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No Composite Sketch of Sniper Yet

Aired October 16, 2002 - 14:05   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: We want to bring in Patty Davis here with us here today and at the news briefing as Montgomery County Police briefed us earlier today.
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, unfortunately, no such luck in being able to come up with a composite sketch of this sniper. So far, police, law enforcement sources are telling us that there are three witnesses from two of the shootings who describe what they saw as an olive-skinned man in a white van. But, police say there is so much disparity in the witness accounts of what the person looked like. They do say that it is a man, but they haven't been able to come up with a sketch.

Police are putting out information on how to be a good witness, and they say, make sure you put your own safety first.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAPT. NANCY DEMME, MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE: Remember, though, that personal safety comes first. If you hear the sound of a gunshot, I want to you get down or seek cover. Please remember, that is paramount to your safety. Look in the direction of the sound. Make a mental note of the persons or the vehicles in the area. Commit what you saw to memory. Have a pen available on your person. And if paper is not available, write it on your hand. Remain on the scene in a safe place until police arrive. Do not let witnesses or the media contaminate your memory. Do not compare or discuss what you saw with an another witness.

But remember, first of all, safety is most important thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DAVIS: Now, one witness is saying that he or she saw a man brandishing a weapon on his shoulder at that Home Depot. That was Monday night. That is where Linda Franklin, 47-year-old FBI analyst was gunned down right in the middle of that parking lot in Falls Church, Virginia. She died on the scene.

And, Daryn, a witness is insisting that that was an AK-74. Police say that they're not positive about that, that they still have an open mind and still looking.

KAGAN: Interesting to hear the tips today about how to be a better witness. They don't want to discredit the witnesses. They're not telling you, you didn't see what you think you saw, but they have to say that in the time something that is so dangerous and so scary and your the adrenaline is rushing, perhaps you don't really see what you think you see.

DAVIS: You're not used to being a witness to a crime. It's something that the average person wouldn't come along. So, yes, they were giving the tips. Watch out for the weight of somebody, their build, their skin color, the description of the car, and write it down if possible. Have a pen with you, write it down, don't talk to anybody else except police, and keep that in your memory until you can actually give that to police.

KAGAN: It was also interesting today to learn, and this might be an indication of how the situation on Monday night was even scarier. This shooting took place 30 yards away from the victim, which would be considerable closer than the other shootings.

DAVIS: Yes, absolutely scary, that it could be 30 yards, 90 feet away, that that the gunman, as one witness said, brandishing it in clear view, and then hopping into a vehicle and just taking off. So very scary indeed.

O'BRIEN: Very busy part of northern Virginia. Patty Davis, thank you very 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 16, 2002 - 14:05   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We want to bring in Patty Davis here with us here today and at the news briefing as Montgomery County Police briefed us earlier today.
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, unfortunately, no such luck in being able to come up with a composite sketch of this sniper. So far, police, law enforcement sources are telling us that there are three witnesses from two of the shootings who describe what they saw as an olive-skinned man in a white van. But, police say there is so much disparity in the witness accounts of what the person looked like. They do say that it is a man, but they haven't been able to come up with a sketch.

Police are putting out information on how to be a good witness, and they say, make sure you put your own safety first.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAPT. NANCY DEMME, MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE: Remember, though, that personal safety comes first. If you hear the sound of a gunshot, I want to you get down or seek cover. Please remember, that is paramount to your safety. Look in the direction of the sound. Make a mental note of the persons or the vehicles in the area. Commit what you saw to memory. Have a pen available on your person. And if paper is not available, write it on your hand. Remain on the scene in a safe place until police arrive. Do not let witnesses or the media contaminate your memory. Do not compare or discuss what you saw with an another witness.

But remember, first of all, safety is most important thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DAVIS: Now, one witness is saying that he or she saw a man brandishing a weapon on his shoulder at that Home Depot. That was Monday night. That is where Linda Franklin, 47-year-old FBI analyst was gunned down right in the middle of that parking lot in Falls Church, Virginia. She died on the scene.

And, Daryn, a witness is insisting that that was an AK-74. Police say that they're not positive about that, that they still have an open mind and still looking.

KAGAN: Interesting to hear the tips today about how to be a better witness. They don't want to discredit the witnesses. They're not telling you, you didn't see what you think you saw, but they have to say that in the time something that is so dangerous and so scary and your the adrenaline is rushing, perhaps you don't really see what you think you see.

DAVIS: You're not used to being a witness to a crime. It's something that the average person wouldn't come along. So, yes, they were giving the tips. Watch out for the weight of somebody, their build, their skin color, the description of the car, and write it down if possible. Have a pen with you, write it down, don't talk to anybody else except police, and keep that in your memory until you can actually give that to police.

KAGAN: It was also interesting today to learn, and this might be an indication of how the situation on Monday night was even scarier. This shooting took place 30 yards away from the victim, which would be considerable closer than the other shootings.

DAVIS: Yes, absolutely scary, that it could be 30 yards, 90 feet away, that that the gunman, as one witness said, brandishing it in clear view, and then hopping into a vehicle and just taking off. So very scary indeed.

O'BRIEN: Very busy part of northern Virginia. Patty Davis, thank you very 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