Random Shooting in Montgomery County
 

Sorhors, Sisterfriend and folks,

Did you all hear about the 5 random killings in Montgomery County, MD between Wednesday, Oct 2, 2002 and Thursday, Oct 3, 2002. What is going on with folks in America? I hope that the catch the individual(s) really soon!

Serioussigma22:eek:

Please fill me in soror. I've been spending my nights @ school so I miss the late news.

NP.

PRAY
 

All I can do is say that this is really too close to home. My family lives in Montgomery County. When I found out I was shaken and it was hard for me to function in a human services agency, where YOU always have to be in check before you can help someone else. Especially, since I had a similar dream that something like this was going to happen not to long ago.

I hope no one takes offense to this because its not meant to offend anyone. However we are a christian based organization. To all believers, I would ask you all to include this on your prayer list tonite. Pray for those harmed, families left behind, and the protection of the next, if any, targets.

NinjaPoodle: I found this article on Yahoo. Hope it helps! :)


Sniper Sought in Md. Shootings
Fri Oct 4, 1:07 PM ET
By STEPHEN MANNING, Associated Press Writer

SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) - Scores of law enforcement officers searched suburban Maryland on Friday for a sniper they believe randomly targeted five people, killing each with a single shot. Investigators were also trying to determine if another fatal shooting, in nearby Washington, was related.

Tests on the bullets and wounds indicated all five Maryland victims were hit from a distance, likely with .223-caliber bullets from an assault or hunting rifle, Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose said.

The Washington victim, a 72-year-old pedestrian, was shot once in the chest Thursday night as he stood at a street corner. It wasn't immediately clear if the deaths were related.

Washington police spokesman Sgt. Joe Gentile said "there is nothing at this point to indicate a connection. However, obviously we will take a close, hard look as to whether they are related."

The FBI ( news - web sites), meanwhile, was expected to provide investigators with a profile of the shooter, or shooters, by the end of the day, Moose said.

Schools opened Friday with extra patrols and calls poured into 911 dispatchers about loud noises.

"People are on edge," Moose said. "We're all human. We're all afraid."

There were no known witnesses to the shootings even though they happened in daylight in public places. All the Montgomery County victims died within five miles of one another during a 16-hour span Wednesday night and Thursday.

At a gas station, a taxi driver slumped, bleeding, onto a minivan. A landscaper mowing the lawn at a car dealership stumbled and fell. A woman at a post office collapsed on a bench. Another victim was vacuuming out her vehicle, and the fifth was in a parking lot.

Moose said the slayings had not definitely been linked but it was a strong possibility. None of the victims appeared to have been robbed, and police said race did not appear to be a motive. The victims were Hispanic and white; one was a native of India.

"There's still no information to lead us to think our victims are associated," Moose said. "They don't appear to be anyone's enemies, just random targets."

Friday morning, police searched for white trucks and vans in the area after reports that a white box truck was seen speeding away from one of the scenes. It was unclear whether the shots were fired from a vehicle or at what range. No stolen vehicles were reported, police said.

"We do have someone that so far has been very accurate in what they are attempting to do, and so we probably have a skilled shooter," Moose said.

Gov. Parris Glendening committed 140 state troopers, a helicopter and whatever additional aid is needed, a spokesman said. The FBI, Secret Service, and ATF also were involved.

Officers were following more than 150 leads, Moose said, and they collected security camera videos from businesses near the shooting scenes, including two grocery stores. He said authorities were reviewing a surveillance tape from one of the scenes, declining to release details except to say "it has been helpful."

Authorities also set up a tip hot line and offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the suspect or suspects.

The killings began Wednesday evening. Around 6 p.m., James D. Martin, 55, of Silver Spring, a program analyst for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, was shot in the parking lot of a Wheaton grocery store.

Around 7:45 a.m. Thursday, James L. "Sonny" Buchanan, 39, of Arlington, Va., was killed while cutting grass at a car dealership in the White Flint area. He stumbled toward the building before collapsing as dozens of employees ran toward him.

"I just put my hand on his shoulder and said, 'Help is on the way,'" service director Al Briggs told The Washington Post. "But he was already gone."

Prenkumar Walekar, 54, of Olney was shot about 8:15 a.m., while pumping gas into his cab at a station in the Aspen Hill area.

About a half-hour later, Sarah Ramos, 34, of Silver Spring died at a post office next to a retirement community in Silver Spring.

Dolores Wallgren said she saw Ramos slumped over on a bench, bleeding from the head, when she arrived to go to a beauty shop nearby.

"She was sitting on the bench, just sitting there," Wallgren said.

In the fifth shooting, Lori Ann Lewis-Rivera, 25, of Silver Spring was killed about 10 a.m. at a gas station in Kensington. Mechanics said they heard the shot but didn't see who shot Lewis-Rivera, who was vacuuming her van.

The man killed in northwest Washington was identified as Pascal Charlot, 72.

Schools were open Friday, but Carin Saez, 27, retrieved her 12-year-old niece, Kiarra Middleton, less than an hour into the school day after deciding it was too dangerous for her to be there. She didn't plan to let her own children return until the killer was caught.

"I was petrified to even go to the store last night," Saez said. "My kids were scared. They didn't even want to go outside. They're more scared now than on September 11."

The five killings brought the number of homicides in Montgomery County to 25 this year, the most since 1997.


soulfulremix

This person is still out there doing very deviant things! The police in D.C. believe that he shot and killed a 72 year old man going into a building on Thursday, October 3, 2002 and they now believe that he shot, but didn't kill a woman in Fredricksburg, Va on Friday, October 4, 2002 in front of a Michael's store. I'm praying really hard that they catch this person.

Serioussigma22:mad:

Thank you Soulfulremix.

