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CNN Saturday Morning News

Reporters Notebook

Aired October 19, 2002 - 09:31   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.


KATHLEEN KENNEDY, CNN ANCHOR: And in our reporter's notebook segment today, we're going to talk about the Washington-area sniper. There's lots of speculation out there, lots of theories about who is doing this.
We're joined by CNN security analyst Kelly McCann, who's in Washington, CNN criminologist Casey Jordan in New York, and our Ed Lavandera standing by in Montgomery County, Maryland.

We have a lot of viewer questions, so let's get to them.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, thank you very much for your participation in advance. We appreciate viewers being a part of this, and we hope we have some good callers as well.

Let's get to the e-mails right away. From D.W. Bo Shaffer in Fort Wayne Indiana has this. "Do you know if the shell casing that was found in the cab of that -- was found in the cab of the truck or in the bed of the truck? This could be very important as to how many persons are involved."

Ed Lavandera, do we know anything about the location of the shell casing in that rental box truck?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think the latest information we have is that perhaps it was in the back of the truck. And that is information that is still waiting to be totally confirmed as to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the tests that are being done on it and the ballistics tests that are being done on it as well. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) we're expecting to hear hopefully some point today.

O'BRIEN: All right. Anthony P. has this, sort of on a related note. "Do police know where the sniper has shot from in any or all of the shootings? It would be interesting for CNN to show the view from these locations. In a sense, these are the true scenes of the crime. But all we do is show where the victim was hit."

Do we know the answer to that question, Ed, or Casey, maybe you want to take that one?

CASEY JORDAN, CNN CRIMINOLOGIST: I don't think we know the answer to that question yet, and I think the police are being extremely cautious not to speculate.

We have to remember that they have sent this casing to the ATF for testing, but it has not been conclusively linked to the sniper yet. So it's a little soon to speculate.

O'BRIEN: All right. And this is sort of a related question. This comes from Shawn in Memphis. And Casey, why don't you weigh in on this one as well. "Why haven't the police released the sniper composite sketch they said they were working on? I think it's kind of stupid to tell the public that they're working on a sketch and not release it. It could help catch this maniac."

JORDAN: Oh, at this point I think they're being extremely wise not to release a composite sketch. I mean, they took the initial information on the white van and the description, and as that was proved two days later to be completely fabricated, they have a lot of egg on their face.

The problem with creating a composite is that it is going to be based on reports from a number of different eyewitnesses. These reports could vary tremendously in their quality, and even the quantity of people matters.

If there's contradictory reports of who the shooter is or what he or they might look like, it's better to sit on that information, get tunnel visioned, and go in an entirely wrong direction.

KENNEDY: All right. We've got a caller on the phone from Arizona. Eleanor, what's your question?

CALLER: I had a question as to, has anyone ever tried to connect this to the anthrax scare?

KENNEDY: Ed, what do you know about that?

LAVANDERA: I haven't heard anything like that at, or anything like that at this point. And in terms of any kind of terrorism, you know, a lot of question when the initial reports came out that perhaps it was an olive- or a dark-skinned male that might have been driving that truck. Of course, that led to all sorts of questions about whether or not this might have been terrorist related.

But authorities are quick to point out that at this point there's no kind of evidence that there's any kind of terroristic motive behind that. And perhaps probably might apply that same argument to any kind of connection to the anthrax issue.

O'BRIEN: All right. We've got a couple of questions along this line, and we've gotten all kinds of theories, and at first I sort of thought, Well, that's kind of off the wall. But, you know, who knows? Let's go with if. Kelly, listen up.

"Nine dead, two injured equals 11, 9/11, 11 dead was probably the goal. He may have completed his task, or he doesn't know what to do with the info he received regarding the eye in the sky. I hope my thoughts are correct." That from Bill.

