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CNN Looks at Sniper Escape Route

Aired October 16, 2002 - 14:31   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: One thing we have learned about this latest shooting that took place on Monday night is that the shooter was within 30 yards of the victim, Linda Franklin, something that would be a lot closer than previous shootings.
Our Bob Franken is at the site of Monday night's shooting in Falls Church, Virginia. Bob's taking a look at the potential vantage points that the shooter might have had in this latest attack.

Bob -- hello.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, as a matter of fact, the scenario that the man just described a second ago is somewhat similar to what authorities are speculating may have happened here. Remember, 30 yards. Over my shoulder, you can see a shopping cart. That's where Linda Franklin was killed. That's where she was loading her car, in that space.

The witnesses suggest that the van with the sniper -- sniper or snipers -- was where I'm walking right now, up to this spot. Just about exactly here, waiting in the same lane, just outside the spaces, with the car heading in that direction. That's west. The reason for that would be the van, the car, whatever it is, is because he would go racing down there after firing the shot, quickly get in the van, go racing down there to that stop sign, take a quick right, take another quick right, and he would be on the access road. That access road gives him an unimpeded run up to a traffic light about a quarter of a mile away. Then all you'd have to do is go either east or west onto U.S. Route 50, which is what you see there, and he would be able to disappear into the night.

That is what officials are working on as the possible scenario. They are basing that on the witness who says that he saw somebody fire from this spot and hit his victim over there.

There's one other thing. There was a memorial that was starting to grow here. People were bringing flowers and leaving them at that spot. The people at Home Depot decided that they would move it back to the covered porch, because they wanted it to be safe.

And of course, the only comment we might want to make here is that Linda Franklin believed that that parking spot, this garage, was safe on Monday night.

KAGAN: It is the same -- yes. It's the same mistaken impression that a lot of people have had over the last two weeks. And those memorials are a sight that is all too common from Philadelphia all the way through here to Washington, D.C., and the surrounding suburbs.

Bob Franken, 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 16, 2002 - 14:31   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: One thing we have learned about this latest shooting that took place on Monday night is that the shooter was within 30 yards of the victim, Linda Franklin, something that would be a lot closer than previous shootings.
Our Bob Franken is at the site of Monday night's shooting in Falls Church, Virginia. Bob's taking a look at the potential vantage points that the shooter might have had in this latest attack.

Bob -- hello.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, as a matter of fact, the scenario that the man just described a second ago is somewhat similar to what authorities are speculating may have happened here. Remember, 30 yards. Over my shoulder, you can see a shopping cart. That's where Linda Franklin was killed. That's where she was loading her car, in that space.

The witnesses suggest that the van with the sniper -- sniper or snipers -- was where I'm walking right now, up to this spot. Just about exactly here, waiting in the same lane, just outside the spaces, with the car heading in that direction. That's west. The reason for that would be the van, the car, whatever it is, is because he would go racing down there after firing the shot, quickly get in the van, go racing down there to that stop sign, take a quick right, take another quick right, and he would be on the access road. That access road gives him an unimpeded run up to a traffic light about a quarter of a mile away. Then all you'd have to do is go either east or west onto U.S. Route 50, which is what you see there, and he would be able to disappear into the night.

That is what officials are working on as the possible scenario. They are basing that on the witness who says that he saw somebody fire from this spot and hit his victim over there.

There's one other thing. There was a memorial that was starting to grow here. People were bringing flowers and leaving them at that spot. The people at Home Depot decided that they would move it back to the covered porch, because they wanted it to be safe.

And of course, the only comment we might want to make here is that Linda Franklin believed that that parking spot, this garage, was safe on Monday night.

KAGAN: It is the same -- yes. It's the same mistaken impression that a lot of people have had over the last two weeks. And those memorials are a sight that is all too common from Philadelphia all the way through here to Washington, D.C., and the surrounding suburbs.

Bob Franken, 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