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American Morning
In West Virginia, Hunt for a Sniper
Aired August 18, 2003 - 08:18 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The story right now, in West Virginia, the hunt for a sniper police believe may have killed three people in only a week's time. Authorities say the shootings in the Charleston area bear a striking resemblance to the D.C. sniper attacks last fall.
Sheriff Dave Tucker of Kanawha County in West Virginia is live with us now in Charleston with the latest on the investigation.
Sheriff, thanks for your time today.
There's a report that came out yesterday about a black pickup truck that may have been seen, spotted leaving the scene of one of the shootings.
What more can you add on that?
SHERIFF DAVE TUCKER, KANAWHA COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA: Nothing more than that we're still looking at that possibility. But we're not limiting ourselves to that theory.
HEMMER: Yes, the eyewitness who reported this, how credible, how reliable based on the interviews you've done?
TUCKER: That's what the interviews, that's what the information that we're working at now.
HEMMER: OK, so nothing more to add on that black pickup truck, then?
TUCKER: No, not at this time.
HEMMER: OK. Do you believe all three shootings are connected now?
TUCKER: Well, they're connected by the site that the head, they were shot at a convenience store. They were shot in one single head shot, the fact that they were shot at a distance. And I think the most important thing that the bullets that we have recovered, they are, they have the similar characteristics.
HEMMER: So based on the ballistics testing that you've conducted, do you believe at this point all three bullets came from the same weapon?
TUCKER: Well, we can't say that right now. The only thing that we're saying is that they are all similar. The tests are still going on at the state police lab as we talk. HEMMER: What are the people in your community asking you?
TUCKER: They're asking us all types of questions and the most thing that seems to be they are concerned, but we have, I was up yesterday and talked to them and we assured them that we're doing everything we can.
HEMMER: A lot of comparisons are being drawn, I'm not sure if it's fair to do it at this point or not, but when you talk about the D.C. area sniping that almost took place a year ago, last September and October of 2002. Do you see similarities? Is it a fair comparison at this point, Sheriff?
TUCKER: Well, we have contacted and we have -- our investigators have talked to and gave, have received a lot of good information from the investigators that worked on that case. And the valuable information that they have given to our investigators I cannot comment on the specifics at this time.
HEMMER: Is it helping you, though?
TUCKER: Oh, absolutely, yes.
HEMMER: Can you give us an idea how, without getting too specific?
TUCKER: No, I can't. No, I can't.
HEMMER: There's also a question of geography. The three killings, the three shootings took place. How big is the area between the three?
TUCKER: The first one happened, of course, in the City of Charleston at the Go Mart. The other two happened in the east end. One was in the Camel's Creek area and the other was in the Cedar Grove area. The closest to the happenings was the Cedar Grove and the Camel's Creek. There are probably a nine to 10 mile separation there.
HEMMER: Listen, good luck, Sheriff, and thanks for your time.
Dave Tucker, Kanawha County in Charleston, West Virginia.
Appreciate you speaking with us today, sir.
Thanks.
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 August 18, 2003 - 08:18 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The story right now, in West Virginia, the hunt for a sniper police believe may have killed three people in only a week's time. Authorities say the shootings in the Charleston area bear a striking resemblance to the D.C. sniper attacks last fall.
Sheriff Dave Tucker of Kanawha County in West Virginia is live with us now in Charleston with the latest on the investigation.
Sheriff, thanks for your time today.
There's a report that came out yesterday about a black pickup truck that may have been seen, spotted leaving the scene of one of the shootings.
What more can you add on that?
SHERIFF DAVE TUCKER, KANAWHA COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA: Nothing more than that we're still looking at that possibility. But we're not limiting ourselves to that theory.
HEMMER: Yes, the eyewitness who reported this, how credible, how reliable based on the interviews you've done?
TUCKER: That's what the interviews, that's what the information that we're working at now.
HEMMER: OK, so nothing more to add on that black pickup truck, then?
TUCKER: No, not at this time.
HEMMER: OK. Do you believe all three shootings are connected now?
TUCKER: Well, they're connected by the site that the head, they were shot at a convenience store. They were shot in one single head shot, the fact that they were shot at a distance. And I think the most important thing that the bullets that we have recovered, they are, they have the similar characteristics.
HEMMER: So based on the ballistics testing that you've conducted, do you believe at this point all three bullets came from the same weapon?
TUCKER: Well, we can't say that right now. The only thing that we're saying is that they are all similar. The tests are still going on at the state police lab as we talk. HEMMER: What are the people in your community asking you?
TUCKER: They're asking us all types of questions and the most thing that seems to be they are concerned, but we have, I was up yesterday and talked to them and we assured them that we're doing everything we can.
HEMMER: A lot of comparisons are being drawn, I'm not sure if it's fair to do it at this point or not, but when you talk about the D.C. area sniping that almost took place a year ago, last September and October of 2002. Do you see similarities? Is it a fair comparison at this point, Sheriff?
TUCKER: Well, we have contacted and we have -- our investigators have talked to and gave, have received a lot of good information from the investigators that worked on that case. And the valuable information that they have given to our investigators I cannot comment on the specifics at this time.
HEMMER: Is it helping you, though?
TUCKER: Oh, absolutely, yes.
HEMMER: Can you give us an idea how, without getting too specific?
TUCKER: No, I can't. No, I can't.
HEMMER: There's also a question of geography. The three killings, the three shootings took place. How big is the area between the three?
TUCKER: The first one happened, of course, in the City of Charleston at the Go Mart. The other two happened in the east end. One was in the Camel's Creek area and the other was in the Cedar Grove area. The closest to the happenings was the Cedar Grove and the Camel's Creek. There are probably a nine to 10 mile separation there.
HEMMER: Listen, good luck, Sheriff, and thanks for your time.
Dave Tucker, Kanawha County in Charleston, West Virginia.
Appreciate you speaking with us today, sir.
Thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