And then related to this one, Jennifer Fletcher of Brooklyn has this. "Could it be an al Qaeda signature, the sniper killing 9 out of 11, or 9/11 of his victims?" Kelly, is that too far fetched? KELLY MCCANN, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: It goes also to Miles, you know, there's been some information out there that if you manipulate "Michaels" in Latin it means "I am God," or there's some transmutation. All interesting thoughts, but, I mean, I don't think there's anything to substantiate that link.

The other thing is, is, from a mechanical standpoint, here's a guy that's been able to target and engage people and hit roughly center mass and be lethal. What was it in those other two cases that made him unable to do that? Was it he got disrupted, distracted? Did he get nervous? Did he think somebody was getting too close?

So there's a couple of mechanical things, a couple of philosophical things.

But I would like to make one point on the anthrax-sniper connection. The only real connection there that you could connect is that both of these kinds of attacks are totally aloof and remain untouchable from the victim. If you think about it, a sniper in military terms, you know, is very, very scary, because you can't discern where he is. You have no contact with him. He has contact with you.

The same thing could be said for the anthrax, anthrax threat. But that's a stretch. You know what I'm saying?

KENNEDY: All right. Sandra from Kentucky, you take the stage now. What's your question?

CALLER: Yes, I said that the sniper hadn't been caught on any kind of camera. I was wondering if they do who returned the box van that the shell was found in.

O'BRIEN: Unfortunately, we couldn't hear the question because somebody was talking to us. So I'm going to blindly give it to Casey, because she looks like she's nodding more than anybody.

JORDAN: Well, I did hear the question. And you're very astute, because we're getting this report that they have a box van, they found a shell casing in it, and they've confiscated it, and they're doing forensic evidence.

We would be ridiculously silly to think that they have not already researched who rented that truck and gone and talked to that person. Whether that person is currently being questioned, was questioned and released, is currently in custody, we don't know. But they're obviously not releasing this update to the media without having already traced who rented that box van, because, of course, the renter of that truck would be watching television and would certainly, if they were guilty, be on the lam by now.

O'BRIEN: All right. I think we need to take a little break, little intermission, if you will, in our Reporter's Notebook.

KENNEDY: Yes, we will. O'BRIEN: Lots more questions lie ahead. Keep those calls coming. The e-mails are looking good. We appreciate your participation. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: All right. Reporter's Notebook rolls on. And, you know, as always, I cannot tell you how much we appreciate you participating in this. Thank you for sending your e-mails. We can't get them all on, and I know you know that, but we appreciate you taking the effort to do this, to call us, and be a part of it.

On the receiving end today, Kelly McCann, screen left, Ed Lavandera in the center, and Casey -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Casey's last name.

JORDAN: Jordan.

KENNEDY: Jordan, Casey Jordan.

O'BRIEN: I'm sorry.

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: I'm so sorry, Casey, I was thinking of...

JORDAN: That's OK.

KENNEDY: We're going to go...

(CROSSTALK)

KENNEDY: ... straight to a caller from Michigan. Grant has a question about the age of the sniper. Grant?

CALLER: Yes, I was wondering if they're looking into maybe a teenager went hunting with his dad, he could shoot somebody, lay the gun down, hide it, walk down the crime scene or just ride away on his bicycle. Is that something to look at?

KENNEDY: Casey, you want to answer that one?

JORDAN: Well, I think everybody's been reading in the newspapers the three big theories on who the shooter or shooters are. There's the two teenage theory. There's the lone gunman theory. And there's the terrorist.

Setting aside the terrorism theory, I personally believe that's that's my outside choice. I'm a little bit probably 40 percent for the two teenagers and far more likely, maybe 60 percent, for the loan gunman theory. If that were the case, I would guess this person is in his mid- to late 20s. And if he's acting alone, probably lives by himself, maybe has a family. But, of course, very introverted.

It's entirely possible he's up to his mid-30s.

KENNEDY: Casey, is this, is this a person with just average- level intelligence?

JORDAN: Yes, except he thinks he's extremely smart, that's what I have found in my interviews with so many of these killers. They think that they're extraordinarily bright. Nobody else gets it. But they -- and they're not idiotic, but they feel very underappreciated.

