a better indication and more specific idea about what's used?
What about the rifle? What about the weapon? There have been reports even yesterday that there were two weapons that they were focused in on right now, but the ATF out here said yesterday they still have a long list right now, and they have not necessarily boiled it down to two. Have you heard otherwise?
SHANNON: No. Well, yes and no. The .223 round is the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) round. Hunters call it the varmint round. It's like saying size eight shoes. But there are -- when you look at all of the material, you can kind of narrow it to some smaller list of families of weapons that it might be. I know that they are looking at AR-15s, which is a Colt product, and there are a lot of them out there. And I think they are looking also at the Stern Ruger (ph) mini 14, which is a high-powered rifle. Neither of these, by the way, are official sniper rifles. If you were a military sniper, you wouldn't be using either one of these.
HEMMER: Interesting. Well, we may hear more, hope to hear more in two hours anyway. Elaine, thanks. Elaine Shannon with "TIME" magazine here in Rockville.
As I mentioned, Fredricka, 5:00 Eastern time, about an hour and 45 minutes from now, we'll hear from the chief again. Charles Moose will come out and brief reporters. It may be at that point that we get the release of that graphic aid, whatever that aid may be, a bit later today. More in a moment, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. In any event, that graphic aid perhaps investigators are hoping will help the public better help investigators, because they certainly are looking for the help of all eyes and ears out there. All right. Thanks.
HEMMER: Indeed, you're right, Fredricka. See you in a bit.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks a lot, Bill.
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 12, 2002 - 15:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Around the nation's capital, a climate of fear and uncertainty as thousands of police desperately search for the clues or clue that will help them catch a deadly sniper. This hour, we'll be hearing from a criminologist on the sniper investigation and get the latest from our crews right there on the scene.
And for now, we want to go to our CNN's Bill Hemmer, who is in Montgomery County, Maryland. We've been joined by Daryn Kagan all morning, and now, Bill, as you explained a little bit earlier, you're kind of picking up the baton now, and we're anticipating that press conference or the latest press briefing from investigators up there at about 5:00 Eastern time. But for now, people in the community certainly are waiting with bated breath, hoping that maybe these investigators will reveal to them they are getting more clues to kind of narrow in their search.
BILL HEMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Indeed. It appears that way, Fredricka.
And you mentioned the briefing in two hours' time, 5:00 Eastern. We do anticipate -- there is a strong indication, anyway, that this graphic aid that we talked about a day and a half ago yesterday morning may be released to the media here, and then distributed to the public.
It appeared earlier today when Chief Moose came out several hours ago that part of the reason for the holdup right now is that they continue to go over the stories from the witnesses to try and determine down to the last letter what indeed material description they need to contain in this aid.
So, again, we should get it right around 5:00 Eastern time. A bit of caution. We expected it yesterday morning. It did not happen. But we will track that.
In the meantime, though, the chief says this investigation still remains in his words, "rather complex." A bit of an understatement right now. Day 10, Fredricka, 10 victims, eight shot and killed, two others wounded. The latest victim yesterday morning in Spotsylvania County. We'll get you down there live in a moment, but first let's bring in Kathleen Koch to talk more about what we are hearing and seeing and picking up here in Rockville, Maryland. Good afternoon to you.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Bill. HEMMER: Let's talk about the graphic aid. Have you been given indication just yet about what this might be?
KOCH: We have, and the chief himself sort of let it slip a little bit in the last press conference. First of all, I can't overstate the importance of this information that's going to come out, because this police department here has been very reluctant over the last week to give out much information at all to the public. Now they themselves are saying this is critical, this is important. We want to get it out as soon as possible.
And the chief, though, he said there is a reason, again, why we're delaying. We want it to be just right. We want to make sure we get all the information in there. We want to make sure every single eyewitness is comfortable. Why don't we take a listen to what he said earlier this morning?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF CHARLES MOOSE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE: We are dealing with a number of witnesses, and when we're dealing with those witnesses in a graphic preparation, we are committed to not putting it out until everyone involved is comfortable. So we do have a delay. We are working on it diligently. We remain hopeful that it is later today that the graphics will be available. Again, we think it will help people understand, have a clearer idea, prompt their memories with regards to the box truck that you've heard so much about from us in Montgomery County.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOCH: Now, this is the box truck, Bill, that they've been talking about since the killings began here back on Wednesday, a week -- this past week before last. And this is a box truck, again, that they've described in great detail. But I think what they're going to do today is give us some sort of a composite sketch. Again, they told us that it has a roll-up rear door. It has got letters on the side and on the back, block letters, dark letters, two rows.
