Caution Shootings in Maryland

[Nancy]

Snoopy, you were the first person I thought of when I heard this news. Keep safe.

All the other DIS'ers in the area also stay safe and if going outside be alert.

 

[minniepumpernickel]

Stay safe everyone! I hope that they catch this psycho soon!

 

[snoopy]

Caity and ryanpatrickmom, be careful going out tonight! Just be sure to look all around you and don't let your guard down. Even though I'm in D.C., I skipped grocery shopping tonight, I'm thinking it will be a box mac & cheese night.

Do you think this guy is still out and about? I tend to think he knows they are looking for him all around the immediate area, and I think he is probably somewhere else.

The worst part about this is that the murderer shot someone at a bus station right by a very well known and large retirement community - Leisure World. These poor old people, they are scared to death to leave their houses. There is a grocery store within walking distance that many rely on to walk to - now they feel like they can't even go to the store without being worried about being gunned down.

 

[caitycaity]

i don't know where he is, but i sure hope they catch him. i don't think i'll feel safe until they do.

i also feel horrible for the old people at leisure world.

i agree with your original assessment...after 9/11 just another thing to worry about. my stress levels have gone through the roof.

 

[#1 Disney Fan]

I couldn't believe it when I heard about this today. So frighteningly scary. {{{Hugs}}} to everyone in that area, take care and please do try to be as careful as you can. We're thinking of you.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

My MIL lives in Leisure World and wants us to stay with her tonight, for our safety. She feels safe in that the community is gated. I'm going to stop by there on my way home, but I'll sleep in my own bed tonight.

 

[ryanpatricksmom]

They had a profiler on WTOP this evening who thinks that they ditched the white truck and are sitting back enjoying the attention on the news. It just amazes me that all of this happened during rush hour.

I shopped at the Giant in Leisure World Plaza for 12 years. We only moved from the Aspen Hill area last year, and I grew up in Kensington. I really feel for Addicted, that's still her neighborhood, and even though the killers probably don't have any ties there, it must be spooky to be so close to where it happened. Btw, the senior citizens usually come in a community bus so they should be okay.

This morning I drove past the Rockville Pike crime scene about an hour before the shooting took place. Tomorrow I'm taking 270 in as far as I can go and staying off the side streets as much as possible. Almost every person in my office drove past one of the crimes scenes coming in this morning.

Obviously they are taking ridiculous chances, so who knows what they'll try next! I'm holding my breath through this rush hour.

 

[snoopy]

{{{hugs}}} addicted, caity & ryanpatrickmom! I'm not in Montgomery County and I feel creeped out, so I know you all must be feeling very vulnerable right now.

As if we in this D.C. metro area haven't been through enough in the past 13 months, now this. Its bound to shake people to their very core, all of this violence.

Did you guys see on the news where they were talking about how they tagged all the white trucks in the area with orange stickers? Why does the media give out this type of information? I mean, if the killers heard this, how hard would it be for them to duplicate the stickers? Sometimes I wonder WHY the media feels the need to report some of the things they do.

 

[Baboo]

OMG! {{{{hugs}}}} to all of you in that area! Please stay safe. Sending prayers that they find these guys soon.

 

[wovenwonder]

as reported on cnn.com -

Officials reached out to the public for help and offering a reward.

"If you have any information at all that you think might be helpful, please call 240-777-2600," said Montgomery County Executive Douglas Duncan. "We're also offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of whoever is responsible for this."

 

[Beauty]

I agree with Snoopy that the media just gives too much information. I know the public has the right to know and yada yada yada but who knows how many crazy people in the world will see this and think "Oh cool I wonder if we could get away with that!" just like the shootings in the school. Its so so sad!

I also agree that its crazy letting everyone know about the markings...what are these people thinking!

Stay safe you guys!! I'll be praying that these people or person are caught soon!

 

[mom2boys]

Truly scary. I am in Frederick County - just to the north of Montgomery County. We are home to Camp David & the infamous Ft. Detrick. My kids attend Catholic school in the city. The principal had the building under lock down by 11 am. Public schools didn't lock down here until about 2pm. We did "rainy day dismissal" which means the parents have to come to main entrance, give their child(ren)'s name(s) to a someone with a walkie, the name is relayed to the secretary who announces it over the PA. Then the parent waits & waits for the child to come down. The busses loaded right at the door today - usually the kids have to cross the street. I helped "take names". Usually all 500+ kids stand with their teachers on the sidewalk in front of the school at dismissal. Just as the busses were about to be called, a small white truck went down the street very slowly (the only way to go down a narrow city street with school busses parked on it.) All of us held our breathe.
The impact of the day is just now starting to sink in. I am thinking about the fact that we stood out on the sidewalk for 30-45 minutes. Naturally DH is away. I think the boys will be sleeping with me tonight. (Not that I think the shooters are coming to my house. I just want them close to me.)

 

[wovenwonder]

I'm glad that it has quieted down a bit for all of you that live close to the scene! Just curious -- did you go to work and school like normal today -- or choose to take a day off?

 

[ryanpatricksmom]

I, DH, and eldest DS are at work. Younger DS is at school. We're pretty much business as usual here.

I called my brother this morning (MC police officer) for a little insight. I was unable to reach him all day yesterday. It turns out that he wasn't working on the rampage, but was teaching a class at the training center so he knew less than the rest of us. Unfortunately, he is off today and spent the evening at a local radio show event (He's Officer Chris that's mentioned on DC101 for you local folks...we're so proud ) so he can't provide any information.

We're going to keep DS from walking about the neighborhood for now, but other than that, I guess we'll go on as usual.

 

[jx3smom]

DS finally called last night. He was supposed to pick up some equipment in the area of the shootings for a show on campus. He was waiting until today. I hope they catch this SOB soon. Last year was really a sad year for the kids at the U. of Md. in College Park. There was 9/11, the tornado that took two students(sisters) lives, and two other student deaths. Now this crazy shooter(s) in the general area. It's all too much for me.

 

[snoopy]

Its business as usual for us too. DH works for the Secret Service, and when stuff like this goes down (including the freak at the UN bldg. who thought it would be cool to fire a few shots in the air) he always works extra hours. I'm at work in Baltimore.

My oldest boy is in school, the youngest is in daycare/nursery school in Montgomery County. Its raining/cloudy today, so they won't be going outside, thank goodness.

 

[caitycaity]

business as usual. i can't take time off from work.

my il's were visiting us this week. i think they're happy they're leaving tonight.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

It's a normal day for us. I usually take the bus, but today I sucked it up and paid for parking. DS usually takes the bus to school, but I dropped him off for my own peace of mind.

I was amazed after work yesterday at how many people were out and about walking their dogs and carrying on as usual.

I work in a federal law enforcement office, and the agents are all wearing their weapons today. They usually don't when they are in the office.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

There's not much you can do other than be aware of your surroundings. I don't think it will help a great deal watching out for a white box truck. JMHO. These guys have surely dumped the truck by now. The big question is whether or not they will try anything like this again. Hopefully not and with the amount of agencies involved in the investigation I'm hoping that they will catch the SOBs before anything else happens. I hope they follow up on the angle about one of the shooters possibly being a marksman. It's just too bad that they don't have any forensics (that we know of or that I have heard of) so they can follow up on that as well. Has anyone heard about the one victim that survived the shootings? All I keep hearing is six shootings, five dead. I haven't had the opportunity to watch the news yet. I'll turn on WJZ (Baltimore) shortly if no ones knows.

 

[wovenwonder]

Did I hear correctly on the noon news -- that there might have been a 6th victim? Anyone in the area know more about this?