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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Washington Area Sniper May Have Struck Again

Aired October 22, 2002 - 17:00 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.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: While no firm link has yet been established to the sniper, today's killing has all the hallmarks, a shot seemingly out of nowhere, a random victim, this time a bus driver felled in the heart of Montgomery County, Maryland, a very, very short distance from the first sniper shootings.
We'll go live to all of our correspondents coming up.

CNN National Correspondent Bob Franken is standing by in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Bill Delaney is at the hospital in nearby Bethesda, Maryland where doctors tried so desperately to save today's' victim.

Also, CNN's Kathleen Koch, she's here in Rockville, Maryland at the command post for the sniper investigation where police have made a shocking disclosure.

Let's begin with Bob Franken who's standing by, and Bob give us the latest.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, as you pointed out they have not definitely ascertained or at least announced whether this was the same sniper who has ravaged the area for the last three weeks, but there was certainly a lot of tragic similarities.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN (voice over): Throughout the day, investigators scoured the area, swarming over the woods adjacent to the Montgomery County commuter bus where driver Conrad Johnson was gunned down as he stood on the top step. A police helicopter swooped low looking for any clues from overheard, and on the ground, investigators seemed to be collecting what they deemed to be evidence from the woods.

At one point, they took a plaster cast of what appeared to be an impression of a footprint. They operated on the assumption that this murder was, again, the work of the sniper who has terrorized an area that extends more than 100 miles stretching to the south in Virginia, but did the sniper once again do his murderous work in Montgomery County, Maryland, about a half mile from where the killing sprees began nearly three weeks ago?

Once again, authorities put up a huge blockade, shutting down highways and major thoroughfares during rush hour, causing traffic chaos as police in black fatigues carrying submachine guns went car- to-car searching each vehicle and each male occupant. (END VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN (on camera): To no avail, again this sniper disappeared taking advantage of the darkness of the very early morning, taking advantage of a network of roads that provided easy escape and taking advantage of the shock and outrage which, of course, greets every such incident -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Bob, as far as you can tell, are there still investigators, law enforcement on the scene searching for potential evidence, because as you know the Police Chief Charles Moose said earlier they didn't have any good evidence, at least they haven't picked anything up on a vehicle or a description of a suspect?

FRANKEN: Well there are a few investigators here but the great bulk of them has left and also they have towed away the bus, which had been here until just about a half hour ago. The shooting occurred at six o'clock Eastern this morning, so it was here for about ten and a half hours as they scoured the area. But now, the investigation seems to have pretty much stood down here as they try and go back and analyze just what it was they found.

BLITZER: Bob Franken for us in Silver Spring, Maryland right near where that shooting occurred early this morning. Within the past few minutes, we heard very, very chilling comments from the Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose. CNN's Kathleen Koch is here at the command post of the sniper investigation in Rockville. She's joining us now with more -- Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it was about a half an hour ago that police came out for a briefing, and they told us in advance they would take no questions, therefore people thought what will this be? Will this perhaps be another message to the killer? Well, we got a lot more than that. We got quite a bombshell.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF CHARLES MOOSE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE: We have received a communication. We will be responding soon. Secondly, there continues to be a great deal of speculation as to a reference, a threat in the message previously received. As stated earlier, everyone knows that all of our citizens are and have been at risk. The person or people have demonstrated a willingness and ability to shoot people of all ages, all races, all genders, and they have struck at different times of the day, different days, and at different locations.

We recognize the concerns of the community and, therefore, are going to provide the exact language in the message that pertains to the threat. It is in the form of a postscript. "Your children are not safe anywhere at any time." We feel it's important to provide this information to the public. We're not providing the remaining content of the message. It does not communicate to the public. However, to share that at this point would be detrimental to an investigation and it will not be released.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: Now what police explained afterwards was that they had provided some of this information to public officials, to other law enforcement officials throughout the region so that they can make a good decision on whether or not schools could open, should be closed. Obviously, Wolf, those schools in the Richmond area, some ten districts that take care of some education of 172,000 students, they opted to stay closed for the second day in a row.

And I think there's a lot of angst, a lot of fear in these communities around Montgomery County and then all the other counties that have been hit about what did they know that we didn't, and was something being held back, which is obviously why Chief Moose was forced to make this very dramatic statement today?

BLITZER: And we'll see if it does have an impact on the Montgomery County School District, see if those schools remain open tomorrow or whether or not they're closed. Before I let you go, Kathleen, it sounded to me that the chief by saying you can shoot. We know you can hit anyone, anywhere, any time, it seemed to me, and to others I know, that he may be sending a message to that killer or killers.

KOCH: Well, Wolf, I think it seemed that way to a lot of us today who have been here at every single briefing since this started. You get to where you're very accustomed to what the chief says and what he doesn't say, and when he comes out with new language that's very carefully vetted and carefully chosen, you notice, and one does wonder at every turn it seems with each killing, the killer or killers has made an effort to say, I will not be predicted. You can not guess what I will do next.

And, in this statement, it did seem that the chief might be sending a message, you don't have to prove anything to us. You don't have to prove that you will shoot on Sundays or Saturdays or that you will shoot children. We understand you can and will shoot anyone at any time whenever you choose, so let's just, you know, put that out there. We accept that. We realize you have that ability. Now let's move on to figure out how we can stop this.

BLITZER: You've made your point in effect. Let's move on.

KOCH: Exactly.

BLITZER: Kathleen Koch thanks. We'll be getting back to you as well. And more information is trickling in now about the man who may be the sniper's 13th victim. Thirty-five-year-old Conrad Johnson was a Montgomery County bus driver who was fatally shot early today as he prepared to go on his morning run. Joining us now with more on the victim is our own Bill Delaney -- Bill.

BILL DELANEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, Conrad Johnson as we've come to know a little about him, was a man who loved simple pleasures, family, baseball with his kids. He left a large family that now, like everyone who knew Conrad Johnson, mourns.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DELANEY (voice over): Whoever took the life of Conrad Johnson knocked the life out of the many people who loved him too, a family that gathered in the dozens at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland to grieve for the 35-year-old father of two shot around six in the morning, a bus driver up before dawn who paused at a layover stop maybe to do some paperwork.

DOUG DUNCAN, MONTGOMERY COUNTY EXECUTIVE: This is a terrible loss of life today for one of our county employees, almost a ten-year county employee with the ride on bus service that we provide in the county, and I want to extend my deepest sympathies. We deeply mourn the loss of this gentleman.

DELANEY: As did other drivers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nice, easygoing guy, very good personality, upbeat, good guy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I didn't know him at all, but I mean I feel sorry for him and his family because I mean still he's one of us.

DELANEY: As commuters in Montgomery County tried to get on with their lives, a regular passenger on Conrad Johnson's Line 41.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was real polite all the time, you know, and it seemed like he enjoyed his job a whole lot. It was hard to believe, yes.

DELANEY: A death for no reason of a man with every reason to live.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DELANEY (on camera): Conrad Johnson's family has asked to be allowed their privacy as they now grieve and, of course, we're honoring that -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Was there any explanation, any detailed briefings over at the hospital, Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, Bill, about the specific efforts to try to save Mr. Johnson's life?

DELANEY: Actually, Wolf, good question, no. The answer is very much no. We were given very, very, very little detail here about what happened after Conrad Johnson arrived here at 6:40 in the morning, Medivaced here, immediately put on the operating table. We were not even told ultimately just where Conrad Johnson was shot. We presume because they operated on him for hours that he would have died on the operating table, but no details.

BLITZER: All right, Bill Delaney at Suburban Hospital for us thanks for that report. I want to bring in J. Kelly McCann, CNN Security Analyst now. He's in our Washington Bureau. Kelly, what do you make of these cryptic statements continuing to come forward from Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose apparently, part of this dialog with the killer or the killers? KELLY MCCANN, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: Well, they've reestablished contact and I think, Wolf, because of the way this is all playing out that basically the killers are saying, or the killer is saying, this isn't going to stop. This isn't just going to happen to go away tomorrow. I am in control. I'm showing you my omnipotence and, in fact, there's some kind of communication about, you know, other requirements. Now what those requirements are have not been clearly delineated to the public but, certainly, they are showing that we are standing in front an immovable object.

BLITZER: It reminds me of what was written on that tarot card, "I am God," omnipotent. If he's trying to show that he is God, the police are responding by saying you know what, you've made your point. We understand what you're saying. You can kill at any time at any place, any age, any gender, any race. It seems like that is part of this carefully choreographed communication, the third time today alone that the police chief has uttered those specific words.