O'BRIEN: All right.

JORDAN: They tend to be big underachievers.

O'BRIEN: Lorraine in Pennsylvania has one for Mr. McCann. "Can the weapon in question" -- of course, we don't know for certain exactly what kind of weapon it is, but go with this, if you will, Kelly, "Can the weapon in question be easily dismantled after firing? And once it is dismantled, is it possible to hide it, say, in a backpack?" Great question, Lorraine.

MCCANN: Absolutely. In a short barrel configuration, the M-4 Commando, if you will, from -- made by Colt and other manufacturers, there's really two pins that you have to pop out. The whole thing comes apart into two subassemblies. And if it's got a short enough barrel, that could go into a rather long backpack. But yes, it can be disassembled that fast.

O'BRIEN: All right. Well, of course, we don't know for sure that that's the type of weapon, or do we?

MCCANN: I think that there's been enough more or less reliable eyewitness accounts to suggest what's colloquially called Black Stick, which is an M-16, AR-15, CAR-15, M-4, a family of weapons. And, of course, the .223, also the 5.56 millimeter, that is the service cartridge.

So when they said initially AK-74, that really -- I don't think too many people really relied on that as credible info.

O'BRIEN: All right. Here's another one for you, Kelly. "Assuming al Qaeda was involved in the D.C. sniper attacks, why would al Qaeda needlessly expose its operatives by targeting high-profile targets such as senators on golf courses? Consider the damage already done to the D.C. area's economy just by hitting easy, low-profile targets." That's from Al in Hawaii, and we appreciate anybody from Hawaii getting up and joining us on this program.

Go ahead, Kelly.

MCCANN: Al, you've been thinking about this quite a bit, because that's a really good question. Number one, why wouldn't they claim, claim it? And then say, See, you still can't touch us, look what we can do to you? Secondly, you know, why would they do it? Well, there is a theory about distraction, distraction and tying up security forces, police agencies, et cetera, which, to the exclusion of a lot of other things, are focusing on this now.

And that would go to, to in order to effect something else that might not normally pass the levels of scrutiny out there. But right now, everyone's paying attention to the sniper.

So that was a very good question.

KENNEDY: All right, we've got Troy on the line from Missouri. Troy, what's your question?

CALLER: In conjunction with the shootings, was this van found at the rental agency? And if it's really feasible that it's -- that it's possibly yet? Thank you.

KENNEDY: I'm sorry, I didn't catch that.

O'BRIEN: Boy, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), it was gone. But I think the question probably is well...

KENNEDY: The distance of the van.

O'BRIEN: ... put toward Ed, I think.

LAVANDERA: I had a hard time making it out...

O'BRIEN: Connecting the van...

LAVANDERA: ... (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

O'BRIEN: ... to the scene is what he's talking about. We have so precious little information about this van. Ed, why don't you do -- maybe the better question is, if you could just lay out for us what we know about the van to remind folks, because this kind of broke late last night.

KENNEDY: In proximity to the shooting site.

LAVANDERA: Well, there was an employee of a rental car agency at Dulles Airport here in the Washington, D.C., area that had found as in the process of cleaning out a white box truck had found a shell casing in that truck, and as soon as that happened, they called authorities. Authorities, we understand, have come out, have impounded the car. We're doing, are doing ballistic tests, which we expect to get information back on at some point today, perhaps.

And they're also doing, inspecting the car for perhaps fibers or any other kind of material they might be able to find in that car as well as, you might imagine, also backtracking on who it was that rented that car.

But much more beyond that we don't know at this point. And (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and still not certain whether or not this truck might be related to the story at all.

O'BRIEN: Interesting. All right, we've got another e-mail, this one for Casey Jordan. This comes from Gordon. "Wouldn't it be easy for a policeman to be the sniper, car, driver not suspicious, in and out of crowds easily. Could he not be right under their nose? And maybe they should be looking a little closer to home."