It's insane what is happening to our society. I wonder how much longer we (the United States of America) will last before anarchy sets in??

It started in Montgomery County but yesterday, a 13-year old boy was shot while walking to school in Prince Georges County. He is in serious condition. While I don't have all of the facts, the police are considering it to be the work of the same sniper.

I am sad and very angry because the P.G. County school system is on lockdown. Every door is locked, elementary schools have no recess, helicopters are flying overhead. We have no after-school activities, football games have been postponed, and some children are not coming to school at all. It is hard to maintain a sense of normalcy in everyday life. Yesterday I stopped by my children's school to drop something off and I was treated like a stranger! I had on my school i.d. and they know me!

I know it is best to be more cautious but if we disrupt our everyday lives, then he (or they) have won -- which is to instill fear in our hearts to just live our lives!

Sorhor Bluereign,

Fairfax County Public School System also cancelled all outside activities for the rest of the week because everyone is very afraid of this sniper. Even though they have a lot of leads about the sniper they really don't have a concrete clue about this person.

Serioussigma22:cool:

This is way too close to home!!! I am from Anne Arundel Co and I live like 15 min from the school that the boy got shot at. This is really scary because my brother goes to elementary school and it could have been him. I am in Kentucky at school and I told my mom I want them to move here right now. I know we can't just run away from it but I don't know what else we can do. I definately don't want to go home on christmas break this year.

Anne Marie

Hey folks,

The Washington Post reported that the sniper left a message for the police. He stated, "I am god"... and he left the death tarot card for them at the last shooting site (the school in PG. County)!
God please let them get this guy of the street.

Serioussigma22:cool:

Well Folks,

The sniper is still out there and still killing folks, his latest victim was a 53 year old African American businessman from Phila, Pa. and they are now searching for a white astrovan wiitha utilities ladder attached to the top and they also know that he has a female driver.

Serioussigma22 :cool:

It is really ashame that noone has gotten his license plate number or a better look this individual.

Sorhor Kizzie22,

Thanks for the advise! The really sad thing about this situation is that everyone in the Greater Washington Metro area have no ideal what to really look out for or how to really protect ourselves against this sick person or persons.

Serioussigma22:(

This last shooting that took place, took place less than a mile from where I work...My ex called me last night to tell me about it and reminded me tht the other shooting took place close to his job...this one was close to his apt...it's getting way 2 close to call...I hope they find the psycho soon! :mad:

OMG!!! Be careful girlie!! Like I have said before this has Ben Ladien written all over it...Gearge silly azz Bush needs to worry about OVER here fisr and leave Saddam Husein alone!!!!!!

If you need a place to stay you got one in Arkansas!!!!

Sorhors, Sistafriends, Friends, and Folks in General,

I can't believe that the eyewitnesses have given out unbelievable accounts. Why would anyone want to mislead the police on purpose? Some people will do anything for the half-a-million dollar reward or their 15 minutes of fame! I'm just really depending on God first and the police second to catch this psycho.

Stay safe and blessed everyone!

Serioussigma22:mad:

My prayers are with you guys.
 

That's all I can say.

:eek:

Please watch your backs and be aware of your surroundings sorors and friends.

Please watch your backs and be aware of your surroundings sorors and friends.

Soror TRSimons,

Thanks for your prayers because there is power in prayer! Well folks it seems that the police and taskforce have been in contact with the sniper or a person that is presenting him/herself as the sniper's representative, however, the message was confused because the police are asking this person to resubmit their message. It really seems like it's a nightmare that doesn't want to end. However, I serve a God that is much bigger that all of this and He is still in control. Yes, He is still in control even through the mist of this and every other horrible situation.

Serioussigma22:cool:

Sorhors, Sistafriends, and Folks,

It looks like the Lord has answered our prayers and the deviant beings have been taken into custody! I just want to get back to some level of normalcy! Stay blessed and safe everyone!

Serioussigma22:cool:

Today, I heard the nicest sound...

Our school's marching band OUTSIDE practicing!

I am glad that this is finally over. The real troopers through all of this have been our children. Games were cancelled, the Scouts' camping was postponed, there was no outdoor recess.

I thank everyone who e-mailed me and asked how I was doing. I am not going to lie -- I was scared and thought my life was over one day when I was in a parking garage and a white man in a white van was spinning around and looking crazy. I believe he was just looking for a parking space but at the time I didn't know!:eek:

Sorhor Bluereign,

I'm feelin' you on that one because when the crazy mess started I thought that I was also in danger because I'm in a trailer and I always go to work pretty early by 6:35 a.m. (School starts at 7:20 but my administrator wants us at school by 7:00 a.m.) and on this particular morning the power was out so there were no lights in the learning cottages (trailers) and as I fumbled my way through the dark to go back outside to walk into the building a white van with black letters and a utility ladder on top was parked right next to my particular trailer. Next to the trailer was a strange looking caucasian male sitting in the van smoking a cigarette, however, the story doesn't stop there because I hear Senorita Rodriguez; a Spanish teacher who also is in one of the 31 learning cottages, screaming really loud because she is scared. Fortunely, one of the four security officers pulls up in his golf cart and ask the gentleman if he needs some assistance. The man in the white van explains that he is waiting to help unload a truck of supples because the school is under renovations for the next two years. Anyway, we were really shaken but not stirred:p and just wanting the morning to be over because it was a very scary moment and it wasn't even 7:00 a.m. I just kept thinking that God hasn not given us a spirit of fear but he has given us a spirit of love and a sound mind. I'm just very, very, very, glad that this ordeal seems to be over!

Serioussigma22;)

My learning cottage is the very last trailer before you leave the school campus. It is a quarter of a mile away from the building and there really isn't a fence or gate to keep strangers off of the campus. Right across the street is a very dark wooded area with no lights so now you understand how concerned I am with this setup!