MCCANN: You know, it's funny, this kind of communications with people who to rational people or sane people might not make sense. They're like standing on top of a basketball. The minute you think you've got your balance, a slight shift, a little breeze and now you're off balance again, and it's a give and take.

The words that came out in the postscript on this note, for instance, should not have surprised any of the public. There wasn't going to be any compassion. It was going to show a detached, dispassionate person, and in fact the chief knew that and his staff knew that. That's why they were reluctant, probably, to release it in the first place.

BLITZER: All right, Kelly McCann, we'll be coming back to you as well. Thanks for your incite as usual. Chilling words that may have been penned by the sniper, we'll explore more of what a letter says about children, and should police make more of that letter public?

Praying for peace why the Washington area looks to the clergy tonight. And, the mass murderer who's eluded authorities for more than three decades, now high tech science is being used to track down the Zodiac killer. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back, I'm Wolf Blitzer in Montgomery County, Maryland. What does the sniper want? A handwritten note found at the scene of Saturday night's shooting in Ashland, Virginia may offer some chilling clues. Our Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena has been on top of this story.

She's joining us now live from our Washington Bureau. Kelly, do officials believe that there are some similarities between the letter, the note, whatever it was left Saturday night in Ashland, Virginia and the earlier note that was on that tarot card found in Prince George's County here in Maryland?

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, sources have told us that there are some words or phrases that were used in both communications that were not made public, which led them to believe that these communications came from the same person and, therefore, making the letter that was found at the latest shooting site a legitimate letter.

We know that it was handwritten, although sources say that the handwriting, at least at first did not appear to match the handwriting that was on the tarot card. Of course that letter is in the FBI lab and undergoing a complete analysis, you know, profilers are working with it and DNA analysts are working with it, and obviously handwriting analysts working with it as well, Wolf.

There was a lot of information in that letter, much of it you know not known at all even through sourcing, but there were two bits of information that we were able to uncover, the first that in the letter there seemed to be a hint and a demand for money. We have not been able to discern whether or not there was an exact dollar amount or whether it was large or small. All we know is that it hinted at a demand for money.

And, as we've been reporting, there was also a threat to children, which Chief Moose very clearly laid out that in reading the exact language: "Your children are not safe anywhere, at any time." So that all part of this letter and, of course, now we have to see what this new communication is that the chief is talking about.

But I will tell you, Wolf, that the sources that I've been checking in with all day have not indicated that there was anything found at the actual site of today's shooting which, of course, as of yet has not been connected officially to the previous sniper shooting.

So, if one could extrapolate, it might suggest that there was perhaps another phone call that came in to law enforcement authorities. We did hear about a previous phone call that came in where Chief Moose came out and said we couldn't understand what you said on the phone. Please call back. Perhaps, the person, the individual that they were talking to did call back, Wolf.

BLITZER: And, as far as the investigation, the overall investigation, Kelly, is concerned we heard earlier from the FBI agent-in-charge part of this task force, Gary Bald, say there's 100 percent cooperation, unprecedented cooperation, couldn't be any better, but there's still talk out there that the FBI should take the overall lead in this investigation. What do you know if any change is about to happen?

ARENA: There's no discussion about changing the schematics of the investigation itself. There is some talk going on among government lawyers about whether or not to prosecute this case at a federal level. Now, obviously officials warn talk of prosecution is premature. There is no one or individuals in custody at this point, but there is some consideration as to whether or not federal statutes apply here in terms of the crimes that have been committed.

But in terms of the investigation itself, there is absolutely no traction on any discussion involving having the FBI or any other federal agency take the lead. It will remain a task force as is operating now. Everyone seems to be very pleased with how things are going -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Kelli Arena thanks for that information. And, to our viewers, you have a chance to weigh in on this story. Our web question of the day is this: Should the letter found near the scene of Saturday's sniper shooting in Virginia be released to the public? We'll have the results later in this broadcast. Go to my web page cnn.com/wolf. That's where you can vote.

While you're there, I want to hear from you. Send me your comments. Send me your questions. I'll try to read some of them on the air each day at the end of this program. That's also, of course, where you can read my daily online column, cnn.com/wolf.

Random senseless murder terrorizing hundreds of thousands of people, millions of people in fact, in the Greater Washington area; when we return, making it through and living with fear, spiritual leaders provide some comfort during these dark times. And commuters held hostage, a closer look at the other victims of the sniper, stay with us

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back, I'm Wolf Blitzer in Rockville, Maryland. There's still no absolute confirmation that today's shooting in Montgomery County is linked to the previous sniper attacks, but almost three weeks after the Washington area shootings began, the focus has returned to the place where the sniper saga began.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice over): It started in Washington's northern suburbs, in an affluent county that won all-America city status just two years ago. A 55-year-old man who worked for the federal government is gunned down, October 2, in the Montgomery County community of Wheaton.

When four more attacks take place in Montgomery County the very next day, it becomes chillingly clear a serial killer is at work. But even as the nation begins to focus on Montgomery County, the sniper strikes outside the county for the first time.

A 72-year-old man is killed as he walks down the street in Washington. Then, a woman is shot in Virginia outside a store in Fredericksburg. When the sniper returns to Maryland, the target is in Prince George's County, but it's a crime that worries parents everywhere. A 13-year-old boy is wounded outside a middle school in Bowie.

After that, back to Virginia, October 9 in Manassas; October 11th, Fredericksburg again; October 14, Falls Church; then just last Saturday the first weekend attack. When a man is wounded outside a steakhouse in Ashland, Virginia near Richmond, it raises speculation the sniper may be moving out of the Washington area. But just three days later, a bus driver is fatally shot in Montgomery County, Maryland, back where the killing began 20 days earlier.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (on camera): Is there any more police can or should be doing in the search for this killer? Let's put your e-mail questions to some of our guests. Joining me now from New York, Bo Dietl, he's now a security consultant. He was one of New York City's most decorated police detectives.

Bo thanks once again for joining us. This latest statement that we heard from the Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose saying they are in communication. They'll be getting back to you, having a response very soon, and also releasing the specific words of the threat to the children. What do you make of this twist, this very chilling twist in this investigation?

BO DIETL, FORMER NYPD DETECTIVE: You know what it sounds like, Wolf? It sounds like there was a lot of leaks about this letter, about something to do with killing children. Now what I think is the responsibility of the sheriff and also Montgomery County there was to release what was released. You as a parent have to get that information. How about you keeping that information from the parents or you let -- remember yesterday, Richmond schools were all closed. Maybe they didn't release it all around universal.

They had to release that so the parents know what we're dealing with. It is the responsibility now of the parent to make the decision whether they want their child to go to school or if they want to take their child to school and protect them and there are also a lot of different ways to protect them. These school busses going in and out, they can go at another route and it could be a lot more protected.

We're dealing again -- we're not calling him the sniper, Wolf. We're calling him the psycho homicidal -- we called him before. We call him a coward. He's certainly a coward the way he's doing these things against people who are innocent, people who have no way of protecting themselves and our homicidal coward should come forth and talk to the police if you want to talk to the police. But as far as I'm concerned, we don't call him a sniper anymore and you get more and more angry when people, innocent people like that man who was just doing his job, was murdered this morning at six o'clock.

Again, we need four million people, four million witnesses out there to be detectives. Why don't we get block watches on each block? Get a sign. Put together people. See someone on that block or a car that doesn't belong, report it to the police. That's what we have to do, Wolf.

BLITZER: Bo, I have a specific e-mail question from a viewer, Linda in Toronto, who has a specific point. Let me read it to you. "I find it hard to believe that the sniper doesn't have contact with someone, a landlord, a friend, an employer, who would notice any suspicious behavior. How heavily are police focusing on this in their investigation?" Bo, what do you say to Linda?

DIETL: Wolf, we've been doing this now for a couple of weeks. I say exactly that. The key to this investigation is with the people, all the neighborhood people, neighbors seeing something unusual. You have a tenant upstairs that's acting weird coming in.

How about that tenant, all of a sudden he disappeared this morning at five o'clock in the morning and then came back at 6:30? Let's report this. Let's report it to the hotline. Remember what we have here, Wolf, we have a homicidal psycho, psycho, psycho coward. We have a coward out there, Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. Another e-mail question from Bob for you, Bo: "Have the authorities considered the sniper may be an active police officer? How else could he blend in so easily and know all that's happening?" That sounds pretty farfetched to me but what do you say?