And I would just add to this, somebody perhaps as well who might be impersonating an officer. Have you thought much about that, Casey?

JORDAN: He is on target, that we have definitely seen in the past serial killers who are major aficionados of police culture and police science. A lot of them are police rejects.

I would discount the theory that this person is actually an employed police officer. But I would not discount the theory that this is a person who is a police or military wannabe who -- we've seen serial killers who've dressed up like police officers, impersonated security guards, and been auxiliary sheriffs.

A lot of them have this affinity for policing because that's part of the power and control. And a lot of them do in fact try to pass themselves off as important people like police officers during the investigation. (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

O'BRIEN: And as you're talking, I think of, you know, Tim McVeigh, who obviously had a military career, who at times an excellent military career, but was ultimately discouraged from joining an elite unit and perhaps was perhaps pushed out of that and harbored anger as a result of that. Is that something they might be looking at as well?

JORDAN: It's entirely possible. Timothy McVeigh went and joined a militia, you know, a group of people who fancied themselves as a segment of the military with their own little dogmatic and extremist philosophy.

So I personally think that this is a lone gunman, not representing any particular faction. We could be wrong, but we often see that they inject themselves into the investigation, are very often hanging around the crime scenes afterwards.

But again, we're basing this on types of killings which are very different than this particular case. Frankly, we have nothing in the history books to really compare this to. So I always have to tell you with the disclaimer that we could be completely wrong on this one.

O'BRIEN: Well, you know, the two-word disclaimer is Richard Jewell. So it can go either way.

JORDAN: Absolutely.

O'BRIEN: All right, let's -- we'll leave it at that for now. Thank you so much, all three of you, for taking the questions. Thank you, viewers, for participating. Kelly McCann, Ed Lavandera, and Casey Jordan.

JORDAN: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: I'll emphasize that point. Thank you, all three.

JORDAN: You won't forget it now.

O'BRIEN: I won't now, that's right. Thank you very much for being with us on our Reporter's Notebook. 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 19, 2002 - 09:31   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KATHLEEN KENNEDY, CNN ANCHOR: And in our reporter's notebook segment today, we're going to talk about the Washington-area sniper. There's lots of speculation out there, lots of theories about who is doing this.
We're joined by CNN security analyst Kelly McCann, who's in Washington, CNN criminologist Casey Jordan in New York, and our Ed Lavandera standing by in Montgomery County, Maryland.

We have a lot of viewer questions, so let's get to them.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, thank you very much for your participation in advance. We appreciate viewers being a part of this, and we hope we have some good callers as well.

Let's get to the e-mails right away. From D.W. Bo Shaffer in Fort Wayne Indiana has this. "Do you know if the shell casing that was found in the cab of that -- was found in the cab of the truck or in the bed of the truck? This could be very important as to how many persons are involved."

Ed Lavandera, do we know anything about the location of the shell casing in that rental box truck?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think the latest information we have is that perhaps it was in the back of the truck. And that is information that is still waiting to be totally confirmed as to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the tests that are being done on it and the ballistics tests that are being done on it as well. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) we're expecting to hear hopefully some point today.

O'BRIEN: All right. Anthony P. has this, sort of on a related note. "Do police know where the sniper has shot from in any or all of the shootings? It would be interesting for CNN to show the view from these locations. In a sense, these are the true scenes of the crime. But all we do is show where the victim was hit."

Do we know the answer to that question, Ed, or Casey, maybe you want to take that one?

CASEY JORDAN, CNN CRIMINOLOGIST: I don't think we know the answer to that question yet, and I think the police are being extremely cautious not to speculate.

We have to remember that they have sent this casing to the ATF for testing, but it has not been conclusively linked to the sniper yet. So it's a little soon to speculate.

O'BRIEN: All right. And this is sort of a related question. This comes from Shawn in Memphis. And Casey, why don't you weigh in on this one as well. "Why haven't the police released the sniper composite sketch they said they were working on? I think it's kind of stupid to tell the public that they're working on a sketch and not release it. It could help catch this maniac."

