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CNN Sunday Morning
Police Continue Looking for D.C. Area Serial Sniper
Aired October 13, 2002 - 11:02 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: A second night passes without another deadly sniper attack in the Washington, D.C. area. Authorities are telling residents to keep the faith after releasing investigators' first wanted poster in the case. CNN's Bill Hemmer is live in Montgomery County, Maryland with more on the investigation. Good morning, Bill.
BILL HEMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, good morning to you.
As you mentioned, well over two days, well over 48 hours since the last shooting tied to the serial sniper. You'd have to go back to Friday morning, at 9:30 a.m. local time, for the last fatality, a 53- year-old man gunned down at an Exxon gas station down in Spotsylvania County.
All of this has contributed, Fredricka, to a working theory, and a wide range of speculation as to the motive and the pattern for this killer. Last weekend, there were no shootings tied to the serial sniper. And at this point during this weekend, we have a similar pattern. Does that mean anything? It's quite unclear right now.
But the pattern was broken last week on Monday morning when that eighth-grade boy was shot after being dropped off at a local school in Bowie, Maryland. The police chief was asked about that weekend theory, his thoughts as to whether or not there was any credence to that now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF CHARLES MOOSE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE: We won't make any assumptions about any kind of pattern. And I never approach Monday morning with a sense of dread. It is a blessing each day that I wake up. And so we will continue to function that way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Chief Moose, again, addressing reporters here within the past hour. We'll not get another briefing scheduled, Fredricka, here until at least tomorrow, noon local time here in Rockville, Maryland.
One other note quickly: We thought we might get a release of a vehicle, a Chevrolet Astro van spotted by some number of witnesses on Friday morning leaving that scene. That may or may not happen today. They say they're working toward it, but right now they are just not ready yet anyway, Fredricka. WHITFIELD: All right, Bill. Instead, though, we have seen a composite drawing of graphic drawing of another type of vehicle, also described as a white box-like vehicle, very different from what I think most people thought or expected to see in this drawing. Tell us a little bit more about this.
HEMMER: Very true. And just so our viewers can keep this straight, these are two separate vehicles. The Astro van only is involved in Spotsylvania County at this point. This particular vehicle here only applies to Montgomery County, which is where the killing spree essentially began about 11 days ago.
About this type of vehicle, Fredricka, a couple of things. No tag number given by witnesses, no license plate number given. There's wording or writing on the side of this truck, but what it is and what it says is not clear. That was not announced either. If you go to the rear of the truck, though, they talk about a rolled up door, and they also talk about an indented or damaged bumper in the right rear, just below that door you can see on the right-hand side there.
They say they gave the information last night and they've taken a number of phone calls pertaining to this vehicle, Fredricka. But apparently there's some confusion too as to how much damage was done, and what it looks like.
We do anticipate a larger photo to be released, maybe today, maybe it will wait until tomorrow, but what the authorities want to do is make sure they can get the best clarification on this issue out there so they can get some of these questions answered.
WHITFIELD: Bill, are you getting an impression from residents in that area that the release of this photograph or this vehicle in any way kind of allays their fears?
HEMMER: Tough to say. You know, it went out last evening. And I think what I'm hearing from people is that they want as much information as they can get. But as you know, Fredricka, there are very few facts that have come out of this case since the very beginning. I think that develops a sense of frustration, because the public wants to know. They want more information.
And the chief will tell you he wants to put it out as best he can. The other thing he stresses, that just because the facts don't come out of these briefings does not necessarily mean that the investigation has hit a stone wall. He says they continue to make progress, and again, they encourage people, if they have a tip, if they have a lead, if they have any information, pick up the phone and call that 800 number, 888-324-9800.
WHITFIELD: All right, Bill, thanks very much. We'll be checking with you throughout the day.
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 13, 2002 - 11:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A second night passes without another deadly sniper attack in the Washington, D.C. area. Authorities are telling residents to keep the faith after releasing investigators' first wanted poster in the case. CNN's Bill Hemmer is live in Montgomery County, Maryland with more on the investigation. Good morning, Bill.
BILL HEMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, good morning to you.
As you mentioned, well over two days, well over 48 hours since the last shooting tied to the serial sniper. You'd have to go back to Friday morning, at 9:30 a.m. local time, for the last fatality, a 53- year-old man gunned down at an Exxon gas station down in Spotsylvania County.
All of this has contributed, Fredricka, to a working theory, and a wide range of speculation as to the motive and the pattern for this killer. Last weekend, there were no shootings tied to the serial sniper. And at this point during this weekend, we have a similar pattern. Does that mean anything? It's quite unclear right now.
But the pattern was broken last week on Monday morning when that eighth-grade boy was shot after being dropped off at a local school in Bowie, Maryland. The police chief was asked about that weekend theory, his thoughts as to whether or not there was any credence to that now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF CHARLES MOOSE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE: We won't make any assumptions about any kind of pattern. And I never approach Monday morning with a sense of dread. It is a blessing each day that I wake up. And so we will continue to function that way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Chief Moose, again, addressing reporters here within the past hour. We'll not get another briefing scheduled, Fredricka, here until at least tomorrow, noon local time here in Rockville, Maryland.
One other note quickly: We thought we might get a release of a vehicle, a Chevrolet Astro van spotted by some number of witnesses on Friday morning leaving that scene. That may or may not happen today. They say they're working toward it, but right now they are just not ready yet anyway, Fredricka. WHITFIELD: All right, Bill. Instead, though, we have seen a composite drawing of graphic drawing of another type of vehicle, also described as a white box-like vehicle, very different from what I think most people thought or expected to see in this drawing. Tell us a little bit more about this.
HEMMER: Very true. And just so our viewers can keep this straight, these are two separate vehicles. The Astro van only is involved in Spotsylvania County at this point. This particular vehicle here only applies to Montgomery County, which is where the killing spree essentially began about 11 days ago.
About this type of vehicle, Fredricka, a couple of things. No tag number given by witnesses, no license plate number given. There's wording or writing on the side of this truck, but what it is and what it says is not clear. That was not announced either. If you go to the rear of the truck, though, they talk about a rolled up door, and they also talk about an indented or damaged bumper in the right rear, just below that door you can see on the right-hand side there.
They say they gave the information last night and they've taken a number of phone calls pertaining to this vehicle, Fredricka. But apparently there's some confusion too as to how much damage was done, and what it looks like.
We do anticipate a larger photo to be released, maybe today, maybe it will wait until tomorrow, but what the authorities want to do is make sure they can get the best clarification on this issue out there so they can get some of these questions answered.
WHITFIELD: Bill, are you getting an impression from residents in that area that the release of this photograph or this vehicle in any way kind of allays their fears?
HEMMER: Tough to say. You know, it went out last evening. And I think what I'm hearing from people is that they want as much information as they can get. But as you know, Fredricka, there are very few facts that have come out of this case since the very beginning. I think that develops a sense of frustration, because the public wants to know. They want more information.
And the chief will tell you he wants to put it out as best he can. The other thing he stresses, that just because the facts don't come out of these briefings does not necessarily mean that the investigation has hit a stone wall. He says they continue to make progress, and again, they encourage people, if they have a tip, if they have a lead, if they have any information, pick up the phone and call that 800 number, 888-324-9800.
WHITFIELD: All right, Bill, thanks very much. We'll be checking with you throughout the day.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