DIETL: I don't think he's an active one, but I tell you what, the more I'm starting to see how he plans his retreat after he kills people and shoots people, the way he has everything done so systematically and how he's able to evade being caught and he has everything planned, this is a smart psycho homicidal punk. That's what he is.

BLITZER: All right, Bo Dietl, former New York City police detective. We'll be getting back to you. Thanks for joining us. Before the sniper, there was the Zodiac killer. He terrorized the San Francisco Bay area for years with no break in the case. But three decades, DNA may reveal his identity, once and for all, three decades later that is. First, a look at some other news making headlines around the world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice over): Bogota bombed, a car bomb exploded outside the Bogota, Colombia police headquarters during the morning rush hour, killing three people and injuring at least 11 others. Leftist rebels are blamed.

A closer look, newly-surfaced home video shows some of the damage done by this month's deadly bomb attack in Bali, Indonesia. Citing continued threats, the U.S. Embassy has issued a new warning urging Americans to exercise maximum caution.

Virgin Atlantic Airlines has agreed to pay a fat settlement. The British carrier is giving $20,000 to a woman who says she was squashed by an overweight passenger sitting next to her on a London to Los Angeles flight.

Forget about having a license to kill, the spotlight was on James Bond's license to drive at a motor show in England. Cars from the new James Bond movie "Die Another Day" are on display. For the first time in 15 years, Bond will be driving an Astin Martin, and that's our look around the world.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not scared at all because I feel like -- I think that God was with me because I usually go on that bus. And if I didn't get on that bus today, something -- you know, thank God was with me then because I would -- that could have been me, just dead.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Welcome back to our continuing coverage. We're following some very chilling, frightening developments in the Washington area in the sniper case. CNN's Kathleen Koch once again is joining me with an update -- Kathleen.

KOCH: Well, Wolf, obviously the big question today initially was has the killer communicated with police again. And we found out in a major announcement the police made just a little -- about an hour ago that not only had the killer communicated again but police had some very vital information to share with the public.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOOSE: We recognize the concerns of the community, and therefore are going to provide the exact language in the message that pertains to the threat. It is in the form of a post-script -- "Your children are not safe anywhere at any time."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: And Chief Moose said that, again, they had received a message from the killer. They would be responding soon. And also, still no word on whether or not the shooting, Wolf, of that bus driver this morning is actually the work of the killer or killers. And no ballistic results back, that of the shooting of 35-year-old bus driver, Conrad Johnson.

BLITZER: They're certainly working under that assumption, though.

KOCH: They are.

BLITZER: Kathleen Koch, we'll be getting back with you. Thanks very much.

And after more than three weeks of chasing leads and dead ends, local police have not caught the serial sniper or snipers. Still, the feds remain reluctant about taking over the case entirely. The attorney general, John Ashcroft, isn't ruling out a takeover, but says it really isn't necessary.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: I believe that we are operating appropriately and effectively in the current setting. We know of no additional value that can be brought to the investigation that we are not providing. But we are always willing to consider how we might better move this investigation toward a successful conclusion. (END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: As the fear over the sniper grips the Washington area, some people in the region are turning to their religious faith to help them overcome that fear. At this hour, people of many different faiths are gathering in a church in Rockville for a prayer service. With us from the Faith United Methodist Church are Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, he's the archbishop of Washington, Sikh leader, Rajwant Singh, and Rabbi David Shneyer.

Thanks to all of you for joining us. Cardinal McCarrick, this is such a difficult time for people here in the greater Washington area. What advice do you have -- what will be your message at this interfaith service?

CARDINAL THEODORE MCCARRICK, ARCHBISHOP OF WASHINGTON: Well, I guess first of all that we should have confidence in God. And don't let this poor person make us change our lives. Obviously, we have to take care of ourselves, take care of our children, but we have to have confidence. This is going to pass. Evil always passes.

One of the things we're going to do, Wolf, during this prayer service and this press conference is to ask people all around the country to join us in prayer, people of every religion, of every faith community, to join all of us here in Washington and Maryland and Virginia and ask the Lord to put an end to this terrible tragedy and to stop it before anyone else is hurt.

BLITZER: Rabbi Shneyer, how do people cope as far as dealing with their children, especially when a very terrifying message or threat has been now publicly disclosed?

RABBI DAVID SHNEYER, AM-KOLEL JUDIAC CENTER: It's very difficult to explain this to children. It's also very difficult to work also with the school system sometimes because they also, within the schools, are not always clear as to what needs to be done and how to best help the students. It's changed our lives radically. Our schedules have changed radically. Our concern is very different.

And we -- I mean, we are telling our children to affirm life and to go about their lives as best as they can within these limitations. We need to continue to give our children hope that this will pass, and we need to remind ourselves that there's a greater issue at stake here, too. We live in a very violent society. And one of the -- you know, one of the questions, I think that we need to ask ourselves is how do we respond now? How do we respond when this has touched us so personally? How do we respond to the violence that goes on around us?

BLITZER: Let me bring in Dr. Singh and ask you, Dr. Singh, what will be your message to those who have gathered for this service here in Rockville today?

RAJWANT SINGH, SIKH COUN. ON REL. & EDU.: Well, we want to lift the spirit of peace and love, that it is important that as we are facing this challenge of violence, the insane shooting, it is important that we lift the spirit of peace. And it is also important, while this violence has caught our attention, that we need to pay attention to the other violence, which is taking place in our society.

This area, Washington metropolitan, has seen from last 14 months, the -- first the attacks at the Pentagon and then the anthrax and now this. This is a very unsettling thing for the entire metropolitan area. So we are asking that how do we create a more peaceful neighborhood and peaceful community around the area?

BLITZER: Cardinal McCarrick, in the outline for tonight's service, I believe there's a reference in there -- and I'll try to be precise -- that there will also be a prayer for the perpetrator or perpetrators involved in this horrendous crime. Tell our viewers, are you actually going to be praying for this killer?

MCCARRICK: Well, we certainly are. We're going to be praying that he opens his eyes and opens his heart and that he hears the Lord saying to him, "Stop, this is not what I made you for, this is not why you got your mind, this is not why you got your body. This is not why you came into the world. You came into the world as all of us have come in, to do good and not evil." And so, we're going to pray that he gets that message and that he stops and that he recognizes the terrible things that he's doing and doesn't do them anymore and gives himself up so that he can get the help that he may need, but at least that society will be protected. That's why we're going to pray for him tonight.

BLITZER: All right. Cardinal McCarrick, good luck to you. Rabbi Shneyer, good luck to you as well. Dr. Singh, thanks so much to all of you for joining us. Thanks for sharing your message. God knows we need to hear what you're saying at this difficult time. Our viewers thank you as well.

When we come back, an unsolved murder mystery that spans three decades. Will the Zodiac Killer ever be caught? A closer look still to come.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: He taunted police with letters and terrorized the people they protect. More than three decades later a famous serial killer case goes unsolved, but that hasn't stopped the tips. Coming up on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, the Zodiac Killer.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. Joining me now to talk a little bit more about the overall sniper case and how it's affecting the quality of life here in the Washington area is Jim Bohannon. He's the host of "The Jim Bohannon Show," one of the country's top radio personalities.

Jim, thanks again for joining us.

JIM BOHANNON, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: The last time we spoke, I think both of us agreed we haven't seen anything like this in this area in a long time. Any changes in that thought? BOHANNON: No, except I think that I have seen a few callers to my radio show suggest that maybe it's time for a greater federal involvement. I'm not even sure if there's a legal precedent for that. I mean there has to be a certain basis for the FBI to get involved, but I'm sensing in that regard frustration. People want this over.

BLITZER: But do they realize, your callers to your very popular radio show -- do they realize that sometimes it takes a long time to solve a serial killer case like this?

BOHANNON: They do realize that, and yet of course, they're quintessentially American. I mean we're the only society that stands in front of the microwave yelling "hurry up" and so, I think it's that American impatience at work. But yes, they do really understand you can't do this overnight.

BLITZER: How are people in your day-to-day activities here coping? How are they getting along with each other because as you know, the traffic jams have been horrendous after these kinds of shootings? And people, you know -- people are scared.

BOHANNON: They are scared. And yet, you know, I've been really amazed. I thought that there would be a great deal more in the way of frayed nerves, temper, road rage, and from all that I can see and here from my callers, it sounds as though people have just pretty much gotten a hold of themselves and said, "We are here for the long haul. We will persevere until this person is found." I'm rather proud, actually, of the reaction.