JORDAN: Oh, at this point I think they're being extremely wise not to release a composite sketch. I mean, they took the initial information on the white van and the description, and as that was proved two days later to be completely fabricated, they have a lot of egg on their face.

The problem with creating a composite is that it is going to be based on reports from a number of different eyewitnesses. These reports could vary tremendously in their quality, and even the quantity of people matters.

If there's contradictory reports of who the shooter is or what he or they might look like, it's better to sit on that information, get tunnel visioned, and go in an entirely wrong direction.

KENNEDY: All right. We've got a caller on the phone from Arizona. Eleanor, what's your question?

CALLER: I had a question as to, has anyone ever tried to connect this to the anthrax scare?

KENNEDY: Ed, what do you know about that?

LAVANDERA: I haven't heard anything like that at, or anything like that at this point. And in terms of any kind of terrorism, you know, a lot of question when the initial reports came out that perhaps it was an olive- or a dark-skinned male that might have been driving that truck. Of course, that led to all sorts of questions about whether or not this might have been terrorist related.

But authorities are quick to point out that at this point there's no kind of evidence that there's any kind of terroristic motive behind that. And perhaps probably might apply that same argument to any kind of connection to the anthrax issue.

O'BRIEN: All right. We've got a couple of questions along this line, and we've gotten all kinds of theories, and at first I sort of thought, Well, that's kind of off the wall. But, you know, who knows? Let's go with if. Kelly, listen up.

"Nine dead, two injured equals 11, 9/11, 11 dead was probably the goal. He may have completed his task, or he doesn't know what to do with the info he received regarding the eye in the sky. I hope my thoughts are correct." That from Bill.

And then related to this one, Jennifer Fletcher of Brooklyn has this. "Could it be an al Qaeda signature, the sniper killing 9 out of 11, or 9/11 of his victims?" Kelly, is that too far fetched? KELLY MCCANN, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: It goes also to Miles, you know, there's been some information out there that if you manipulate "Michaels" in Latin it means "I am God," or there's some transmutation. All interesting thoughts, but, I mean, I don't think there's anything to substantiate that link.

The other thing is, is, from a mechanical standpoint, here's a guy that's been able to target and engage people and hit roughly center mass and be lethal. What was it in those other two cases that made him unable to do that? Was it he got disrupted, distracted? Did he get nervous? Did he think somebody was getting too close?

So there's a couple of mechanical things, a couple of philosophical things.

But I would like to make one point on the anthrax-sniper connection. The only real connection there that you could connect is that both of these kinds of attacks are totally aloof and remain untouchable from the victim. If you think about it, a sniper in military terms, you know, is very, very scary, because you can't discern where he is. You have no contact with him. He has contact with you.

The same thing could be said for the anthrax, anthrax threat. But that's a stretch. You know what I'm saying?

KENNEDY: All right. Sandra from Kentucky, you take the stage now. What's your question?

CALLER: Yes, I said that the sniper hadn't been caught on any kind of camera. I was wondering if they do who returned the box van that the shell was found in.

O'BRIEN: Unfortunately, we couldn't hear the question because somebody was talking to us. So I'm going to blindly give it to Casey, because she looks like she's nodding more than anybody.

JORDAN: Well, I did hear the question. And you're very astute, because we're getting this report that they have a box van, they found a shell casing in it, and they've confiscated it, and they're doing forensic evidence.

We would be ridiculously silly to think that they have not already researched who rented that truck and gone and talked to that person. Whether that person is currently being questioned, was questioned and released, is currently in custody, we don't know. But they're obviously not releasing this update to the media without having already traced who rented that box van, because, of course, the renter of that truck would be watching television and would certainly, if they were guilty, be on the lam by now.

O'BRIEN: All right. I think we need to take a little break, little intermission, if you will, in our Reporter's Notebook.