But I think what we're going to be seeing is some sort of a composite sketch, and again, there is apparently a bent bumper. They hope that if they show this versus just telling people what it looks like, it just might make something click, and someone will say, I saw that, I remember that.
HEMMER: Are they certain that this truck was involved, or is it just the hunch right now, based on the stories they've taken from various shootings over the past week and a half?
KOCH: Bill, this is the one thing they have refused to let go of since this began. They have said we believe that this box truck is connected. And there are other times when they've said, well, we just want to talk to this person. They may have been there, this may or may not have been involved. But they seem pretty confident on this one. HEMMER: Let's talk about the area and the community here. Boy, you pick up the paper this morning, "The Washington Post," everything outdoors in just about every surrounding county has been canceled. There were 1,000 soccer games on the schedule this morning, all wiped off the slate.
KOCH: It's tough, Bill. As a parent with children who are growing up, you know, in a surrounding county here, it has been so hard. You have children of all ages, from elementary up to high school, who have basically become prisoners in their own schools. They only come out when they leave. And no football games, no pep rallies. This was homecoming weekend. And you know how important that is for high schoolers. All that canceled. No homecomings, no dances.
An odd point, Bill, in all this: Some of the events that are going forward today outside are in downtown Washington, D.C. There is a National Book Festival that the first lady herself is participating in on the grounds. They have not canceled that. That's on the grounds of the Library of Congress. They believe they have established enough security there with the U.S. Capitol Police.
Another event that's going on is a huge food festival, the Taste of D.C. That's going on in downtown D.C. Thousands of people turn out for that every year. It's a big annual event. It raises money for charities all around the Washington, D.C. area. And I find it ironic that these events are going on in downtown Washington, because frankly, people feel safer down there now. The suburbs that people fled to to get away from crime are now the places where they feel the most vulnerable.
HEMMER: Let's talk about the investigation. The base of operations maintains itself here in Rockville, Maryland. There have been some talk earlier in the week the FBI might come with a heavy hand, take everything away from the local jurisdictions and overrule. That hasn't happened. It appears that the jurisdictions in the area are working in concert with one another, and that's the reason why things are staying here.
KOCH: And the reason why, also, everyone believes, is because police still think their best bet is that the killer's base of operations -- not necessarily where they live -- but their base of operations remains here in Montgomery County.
Let's take a look back at the killings that have occurred over the last week and a half. The first cluster were in Montgomery County, and the first cluster of killings took place from Wednesday night through Thursday, in a period of just about 16 hours. And then the killings that Thursday morning were in a time span of just under four hours. That killer had to know the Montgomery County area very well. And this was not an area near a major interstate, on ramp or exit ramp. These were twisting small streets. The killer moved quickly. Within half an hour, sometimes these killings took place from one point to another. The killer had to know how to evade police, had to know how police would respond and he or she could get around them. HEMMER: But what they don't know in that is whether the killer lives in this area or just works in the area.
KOCH: Precisely. Precisely. Or has a property in this area so he or she knows this area, or maybe they grew up in this area.
But then the killings since then, again, have all taken place very near these on ramps and off ramps. One officer yesterday told me if it weren't for the cluster that began here in Montgomery County on Wednesday and Thursday, that they would be calling this killer "the interstate killer."
Another thing that they're looking at, Bill, that is very interesting: Not only have these killings, this last cluster taken place near the interstate, on ramps and off ramps, but also, when you have those on and off ramps, you not only have gas stations, you have hotels there very nearby. All of the last cluster of killings -- so they're looking at the hotels to see perhaps if this killer is slipping away because he or she has a room in a hotel right next door to this gas station, right behind this Michaels craft store. It's a possibility.
HEMMER: And as they look at the guest list, they say it may take a week to get through all the leads there.
KOCH: So many names.
HEMMER: Kathleen, thanks. We'll talk next hour, OK? Kathleen Koch working the scene from day one here in Rockville, Maryland.
I want to get our viewers down now to Spotsylvania County. That's the location yesterday where the eighth victim shot and killed by the sniper. Carried out his deed at 9:30 a.m. local time. And Charles Molineaux right near that Exxon station this afternoon for us. Charles, what are you picking up on down there?
CHARLES MOLINEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, Bill, of course we are looking at the Exxon station and beyond it. Easy access to Interstate 95. Yet another access to an escape route, yet another access to a major highway that this killer is apparently using. Earlier, you wondered how was it that somebody so bold, so brazen has managed to avoid capture.
Well, I talked to the supervisor of the FBI's office in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and he said in a situation like this, the advantage goes to the sniper regardless of the incredible force that police brought to bear yesterday investigating the situation in this area, and regardless of the fact that there was a Virginia state trooper across the street when the shooting happened, killing a Philadelphia man as we have been reporting.