BLITZER: Do people have confidence in the way law enforcement is handling this investigation?

BOHANNON: That is another area, and I'm not sure that you can say that it's confidence. I think that there's an attitude of, "Well, let's stick it out." But again, I'm hearing more and more of the voices of more direct federal intervention, this sort of thing. So there are questions about just how good the effect has been so far.

BLITZER: The economic impact on the region has already been significant. People are afraid basically to leave their homes, a lot of people, at least. Their life goes on, more or less but still there has been an economic impact already.

BOHANNON: Oh, a terrible economic impact, certainly anybody who has a business that is at all a discretionary good or service, something you can do without, more and more people are doing without it. If you don't have to buy that item, you don't have to expose yourself, then you don't do so. I think there was one gas station someplace that actually installed tarps around the perimeter of their parking area so that in fact people could pump gas without being visible from the outside. So yeah, there's a serious economic impact on top of what's already been a recession.

BLITZER: Has it had any impact on you, Jim Bohannon, in terms of your day-to-day activity? BOHANNON: It has. I have changed where and when I get gas. I work strange hours. I have altered that pattern. My wife and I are planning a major purchase. And I'll tell you very candidly; we are putting it off for the moment.

This morning during the -- for me the afternoon rush hour, when I was coming home after my all-night stint at work, I discovered great new scenic areas of Montgomery County, Maryland, I hadn't seen before. It has altered my life, yes, and I was really worried this morning's shooting was maybe seven or eight miles from my home. And I called my wife and said, "You stay away from windows."

BLITZER: All right. I think you speak for all of us when you make those points. Jim Bohannon...

BOHANNON: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: ... one of the best in the business, appreciate it very much.

BOHANNON: Thank you, sir.

BLITZER: The Washington area economy, as Jim points out, is suffering because of the sniper. Earlier we spoke with Towson University economist, Ani Rambassu (ph). He reports retailers in Montgomery County are reporting their sales are down 25 percent. Fewer people are going to restaurants. And hotels in the area report stiff losses.

Welcome back. The sniper attacks have had an impact on day-to- day life around the Washington region, as we all know, among the effects traffic gridlock and school closings in some areas as police continue to search for the suspect. We get more now on that part of the story from CNN's Kevin Sites.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEVIN SITES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Another day, another shooting and for Washington area residents, another morning of mayhem.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pull over, this white truck right here.

SITES: Police roadblocks turned commuter roadways into parking lots.

(on camera): Nothing suspicious in there, Officer?

UNIDENTIFIED OFFICER: Not if you call seafood suspicious.

UNIDENTIFIED OFFICER: I'm just looking for the descriptions that they told us to look for as traffic passes.

SITES (voice-over): With back-ups lasting for miles and morning commutes turned into half-day ordeals, some drivers just lost it. Police say the man in the back of this squad car was in their words, "Being a knucklehead." It's Don Thomas' job to help cordon off roadways after a shooting. He says driver frustrations will lead to more people getting hurt.

DON THOMAS, MARYLAND HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT: Oh, yes, people drive down the shoulders, run up on the curb, jump through the medians, which just makes it unsafe for all the other people that's out here on the highway.

SITES: The morning chaos is exacerbated by other problems. Because many are afraid to fill up, they're running out of gas. Others have to suffer for hours with full tanks of coffee but no place to go to the bathroom. Fear is also creating strange logic. Maria Coronas thought filling up at a gas station next to today's crime scene would be safer.

MARIA CORONAS (ph), RESIDENT: That's why I stop here.

SITES (on camera): Why is that?

CORONAS (ph): Because I think there's a lot of police around.

SITES (on camera): Businesses also got caught in today's dragnet. Some opened late. Some couldn't open at all. Leaving both customers and employees in a jam.

(voice-over): This bank normally opens by 9:00. Today they started at 10:00.

(on camera): Now, you're a manager here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I am.

SITES: What does this do to productivity and to your business overall?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It has affected our business a little bit, but you've got to go on.

SITES (voice-over): Tell that to the innocent people in white vans. Nicolas Carbenas has been stopped by police and says people are afraid of him.

NICHOLAS CARBENAS, WHITE VAN DRIVER: You drive it in the street or you stopped at the light everybody see you. know that people -- I don't know what, thinking.

SITES: That kind of fear and suspicion will probably continue to stretch around the region, just like the rolls of tape at each new crime scene.

Kevin Sites, CNN, Aspen Hill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: A ruthless serial killer who craved publicity. He stalked Northern California more than 30 years ago and eludes police to this very day. Find out how DNA may, help crack the case of the Zodiac Killer. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Montgomery County, Maryland. A serial killer terrorizes a city. He kills at random, and he taunts police and the news media. The D.C. area sniper bears a chilling resemblance to the so-called Zodiac Killer, who terrorized the San Francisco bay area more than 30 years ago. As CNN's Rusty Dornin tells us, there's one more frightening parallel -- so far neither has been caught.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He stalked and killed with knives and guns. Once he even dressed as an executioner. The man called himself The Zodiac. Beginning in 1968, he killed five people in Northern California. He claimed to have killed many more. Like the D.C. sniper, there seemed to be no motive. Victims were random. And The Zodiac craved publicity. He would taunt police, writing letter after letter, often in code to the newspapers. He too focused on fear.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We think that he's -- it appears to us that he is killing just for the thrill.

SUSAN MORTON, SAN FRANCISCO POLICE: This is the first letter.

DORNIN: Forensic scientist, Susan Morton, still thinks so. She knows every palm print and period penned by The Zodiac.

MORTON: If you read these letters, he was getting a tremendous thrill out of terrifying the public.

DORNIN: The original investigators have retired, but 33 years later, San Francisco homicide inspector, Kelly Carroll, deals with new tips, new clues, and new technology. San Francisco cab driver, Paul Stein (ph), was the zodiac's last known victim, shot to death inside his cab in 1969.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is Paul Stein's (ph) shirt.

DORNIN: The Zodiac cut out a piece of his shirt, then mailed part of it to the newspaper with a letter to verify his identity. Underneath the stamps on that letter, partial DNA from saliva.

ARTHUR LEIGH ALLEN, ZODIAC SUSPECT: No, I'm certainly, most certainly not the Zodiac Killer.

DORNIN: In the '70s, Arthur Allen was one of the prime suspects, but he was never charged. He died in 1992, denying it. DNA found under those stamps was compared just last week to DNA from Allen's corpse.

(on camera): From the licking of one of these stamps, you were able to determine that one of the prime suspects, or you feel is no longer a suspect? INSPECTOR KELLY CARROLL, SAN FRANCISCO POLICE: It does not match the DNA profile that we developed from a piece of brain tissue from Arthur Leigh Allen's autopsy.

DORNIN (voice-over): A 33-year-old case that's had more than 2,500 other suspects and tips that keep on coming.

CARROLL: Almost every day. In fact, you hear the phone ringing, it's probably mine, and it's probably somebody calling with a clue or some lead on this.

DORNIN: Police believe the killings stopped in 1969. The letters continued until '74. A serial killer never caught. And today, no one even knows if Northern California's feared Zodiac Killer is dead or alive.

Rusty Dornin, CNN, San Francisco.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Time is running out for to you weigh in on our "Web Questions of The Day." Should the letter found near the scene of Saturday's sniper shooting in Virginia be released to the public? Log on to CNN.com/Wolf. That's where you can vote. We'll have the results immediately when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Now here's how you're weighing in on our "Web Questions of The Day." Earlier we asked this question -- should the letter found near the scene of Saturday's sniper shooting -- excuse me -- in Virginia be released to the public? Thirty-eight percent of you say yes, 62 percent of you say no. You can find the exact vote tally and continue to vote, by the way, on my Website, CNN.com/Wolf. Remember, this is not a scientific poll.

Let's get to some of your e-mail. Steve is writing us -- "Where is the Office of Homeland Security in regards to the sniper shootings or does their jurisdiction only apply when there are Muslims involved? When do they supercede the FBI as chief investigators?"

Roberta writes -- "Could it be possible that the sniper is blending into the crowd at a large gathering such as a movie house or a store where one killing occurred? Is it possible that the sniper is utilizing the subways and buses for his mode of transportation? I suspect something like the above is the only way he could escape the roadblocks."

That's all the time we have.

Right now, I'm Wolf Blitzer in Montgomery County. "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE" is up next.

