October 16, 2002
ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) -- People who saw the Washington-area sniper
aim, open fire and flee in a white van were not able to give
investigators enough details to create a composite sketch, police
said Wednesday.
It was the latest setback in the hunt for the gunman who has
killed nine people in two weeks.
"Unfortunately, distance and darkness, and perhaps adrenaline
have made them unable to give a clear composite that we can
disseminate," Montgomery County Police Capt. Nancy Demme
said. "I know that's not what the public wants to hear."
Investigators
said Monday night's shooting of 47-year-old FBI analyst Linda
Franklin outside a Falls Church, Va., Home Depot store was
the first time witnesses saw an actual shooting rather than
just shadowy figures fleeing.
More than one bystander reported seeing the shooter, but their
descriptions were not consistent, investigators said.
The gunman was variously described as dark-skinned, olive-skinned,
Middle Eastern and Hispanic.
"The only common denominator thus far is male,"
Demme said. "We don't have a refined description to go
by."
Demme said one witness told police the shooter used an AK-74
rifle. Police said the weapon can fire the .223-caliber round
that has been the sniper's bullet of choice.
"The witness firmly believes this is the weapon,"
Demme said. "But we have to keep in mind that weapons
are interchangeable, like vehicles. That may be what he thinks
he saw."
So far police have released composite images of a white box
truck and white vans -- either a Chevrolet Astro or Ford Econoline
-- that have been seen at more than one shooting.
Witness Checklist
Demme gave a "how-to" list of tips for potential
witnesses in case the sniper strikes again. Among them: Stare
in the direction of the bullet noise, carry around a pen to
take notes and, if necessary, write down details on your hand.
She also warned witnesses not to "contaminate" their
memories by comparing notes with other people or the media.
Since Oct. 2, there have been 11 shootings in Maryland, Virginia
and Washington that have left nine people dead and two wounded.
The victims were cut down by a single bullet as they went
about their everyday activities. A tarot death card left at
one scene read: Dear Mister Policeman, I am God."
Law enforcement sources told The Associated Press there was
no indication the sniper targeted Franklin because of her
job with the FBI's Cyber-Crimes Division, created last year
to focus on computer crimes as well as intellectual property
cases.
Police said Franklin was not assigned to the sniper case.
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld agreed this week to call
military surveillance aircraft into the hunt for the killer.
Sources said federal agents on the plane will relay information
to authorities on the ground.
Though police remained a subtle presence around major
intersections, gas stations and schools -- many which remain
under orders to keep children indoors -- there was no obvious
sign of military planes in the rainy skies Wednesday.
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