Kenneth Bridges was 53. He had six kids, and he helped start an organization to help black businesses. He was on a business trip and he was getting gas for the drive home when he was shot here at the Exxon station. Police responded very fast. Roadblocks in the area were set up in a matter of minutes. FBI geographic profilers arrived at the scene immediately.
A big part of that quick response is the fact that investigators have been looking at Spotsylvania County since the sniper struck here a week ago. After that shooting, the sniper task force was up to speed here. They were looking for him already. Well, yesterday's huge effort did not bring any snipers. Some witnesses, but no sniper.
Now, investigators have been, shall we say, parsing questions about whether the shootings are a case of terrorism. Officially, they are not saying. Practically speaking, they say, what else could you call it?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERIFF RONALD KNIGHT, SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, VIRGINIA: I'm certainly not going to stand here and say it's al Qaeda or anything like that. But any time somebody is doing something, the terror is here, and that is terrorism. So whether it's local terrorists or global terrorists, I don't want to say.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOLINEAUX: And investigators say the fact that this state trooper was on the scene at the time is very telling. They say there is really no way that the sniper could have failed to see this trooper across the street working on this accident scene. And nonetheless, went ahead with the shooting anyway, showing that this is a very bold and dangerous person -- Bill.
HEMMER: Charles, thank you. Charles Molineaux in Spotsylvania County. Thank you, Charles. We'll be in touch throughout the day.
In the meantime, back here in Rockville. We have talked at great length over the past week and a half about the ballistics testing that is carried out, that has connected essentially every case of this serial sniper. And what they all zero in on is one shot, one bullet, that .223 caliber bullet that can do extensive damage to the human body.
Elaine Shannon is with "Time" magazine. She covers law enforcement for the magazine. She is our guest here this afternoon. Good afternoon to you.
ELAINE SHANNON, "TIME" MAGAZINE: Hi.
HEMMER: Let's talk more about the ballistics right now. Do you have a better indication right now why it takes sometimes half a dozen hours to release the results of testing, and sometimes it takes a day or even more?
SHANNON: Well, it's -- first of all, they have to get the bullet where if it's in a body, that takes some time, and particularly if the person is only wounded. Life comes first. And then it goes to the ATF lab, which I think is the best ballistics lab in the country. There are seven examiners there. There's one guy who will look at it first and who will take a long time looking at that and an earlier bullet that he knows from the shooter under a dual microscope and see if the lines match up.
And then his results need to be confirmed by a second person. They have to take very careful notes, measurements, weights, and then write a formal report, and then it comes out. So he may see something and it will look pretty good, or pretty bad, but it will take a few minutes.
HEMMER: But the point is, every time a bullet is fired from this weapon or any weapon for that matter, it leaves a fingerprint on the shell casing and the bullet itself?
SHANNON: Yes.
HEMMER: Have they been able to find in any of the shootings, with the exception of the elementary school on Monday morning, a shell casing in any other place?
SHANNON: As far as I know -- I know about that one. There have been reports of a second one. I haven't confirmed that. The shell casing gives you different information. That will give you the brand of the ammunition, and it may tell you something about the workings of the rifle that will give you -- let you narrow down to the family of rifles.
HEMMER: Which gives you a better indication and more specific idea about what's used?
What about the rifle? What about the weapon? There have been reports even yesterday that there were two weapons that they were focused in on right now, but the ATF out here said yesterday they still have a long list right now, and they have not necessarily boiled it down to two. Have you heard otherwise?
SHANNON: No. Well, yes and no. The .223 round is the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) round. Hunters call it the varmint round. It's like saying size eight shoes. But there are -- when you look at all of the material, you can kind of narrow it to some smaller list of families of weapons that it might be. I know that they are looking at AR-15s, which is a Colt product, and there are a lot of them out there. And I think they are looking also at the Stern Ruger (ph) mini 14, which is a high-powered rifle. Neither of these, by the way, are official sniper rifles. If you were a military sniper, you wouldn't be using either one of these.
HEMMER: Interesting. Well, we may hear more, hope to hear more in two hours anyway. Elaine, thanks. Elaine Shannon with "TIME" magazine here in Rockville.
As I mentioned, Fredricka, 5:00 Eastern time, about an hour and 45 minutes from now, we'll hear from the chief again. Charles Moose will come out and brief reporters. It may be at that point that we get the release of that graphic aid, whatever that aid may be, a bit later today. More in a moment, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. In any event, that graphic aid perhaps investigators are hoping will help the public better help investigators, because they certainly are looking for the help of all eyes and ears out there. All right. Thanks.
HEMMER: Indeed, you're right, Fredricka. See you in a bit.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks a lot, Bill.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