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 22, 2002 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: While no firm link has yet been established to the sniper, today's killing has all the hallmarks, a shot seemingly out of nowhere, a random victim, this time a bus driver felled in the heart of Montgomery County, Maryland, a very, very short distance from the first sniper shootings.
We'll go live to all of our correspondents coming up.

CNN National Correspondent Bob Franken is standing by in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Bill Delaney is at the hospital in nearby Bethesda, Maryland where doctors tried so desperately to save today's' victim.

Also, CNN's Kathleen Koch, she's here in Rockville, Maryland at the command post for the sniper investigation where police have made a shocking disclosure.

Let's begin with Bob Franken who's standing by, and Bob give us the latest.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, as you pointed out they have not definitely ascertained or at least announced whether this was the same sniper who has ravaged the area for the last three weeks, but there was certainly a lot of tragic similarities.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN (voice over): Throughout the day, investigators scoured the area, swarming over the woods adjacent to the Montgomery County commuter bus where driver Conrad Johnson was gunned down as he stood on the top step. A police helicopter swooped low looking for any clues from overheard, and on the ground, investigators seemed to be collecting what they deemed to be evidence from the woods.

At one point, they took a plaster cast of what appeared to be an impression of a footprint. They operated on the assumption that this murder was, again, the work of the sniper who has terrorized an area that extends more than 100 miles stretching to the south in Virginia, but did the sniper once again do his murderous work in Montgomery County, Maryland, about a half mile from where the killing sprees began nearly three weeks ago?

Once again, authorities put up a huge blockade, shutting down highways and major thoroughfares during rush hour, causing traffic chaos as police in black fatigues carrying submachine guns went car- to-car searching each vehicle and each male occupant. (END VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN (on camera): To no avail, again this sniper disappeared taking advantage of the darkness of the very early morning, taking advantage of a network of roads that provided easy escape and taking advantage of the shock and outrage which, of course, greets every such incident -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Bob, as far as you can tell, are there still investigators, law enforcement on the scene searching for potential evidence, because as you know the Police Chief Charles Moose said earlier they didn't have any good evidence, at least they haven't picked anything up on a vehicle or a description of a suspect?

FRANKEN: Well there are a few investigators here but the great bulk of them has left and also they have towed away the bus, which had been here until just about a half hour ago. The shooting occurred at six o'clock Eastern this morning, so it was here for about ten and a half hours as they scoured the area. But now, the investigation seems to have pretty much stood down here as they try and go back and analyze just what it was they found.

BLITZER: Bob Franken for us in Silver Spring, Maryland right near where that shooting occurred early this morning. Within the past few minutes, we heard very, very chilling comments from the Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose. CNN's Kathleen Koch is here at the command post of the sniper investigation in Rockville. She's joining us now with more -- Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it was about a half an hour ago that police came out for a briefing, and they told us in advance they would take no questions, therefore people thought what will this be? Will this perhaps be another message to the killer? Well, we got a lot more than that. We got quite a bombshell.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF CHARLES MOOSE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE: We have received a communication. We will be responding soon. Secondly, there continues to be a great deal of speculation as to a reference, a threat in the message previously received. As stated earlier, everyone knows that all of our citizens are and have been at risk. The person or people have demonstrated a willingness and ability to shoot people of all ages, all races, all genders, and they have struck at different times of the day, different days, and at different locations.

We recognize the concerns of the community and, therefore, are going to provide the exact language in the message that pertains to the threat. It is in the form of a postscript. "Your children are not safe anywhere at any time." We feel it's important to provide this information to the public. We're not providing the remaining content of the message. It does not communicate to the public. However, to share that at this point would be detrimental to an investigation and it will not be released.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: Now what police explained afterwards was that they had provided some of this information to public officials, to other law enforcement officials throughout the region so that they can make a good decision on whether or not schools could open, should be closed. Obviously, Wolf, those schools in the Richmond area, some ten districts that take care of some education of 172,000 students, they opted to stay closed for the second day in a row.

And I think there's a lot of angst, a lot of fear in these communities around Montgomery County and then all the other counties that have been hit about what did they know that we didn't, and was something being held back, which is obviously why Chief Moose was forced to make this very dramatic statement today?

BLITZER: And we'll see if it does have an impact on the Montgomery County School District, see if those schools remain open tomorrow or whether or not they're closed. Before I let you go, Kathleen, it sounded to me that the chief by saying you can shoot. We know you can hit anyone, anywhere, any time, it seemed to me, and to others I know, that he may be sending a message to that killer or killers.

KOCH: Well, Wolf, I think it seemed that way to a lot of us today who have been here at every single briefing since this started. You get to where you're very accustomed to what the chief says and what he doesn't say, and when he comes out with new language that's very carefully vetted and carefully chosen, you notice, and one does wonder at every turn it seems with each killing, the killer or killers has made an effort to say, I will not be predicted. You can not guess what I will do next.

And, in this statement, it did seem that the chief might be sending a message, you don't have to prove anything to us. You don't have to prove that you will shoot on Sundays or Saturdays or that you will shoot children. We understand you can and will shoot anyone at any time whenever you choose, so let's just, you know, put that out there. We accept that. We realize you have that ability. Now let's move on to figure out how we can stop this.

BLITZER: You've made your point in effect. Let's move on.

KOCH: Exactly.

BLITZER: Kathleen Koch thanks. We'll be getting back to you as well. And more information is trickling in now about the man who may be the sniper's 13th victim. Thirty-five-year-old Conrad Johnson was a Montgomery County bus driver who was fatally shot early today as he prepared to go on his morning run. Joining us now with more on the victim is our own Bill Delaney -- Bill.

BILL DELANEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, Conrad Johnson as we've come to know a little about him, was a man who loved simple pleasures, family, baseball with his kids. He left a large family that now, like everyone who knew Conrad Johnson, mourns.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DELANEY (voice over): Whoever took the life of Conrad Johnson knocked the life out of the many people who loved him too, a family that gathered in the dozens at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland to grieve for the 35-year-old father of two shot around six in the morning, a bus driver up before dawn who paused at a layover stop maybe to do some paperwork.

DOUG DUNCAN, MONTGOMERY COUNTY EXECUTIVE: This is a terrible loss of life today for one of our county employees, almost a ten-year county employee with the ride on bus service that we provide in the county, and I want to extend my deepest sympathies. We deeply mourn the loss of this gentleman.

DELANEY: As did other drivers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nice, easygoing guy, very good personality, upbeat, good guy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I didn't know him at all, but I mean I feel sorry for him and his family because I mean still he's one of us.

DELANEY: As commuters in Montgomery County tried to get on with their lives, a regular passenger on Conrad Johnson's Line 41.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was real polite all the time, you know, and it seemed like he enjoyed his job a whole lot. It was hard to believe, yes.

DELANEY: A death for no reason of a man with every reason to live.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DELANEY (on camera): Conrad Johnson's family has asked to be allowed their privacy as they now grieve and, of course, we're honoring that -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Was there any explanation, any detailed briefings over at the hospital, Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, Bill, about the specific efforts to try to save Mr. Johnson's life?

DELANEY: Actually, Wolf, good question, no. The answer is very much no. We were given very, very, very little detail here about what happened after Conrad Johnson arrived here at 6:40 in the morning, Medivaced here, immediately put on the operating table. We were not even told ultimately just where Conrad Johnson was shot. We presume because they operated on him for hours that he would have died on the operating table, but no details.

BLITZER: All right, Bill Delaney at Suburban Hospital for us thanks for that report. I want to bring in J. Kelly McCann, CNN Security Analyst now. He's in our Washington Bureau. Kelly, what do you make of these cryptic statements continuing to come forward from Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose apparently, part of this dialog with the killer or the killers? KELLY MCCANN, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: Well, they've reestablished contact and I think, Wolf, because of the way this is all playing out that basically the killers are saying, or the killer is saying, this isn't going to stop. This isn't just going to happen to go away tomorrow. I am in control. I'm showing you my omnipotence and, in fact, there's some kind of communication about, you know, other requirements. Now what those requirements are have not been clearly delineated to the public but, certainly, they are showing that we are standing in front an immovable object.

BLITZER: It reminds me of what was written on that tarot card, "I am God," omnipotent. If he's trying to show that he is God, the police are responding by saying you know what, you've made your point. We understand what you're saying. You can kill at any time at any place, any age, any gender, any race. It seems like that is part of this carefully choreographed communication, the third time today alone that the police chief has uttered those specific words.