KENNEDY: Yes, we will. O'BRIEN: Lots more questions lie ahead. Keep those calls coming. The e-mails are looking good. We appreciate your participation. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: All right. Reporter's Notebook rolls on. And, you know, as always, I cannot tell you how much we appreciate you participating in this. Thank you for sending your e-mails. We can't get them all on, and I know you know that, but we appreciate you taking the effort to do this, to call us, and be a part of it.

On the receiving end today, Kelly McCann, screen left, Ed Lavandera in the center, and Casey -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Casey's last name.

JORDAN: Jordan.

KENNEDY: Jordan, Casey Jordan.

O'BRIEN: I'm sorry.

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: I'm so sorry, Casey, I was thinking of...

JORDAN: That's OK.

KENNEDY: We're going to go...

(CROSSTALK)

KENNEDY: ... straight to a caller from Michigan. Grant has a question about the age of the sniper. Grant?

CALLER: Yes, I was wondering if they're looking into maybe a teenager went hunting with his dad, he could shoot somebody, lay the gun down, hide it, walk down the crime scene or just ride away on his bicycle. Is that something to look at?

KENNEDY: Casey, you want to answer that one?

JORDAN: Well, I think everybody's been reading in the newspapers the three big theories on who the shooter or shooters are. There's the two teenage theory. There's the lone gunman theory. And there's the terrorist.

Setting aside the terrorism theory, I personally believe that's that's my outside choice. I'm a little bit probably 40 percent for the two teenagers and far more likely, maybe 60 percent, for the loan gunman theory. If that were the case, I would guess this person is in his mid- to late 20s. And if he's acting alone, probably lives by himself, maybe has a family. But, of course, very introverted.

It's entirely possible he's up to his mid-30s.

KENNEDY: Casey, is this, is this a person with just average- level intelligence?

JORDAN: Yes, except he thinks he's extremely smart, that's what I have found in my interviews with so many of these killers. They think that they're extraordinarily bright. Nobody else gets it. But they -- and they're not idiotic, but they feel very underappreciated.

O'BRIEN: All right.

JORDAN: They tend to be big underachievers.

O'BRIEN: Lorraine in Pennsylvania has one for Mr. McCann. "Can the weapon in question" -- of course, we don't know for certain exactly what kind of weapon it is, but go with this, if you will, Kelly, "Can the weapon in question be easily dismantled after firing? And once it is dismantled, is it possible to hide it, say, in a backpack?" Great question, Lorraine.

MCCANN: Absolutely. In a short barrel configuration, the M-4 Commando, if you will, from -- made by Colt and other manufacturers, there's really two pins that you have to pop out. The whole thing comes apart into two subassemblies. And if it's got a short enough barrel, that could go into a rather long backpack. But yes, it can be disassembled that fast.

O'BRIEN: All right. Well, of course, we don't know for sure that that's the type of weapon, or do we?

MCCANN: I think that there's been enough more or less reliable eyewitness accounts to suggest what's colloquially called Black Stick, which is an M-16, AR-15, CAR-15, M-4, a family of weapons. And, of course, the .223, also the 5.56 millimeter, that is the service cartridge.

So when they said initially AK-74, that really -- I don't think too many people really relied on that as credible info.

O'BRIEN: All right. Here's another one for you, Kelly. "Assuming al Qaeda was involved in the D.C. sniper attacks, why would al Qaeda needlessly expose its operatives by targeting high-profile targets such as senators on golf courses? Consider the damage already done to the D.C. area's economy just by hitting easy, low-profile targets." That's from Al in Hawaii, and we appreciate anybody from Hawaii getting up and joining us on this program.

Go ahead, Kelly.

MCCANN: Al, you've been thinking about this quite a bit, because that's a really good question. Number one, why wouldn't they claim, claim it? And then say, See, you still can't touch us, look what we can do to you? Secondly, you know, why would they do it? Well, there is a theory about distraction, distraction and tying up security forces, police agencies, et cetera, which, to the exclusion of a lot of other things, are focusing on this now.