MCCANN: You know, it's funny, this kind of communications with people who to rational people or sane people might not make sense. They're like standing on top of a basketball. The minute you think you've got your balance, a slight shift, a little breeze and now you're off balance again, and it's a give and take.

The words that came out in the postscript on this note, for instance, should not have surprised any of the public. There wasn't going to be any compassion. It was going to show a detached, dispassionate person, and in fact the chief knew that and his staff knew that. That's why they were reluctant, probably, to release it in the first place.

BLITZER: All right, Kelly McCann, we'll be coming back to you as well. Thanks for your incite as usual. Chilling words that may have been penned by the sniper, we'll explore more of what a letter says about children, and should police make more of that letter public?

Praying for peace why the Washington area looks to the clergy tonight. And, the mass murderer who's eluded authorities for more than three decades, now high tech science is being used to track down the Zodiac killer. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back, I'm Wolf Blitzer in Montgomery County, Maryland. What does the sniper want? A handwritten note found at the scene of Saturday night's shooting in Ashland, Virginia may offer some chilling clues. Our Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena has been on top of this story.

She's joining us now live from our Washington Bureau. Kelly, do officials believe that there are some similarities between the letter, the note, whatever it was left Saturday night in Ashland, Virginia and the earlier note that was on that tarot card found in Prince George's County here in Maryland?

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, sources have told us that there are some words or phrases that were used in both communications that were not made public, which led them to believe that these communications came from the same person and, therefore, making the letter that was found at the latest shooting site a legitimate letter.

We know that it was handwritten, although sources say that the handwriting, at least at first did not appear to match the handwriting that was on the tarot card. Of course that letter is in the FBI lab and undergoing a complete analysis, you know, profilers are working with it and DNA analysts are working with it, and obviously handwriting analysts working with it as well, Wolf.

There was a lot of information in that letter, much of it you know not known at all even through sourcing, but there were two bits of information that we were able to uncover, the first that in the letter there seemed to be a hint and a demand for money. We have not been able to discern whether or not there was an exact dollar amount or whether it was large or small. All we know is that it hinted at a demand for money.

And, as we've been reporting, there was also a threat to children, which Chief Moose very clearly laid out that in reading the exact language: "Your children are not safe anywhere, at any time." So that all part of this letter and, of course, now we have to see what this new communication is that the chief is talking about.

But I will tell you, Wolf, that the sources that I've been checking in with all day have not indicated that there was anything found at the actual site of today's shooting which, of course, as of yet has not been connected officially to the previous sniper shooting.

So, if one could extrapolate, it might suggest that there was perhaps another phone call that came in to law enforcement authorities. We did hear about a previous phone call that came in where Chief Moose came out and said we couldn't understand what you said on the phone. Please call back. Perhaps, the person, the individual that they were talking to did call back, Wolf.

BLITZER: And, as far as the investigation, the overall investigation, Kelly, is concerned we heard earlier from the FBI agent-in-charge part of this task force, Gary Bald, say there's 100 percent cooperation, unprecedented cooperation, couldn't be any better, but there's still talk out there that the FBI should take the overall lead in this investigation. What do you know if any change is about to happen?

ARENA: There's no discussion about changing the schematics of the investigation itself. There is some talk going on among government lawyers about whether or not to prosecute this case at a federal level. Now, obviously officials warn talk of prosecution is premature. There is no one or individuals in custody at this point, but there is some consideration as to whether or not federal statutes apply here in terms of the crimes that have been committed.

But in terms of the investigation itself, there is absolutely no traction on any discussion involving having the FBI or any other federal agency take the lead. It will remain a task force as is operating now. Everyone seems to be very pleased with how things are going -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Kelli Arena thanks for that information. And, to our viewers, you have a chance to weigh in on this story. Our web question of the day is this: Should the letter found near the scene of Saturday's sniper shooting in Virginia be released to the public? We'll have the results later in this broadcast. Go to my web page cnn.com/wolf. That's where you can vote.

While you're there, I want to hear from you. Send me your comments. Send me your questions. I'll try to read some of them on the air each day at the end of this program. That's also, of course, where you can read my daily online column, cnn.com/wolf.

Random senseless murder terrorizing hundreds of thousands of people, millions of people in fact, in the Greater Washington area; when we return, making it through and living with fear, spiritual leaders provide some comfort during these dark times. And commuters held hostage, a closer look at the other victims of the sniper, stay with us

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back, I'm Wolf Blitzer in Rockville, Maryland. There's still no absolute confirmation that today's shooting in Montgomery County is linked to the previous sniper attacks, but almost three weeks after the Washington area shootings began, the focus has returned to the place where the sniper saga began.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice over): It started in Washington's northern suburbs, in an affluent county that won all-America city status just two years ago. A 55-year-old man who worked for the federal government is gunned down, October 2, in the Montgomery County community of Wheaton.

When four more attacks take place in Montgomery County the very next day, it becomes chillingly clear a serial killer is at work. But even as the nation begins to focus on Montgomery County, the sniper strikes outside the county for the first time.

A 72-year-old man is killed as he walks down the street in Washington. Then, a woman is shot in Virginia outside a store in Fredericksburg. When the sniper returns to Maryland, the target is in Prince George's County, but it's a crime that worries parents everywhere. A 13-year-old boy is wounded outside a middle school in Bowie.

After that, back to Virginia, October 9 in Manassas; October 11th, Fredericksburg again; October 14, Falls Church; then just last Saturday the first weekend attack. When a man is wounded outside a steakhouse in Ashland, Virginia near Richmond, it raises speculation the sniper may be moving out of the Washington area. But just three days later, a bus driver is fatally shot in Montgomery County, Maryland, back where the killing began 20 days earlier.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (on camera): Is there any more police can or should be doing in the search for this killer? Let's put your e-mail questions to some of our guests. Joining me now from New York, Bo Dietl, he's now a security consultant. He was one of New York City's most decorated police detectives.

Bo thanks once again for joining us. This latest statement that we heard from the Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose saying they are in communication. They'll be getting back to you, having a response very soon, and also releasing the specific words of the threat to the children. What do you make of this twist, this very chilling twist in this investigation?

BO DIETL, FORMER NYPD DETECTIVE: You know what it sounds like, Wolf? It sounds like there was a lot of leaks about this letter, about something to do with killing children. Now what I think is the responsibility of the sheriff and also Montgomery County there was to release what was released. You as a parent have to get that information. How about you keeping that information from the parents or you let -- remember yesterday, Richmond schools were all closed. Maybe they didn't release it all around universal.

They had to release that so the parents know what we're dealing with. It is the responsibility now of the parent to make the decision whether they want their child to go to school or if they want to take their child to school and protect them and there are also a lot of different ways to protect them. These school busses going in and out, they can go at another route and it could be a lot more protected.

We're dealing again -- we're not calling him the sniper, Wolf. We're calling him the psycho homicidal -- we called him before. We call him a coward. He's certainly a coward the way he's doing these things against people who are innocent, people who have no way of protecting themselves and our homicidal coward should come forth and talk to the police if you want to talk to the police. But as far as I'm concerned, we don't call him a sniper anymore and you get more and more angry when people, innocent people like that man who was just doing his job, was murdered this morning at six o'clock.

Again, we need four million people, four million witnesses out there to be detectives. Why don't we get block watches on each block? Get a sign. Put together people. See someone on that block or a car that doesn't belong, report it to the police. That's what we have to do, Wolf.

BLITZER: Bo, I have a specific e-mail question from a viewer, Linda in Toronto, who has a specific point. Let me read it to you. "I find it hard to believe that the sniper doesn't have contact with someone, a landlord, a friend, an employer, who would notice any suspicious behavior. How heavily are police focusing on this in their investigation?" Bo, what do you say to Linda?

DIETL: Wolf, we've been doing this now for a couple of weeks. I say exactly that. The key to this investigation is with the people, all the neighborhood people, neighbors seeing something unusual. You have a tenant upstairs that's acting weird coming in.

How about that tenant, all of a sudden he disappeared this morning at five o'clock in the morning and then came back at 6:30? Let's report this. Let's report it to the hotline. Remember what we have here, Wolf, we have a homicidal psycho, psycho, psycho coward. We have a coward out there, Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. Another e-mail question from Bob for you, Bo: "Have the authorities considered the sniper may be an active police officer? How else could he blend in so easily and know all that's happening?" That sounds pretty farfetched to me but what do you say?