And that would go to, to in order to effect something else that might not normally pass the levels of scrutiny out there. But right now, everyone's paying attention to the sniper.

So that was a very good question.

KENNEDY: All right, we've got Troy on the line from Missouri. Troy, what's your question?

CALLER: In conjunction with the shootings, was this van found at the rental agency? And if it's really feasible that it's -- that it's possibly yet? Thank you.

KENNEDY: I'm sorry, I didn't catch that.

O'BRIEN: Boy, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), it was gone. But I think the question probably is well...

KENNEDY: The distance of the van.

O'BRIEN: ... put toward Ed, I think.

LAVANDERA: I had a hard time making it out...

O'BRIEN: Connecting the van...

LAVANDERA: ... (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

O'BRIEN: ... to the scene is what he's talking about. We have so precious little information about this van. Ed, why don't you do -- maybe the better question is, if you could just lay out for us what we know about the van to remind folks, because this kind of broke late last night.

KENNEDY: In proximity to the shooting site.

LAVANDERA: Well, there was an employee of a rental car agency at Dulles Airport here in the Washington, D.C., area that had found as in the process of cleaning out a white box truck had found a shell casing in that truck, and as soon as that happened, they called authorities. Authorities, we understand, have come out, have impounded the car. We're doing, are doing ballistic tests, which we expect to get information back on at some point today, perhaps.

And they're also doing, inspecting the car for perhaps fibers or any other kind of material they might be able to find in that car as well as, you might imagine, also backtracking on who it was that rented that car.

But much more beyond that we don't know at this point. And (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and still not certain whether or not this truck might be related to the story at all.

O'BRIEN: Interesting. All right, we've got another e-mail, this one for Casey Jordan. This comes from Gordon. "Wouldn't it be easy for a policeman to be the sniper, car, driver not suspicious, in and out of crowds easily. Could he not be right under their nose? And maybe they should be looking a little closer to home."

And I would just add to this, somebody perhaps as well who might be impersonating an officer. Have you thought much about that, Casey?

JORDAN: He is on target, that we have definitely seen in the past serial killers who are major aficionados of police culture and police science. A lot of them are police rejects.

I would discount the theory that this person is actually an employed police officer. But I would not discount the theory that this is a person who is a police or military wannabe who -- we've seen serial killers who've dressed up like police officers, impersonated security guards, and been auxiliary sheriffs.

A lot of them have this affinity for policing because that's part of the power and control. And a lot of them do in fact try to pass themselves off as important people like police officers during the investigation. (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

O'BRIEN: And as you're talking, I think of, you know, Tim McVeigh, who obviously had a military career, who at times an excellent military career, but was ultimately discouraged from joining an elite unit and perhaps was perhaps pushed out of that and harbored anger as a result of that. Is that something they might be looking at as well?

JORDAN: It's entirely possible. Timothy McVeigh went and joined a militia, you know, a group of people who fancied themselves as a segment of the military with their own little dogmatic and extremist philosophy.

So I personally think that this is a lone gunman, not representing any particular faction. We could be wrong, but we often see that they inject themselves into the investigation, are very often hanging around the crime scenes afterwards.

But again, we're basing this on types of killings which are very different than this particular case. Frankly, we have nothing in the history books to really compare this to. So I always have to tell you with the disclaimer that we could be completely wrong on this one.

O'BRIEN: Well, you know, the two-word disclaimer is Richard Jewell. So it can go either way.

JORDAN: Absolutely.

O'BRIEN: All right, let's -- we'll leave it at that for now. Thank you so much, all three of you, for taking the questions. Thank you, viewers, for participating. Kelly McCann, Ed Lavandera, and Casey Jordan.

JORDAN: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: I'll emphasize that point. Thank you, all three.

JORDAN: You won't forget it now.

O'BRIEN: I won't now, that's right. Thank you very much for being with us on our Reporter's Notebook. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com