DIETL: I don't think he's an active one, but I tell you what, the more I'm starting to see how he plans his retreat after he kills people and shoots people, the way he has everything done so systematically and how he's able to evade being caught and he has everything planned, this is a smart psycho homicidal punk. That's what he is.

BLITZER: All right, Bo Dietl, former New York City police detective. We'll be getting back to you. Thanks for joining us. Before the sniper, there was the Zodiac killer. He terrorized the San Francisco Bay area for years with no break in the case. But three decades, DNA may reveal his identity, once and for all, three decades later that is. First, a look at some other news making headlines around the world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice over): Bogota bombed, a car bomb exploded outside the Bogota, Colombia police headquarters during the morning rush hour, killing three people and injuring at least 11 others. Leftist rebels are blamed.

A closer look, newly-surfaced home video shows some of the damage done by this month's deadly bomb attack in Bali, Indonesia. Citing continued threats, the U.S. Embassy has issued a new warning urging Americans to exercise maximum caution.

Virgin Atlantic Airlines has agreed to pay a fat settlement. The British carrier is giving $20,000 to a woman who says she was squashed by an overweight passenger sitting next to her on a London to Los Angeles flight.

Forget about having a license to kill, the spotlight was on James Bond's license to drive at a motor show in England. Cars from the new James Bond movie "Die Another Day" are on display. For the first time in 15 years, Bond will be driving an Astin Martin, and that's our look around the world.

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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not scared at all because I feel like -- I think that God was with me because I usually go on that bus. And if I didn't get on that bus today, something -- you know, thank God was with me then because I would -- that could have been me, just dead.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Welcome back to our continuing coverage. We're following some very chilling, frightening developments in the Washington area in the sniper case. CNN's Kathleen Koch once again is joining me with an update -- Kathleen.

KOCH: Well, Wolf, obviously the big question today initially was has the killer communicated with police again. And we found out in a major announcement the police made just a little -- about an hour ago that not only had the killer communicated again but police had some very vital information to share with the public.

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MOOSE: We recognize the concerns of the community, and therefore are going to provide the exact language in the message that pertains to the threat. It is in the form of a post-script -- "Your children are not safe anywhere at any time."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: And Chief Moose said that, again, they had received a message from the killer. They would be responding soon. And also, still no word on whether or not the shooting, Wolf, of that bus driver this morning is actually the work of the killer or killers. And no ballistic results back, that of the shooting of 35-year-old bus driver, Conrad Johnson.

BLITZER: They're certainly working under that assumption, though.

KOCH: They are.

BLITZER: Kathleen Koch, we'll be getting back with you. Thanks very much.

And after more than three weeks of chasing leads and dead ends, local police have not caught the serial sniper or snipers. Still, the feds remain reluctant about taking over the case entirely. The attorney general, John Ashcroft, isn't ruling out a takeover, but says it really isn't necessary.

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JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: I believe that we are operating appropriately and effectively in the current setting. We know of no additional value that can be brought to the investigation that we are not providing. But we are always willing to consider how we might better move this investigation toward a successful conclusion. (END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: As the fear over the sniper grips the Washington area, some people in the region are turning to their religious faith to help them overcome that fear. At this hour, people of many different faiths are gathering in a church in Rockville for a prayer service. With us from the Faith United Methodist Church are Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, he's the archbishop of Washington, Sikh leader, Rajwant Singh, and Rabbi David Shneyer.

Thanks to all of you for joining us. Cardinal McCarrick, this is such a difficult time for people here in the greater Washington area. What advice do you have -- what will be your message at this interfaith service?

CARDINAL THEODORE MCCARRICK, ARCHBISHOP OF WASHINGTON: Well, I guess first of all that we should have confidence in God. And don't let this poor person make us change our lives. Obviously, we have to take care of ourselves, take care of our children, but we have to have confidence. This is going to pass. Evil always passes.

One of the things we're going to do, Wolf, during this prayer service and this press conference is to ask people all around the country to join us in prayer, people of every religion, of every faith community, to join all of us here in Washington and Maryland and Virginia and ask the Lord to put an end to this terrible tragedy and to stop it before anyone else is hurt.

BLITZER: Rabbi Shneyer, how do people cope as far as dealing with their children, especially when a very terrifying message or threat has been now publicly disclosed?

RABBI DAVID SHNEYER, AM-KOLEL JUDIAC CENTER: It's very difficult to explain this to children. It's also very difficult to work also with the school system sometimes because they also, within the schools, are not always clear as to what needs to be done and how to best help the students. It's changed our lives radically. Our schedules have changed radically. Our concern is very different.

And we -- I mean, we are telling our children to affirm life and to go about their lives as best as they can within these limitations. We need to continue to give our children hope that this will pass, and we need to remind ourselves that there's a greater issue at stake here, too. We live in a very violent society. And one of the -- you know, one of the questions, I think that we need to ask ourselves is how do we respond now? How do we respond when this has touched us so personally? How do we respond to the violence that goes on around us?

BLITZER: Let me bring in Dr. Singh and ask you, Dr. Singh, what will be your message to those who have gathered for this service here in Rockville today?

RAJWANT SINGH, SIKH COUN. ON REL. & EDU.: Well, we want to lift the spirit of peace and love, that it is important that as we are facing this challenge of violence, the insane shooting, it is important that we lift the spirit of peace. And it is also important, while this violence has caught our attention, that we need to pay attention to the other violence, which is taking place in our society.

This area, Washington metropolitan, has seen from last 14 months, the -- first the attacks at the Pentagon and then the anthrax and now this. This is a very unsettling thing for the entire metropolitan area. So we are asking that how do we create a more peaceful neighborhood and peaceful community around the area?

BLITZER: Cardinal McCarrick, in the outline for tonight's service, I believe there's a reference in there -- and I'll try to be precise -- that there will also be a prayer for the perpetrator or perpetrators involved in this horrendous crime. Tell our viewers, are you actually going to be praying for this killer?

MCCARRICK: Well, we certainly are. We're going to be praying that he opens his eyes and opens his heart and that he hears the Lord saying to him, "Stop, this is not what I made you for, this is not why you got your mind, this is not why you got your body. This is not why you came into the world. You came into the world as all of us have come in, to do good and not evil." And so, we're going to pray that he gets that message and that he stops and that he recognizes the terrible things that he's doing and doesn't do them anymore and gives himself up so that he can get the help that he may need, but at least that society will be protected. That's why we're going to pray for him tonight.

BLITZER: All right. Cardinal McCarrick, good luck to you. Rabbi Shneyer, good luck to you as well. Dr. Singh, thanks so much to all of you for joining us. Thanks for sharing your message. God knows we need to hear what you're saying at this difficult time. Our viewers thank you as well.

When we come back, an unsolved murder mystery that spans three decades. Will the Zodiac Killer ever be caught? A closer look still to come.

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BLITZER: He taunted police with letters and terrorized the people they protect. More than three decades later a famous serial killer case goes unsolved, but that hasn't stopped the tips. Coming up on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, the Zodiac Killer.

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BLITZER: Welcome back. Joining me now to talk a little bit more about the overall sniper case and how it's affecting the quality of life here in the Washington area is Jim Bohannon. He's the host of "The Jim Bohannon Show," one of the country's top radio personalities.

Jim, thanks again for joining us.

JIM BOHANNON, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: The last time we spoke, I think both of us agreed we haven't seen anything like this in this area in a long time. Any changes in that thought? BOHANNON: No, except I think that I have seen a few callers to my radio show suggest that maybe it's time for a greater federal involvement. I'm not even sure if there's a legal precedent for that. I mean there has to be a certain basis for the FBI to get involved, but I'm sensing in that regard frustration. People want this over.

BLITZER: But do they realize, your callers to your very popular radio show -- do they realize that sometimes it takes a long time to solve a serial killer case like this?

BOHANNON: They do realize that, and yet of course, they're quintessentially American. I mean we're the only society that stands in front of the microwave yelling "hurry up" and so, I think it's that American impatience at work. But yes, they do really understand you can't do this overnight.

BLITZER: How are people in your day-to-day activities here coping? How are they getting along with each other because as you know, the traffic jams have been horrendous after these kinds of shootings? And people, you know -- people are scared.

BOHANNON: They are scared. And yet, you know, I've been really amazed. I thought that there would be a great deal more in the way of frayed nerves, temper, road rage, and from all that I can see and here from my callers, it sounds as though people have just pretty much gotten a hold of themselves and said, "We are here for the long haul. We will persevere until this person is found." I'm rather proud, actually, of the reaction.

BLITZER: Do people have confidence in the way law enforcement is handling this investigation?

BOHANNON: That is another area, and I'm not sure that you can say that it's confidence. I think that there's an attitude of, "Well, let's stick it out." But again, I'm hearing more and more of the voices of more direct federal intervention, this sort of thing. So there are questions about just how good the effect has been so far.

BLITZER: The economic impact on the region has already been significant. People are afraid basically to leave their homes, a lot of people, at least. Their life goes on, more or less but still there has been an economic impact already.

BOHANNON: Oh, a terrible economic impact, certainly anybody who has a business that is at all a discretionary good or service, something you can do without, more and more people are doing without it. If you don't have to buy that item, you don't have to expose yourself, then you don't do so. I think there was one gas station someplace that actually installed tarps around the perimeter of their parking area so that in fact people could pump gas without being visible from the outside. So yeah, there's a serious economic impact on top of what's already been a recession.

BLITZER: Has it had any impact on you, Jim Bohannon, in terms of your day-to-day activity? BOHANNON: It has. I have changed where and when I get gas. I work strange hours. I have altered that pattern. My wife and I are planning a major purchase. And I'll tell you very candidly; we are putting it off for the moment.

This morning during the -- for me the afternoon rush hour, when I was coming home after my all-night stint at work, I discovered great new scenic areas of Montgomery County, Maryland, I hadn't seen before. It has altered my life, yes, and I was really worried this morning's shooting was maybe seven or eight miles from my home. And I called my wife and said, "You stay away from windows."

BLITZER: All right. I think you speak for all of us when you make those points. Jim Bohannon...

BOHANNON: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: ... one of the best in the business, appreciate it very much.

BOHANNON: Thank you, sir.

BLITZER: The Washington area economy, as Jim points out, is suffering because of the sniper. Earlier we spoke with Towson University economist, Ani Rambassu (ph). He reports retailers in Montgomery County are reporting their sales are down 25 percent. Fewer people are going to restaurants. And hotels in the area report stiff losses.

Welcome back. The sniper attacks have had an impact on day-to- day life around the Washington region, as we all know, among the effects traffic gridlock and school closings in some areas as police continue to search for the suspect. We get more now on that part of the story from CNN's Kevin Sites.

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KEVIN SITES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Another day, another shooting and for Washington area residents, another morning of mayhem.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pull over, this white truck right here.

SITES: Police roadblocks turned commuter roadways into parking lots.

(on camera): Nothing suspicious in there, Officer?

UNIDENTIFIED OFFICER: Not if you call seafood suspicious.

UNIDENTIFIED OFFICER: I'm just looking for the descriptions that they told us to look for as traffic passes.

SITES (voice-over): With back-ups lasting for miles and morning commutes turned into half-day ordeals, some drivers just lost it. Police say the man in the back of this squad car was in their words, "Being a knucklehead." It's Don Thomas' job to help cordon off roadways after a shooting. He says driver frustrations will lead to more people getting hurt.

DON THOMAS, MARYLAND HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT: Oh, yes, people drive down the shoulders, run up on the curb, jump through the medians, which just makes it unsafe for all the other people that's out here on the highway.

SITES: The morning chaos is exacerbated by other problems. Because many are afraid to fill up, they're running out of gas. Others have to suffer for hours with full tanks of coffee but no place to go to the bathroom. Fear is also creating strange logic. Maria Coronas thought filling up at a gas station next to today's crime scene would be safer.

MARIA CORONAS (ph), RESIDENT: That's why I stop here.

SITES (on camera): Why is that?

CORONAS (ph): Because I think there's a lot of police around.

SITES (on camera): Businesses also got caught in today's dragnet. Some opened late. Some couldn't open at all. Leaving both customers and employees in a jam.

(voice-over): This bank normally opens by 9:00. Today they started at 10:00.

(on camera): Now, you're a manager here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I am.

SITES: What does this do to productivity and to your business overall?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It has affected our business a little bit, but you've got to go on.

SITES (voice-over): Tell that to the innocent people in white vans. Nicolas Carbenas has been stopped by police and says people are afraid of him.

NICHOLAS CARBENAS, WHITE VAN DRIVER: You drive it in the street or you stopped at the light everybody see you. know that people -- I don't know what, thinking.

SITES: That kind of fear and suspicion will probably continue to stretch around the region, just like the rolls of tape at each new crime scene.

Kevin Sites, CNN, Aspen Hill.

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BLITZER: A ruthless serial killer who craved publicity. He stalked Northern California more than 30 years ago and eludes police to this very day. Find out how DNA may, help crack the case of the Zodiac Killer. Stay with us.

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BLITZER: Welcome back. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Montgomery County, Maryland. A serial killer terrorizes a city. He kills at random, and he taunts police and the news media. The D.C. area sniper bears a chilling resemblance to the so-called Zodiac Killer, who terrorized the San Francisco bay area more than 30 years ago. As CNN's Rusty Dornin tells us, there's one more frightening parallel -- so far neither has been caught.

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RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He stalked and killed with knives and guns. Once he even dressed as an executioner. The man called himself The Zodiac. Beginning in 1968, he killed five people in Northern California. He claimed to have killed many more. Like the D.C. sniper, there seemed to be no motive. Victims were random. And The Zodiac craved publicity. He would taunt police, writing letter after letter, often in code to the newspapers. He too focused on fear.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We think that he's -- it appears to us that he is killing just for the thrill.

SUSAN MORTON, SAN FRANCISCO POLICE: This is the first letter.

DORNIN: Forensic scientist, Susan Morton, still thinks so. She knows every palm print and period penned by The Zodiac.

MORTON: If you read these letters, he was getting a tremendous thrill out of terrifying the public.

DORNIN: The original investigators have retired, but 33 years later, San Francisco homicide inspector, Kelly Carroll, deals with new tips, new clues, and new technology. San Francisco cab driver, Paul Stein (ph), was the zodiac's last known victim, shot to death inside his cab in 1969.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is Paul Stein's (ph) shirt.

DORNIN: The Zodiac cut out a piece of his shirt, then mailed part of it to the newspaper with a letter to verify his identity. Underneath the stamps on that letter, partial DNA from saliva.

ARTHUR LEIGH ALLEN, ZODIAC SUSPECT: No, I'm certainly, most certainly not the Zodiac Killer.

DORNIN: In the '70s, Arthur Allen was one of the prime suspects, but he was never charged. He died in 1992, denying it. DNA found under those stamps was compared just last week to DNA from Allen's corpse.

(on camera): From the licking of one of these stamps, you were able to determine that one of the prime suspects, or you feel is no longer a suspect? INSPECTOR KELLY CARROLL, SAN FRANCISCO POLICE: It does not match the DNA profile that we developed from a piece of brain tissue from Arthur Leigh Allen's autopsy.

DORNIN (voice-over): A 33-year-old case that's had more than 2,500 other suspects and tips that keep on coming.

CARROLL: Almost every day. In fact, you hear the phone ringing, it's probably mine, and it's probably somebody calling with a clue or some lead on this.

DORNIN: Police believe the killings stopped in 1969. The letters continued until '74. A serial killer never caught. And today, no one even knows if Northern California's feared Zodiac Killer is dead or alive.

Rusty Dornin, CNN, San Francisco.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Time is running out for to you weigh in on our "Web Questions of The Day." Should the letter found near the scene of Saturday's sniper shooting in Virginia be released to the public? Log on to CNN.com/Wolf. That's where you can vote. We'll have the results immediately when we come back.

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BLITZER: Now here's how you're weighing in on our "Web Questions of The Day." Earlier we asked this question -- should the letter found near the scene of Saturday's sniper shooting -- excuse me -- in Virginia be released to the public? Thirty-eight percent of you say yes, 62 percent of you say no. You can find the exact vote tally and continue to vote, by the way, on my Website, CNN.com/Wolf. Remember, this is not a scientific poll.

Let's get to some of your e-mail. Steve is writing us -- "Where is the Office of Homeland Security in regards to the sniper shootings or does their jurisdiction only apply when there are Muslims involved? When do they supercede the FBI as chief investigators?"

Roberta writes -- "Could it be possible that the sniper is blending into the crowd at a large gathering such as a movie house or a store where one killing occurred? Is it possible that the sniper is utilizing the subways and buses for his mode of transportation? I suspect something like the above is the only way he could escape the roadblocks."

That's all the time we have.

Right now, I'm Wolf Blitzer in Montgomery County. "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE" is up next.

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