My theory (FWIW) on the Ashland, VA shooting

[Blondie]

Even though it hasn't been linked to the other sniper related shootings, I do think it's the same guy.

And they better hurry up and get the bullet out of the most recent victim's stomach, or he'll shoot again. He want's the notoriety, the "glory" that he is to blame. If they can't link it, he'll take someone else down until they can link it up to him.

Several local High Schools had their football teams travel south to play (only players, parents and school officials knew the locations.) They did this due to the shootings. They felt it would be safer to play in a undisclosed location, and further south where the sniper hasn't hit. Until last night.

I think he is right up in everyone's faces saying "yeah, I know you're down here, and I'm going to take that security away, tonight."

He also shoots on a weekend, to disprove the theory that he takes the weekend off.

And he still manages, somehow, to get away with it!

That's the puzzling part....how does he get away so fast?

 

[Kteacher]

Blondie I think you're right. my thoughts are with you and all the other Virginia area DISers. My sister lives very close to this area, and it has been very hard on her and her family. I hope they find this guy soon

 

[Kitty 34]

I so agree with you Blondie!!! Stay safe!!!

 

[Serena]

Here's my thoughts.
He gets away because he's smart. He knows the roads, he does what he wants to do and he's gone.
He must look pretty normal, and his van pretty normal.
He loves the glory but isn't stupid enought to wait around or to come back to the same location.
He took a couple days break to research the news and find out where all the security is located and went somewhere else.
He doesn't want caught, he wants to prove that our security isn't worth _____ if someone is determined enough.
And he doesn't care about other people. We are just targets to him. He doesn't care who he hits, just someone who happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

 

[Disneyaholic]

Originally posted by Serena
Here's my thoughts.
He gets away because he's smart. ...

I think "he" is actually "they".

And I think they get a lot of help from the media. I've been watching/listening to CNN this morning. One of the anchors was commenting about how they've received a lot of criticism for broadcasting too much information...she said (more than once) "it is our right and privilege" to broadcast this information.

Yeah, maybe it is, but I sure wish they would choose to NOT exercise that right!!

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

I agree as well.

The shooter isn't playing by the usual serial killer profile. He's varying his routine -- shooting on the weekend after taking two weekends off, travelling farther south when they say he won't travel far from his base in the DC area. He's listening to the media and playing games with the police and the media.

I think the shooter is one of two thing -- maybe it's someone who, like the nobleman in the story "The Most Dangerous Game," gets his kicks from hunting human beings.

The second (and most likely) is that there is more than one person acting, that it's a terrorist cell with Al Qaida ties. There's one shooter and one driver of the van so they can get away quickly.

In fact, I wonder if the van is a decoy. Shooter takes the shot, a few seconds later the decoy white van leaves the scene, leading people and police to focus on a white van, and the shooter (and maybe another driver) leave at their leisure in another car or truck the police aren't checking.

 

[December99]

I agree alot with Obi....my dad and I were talking this morning because I had to call him and tell him I'm glad he is home safe. Two weeks ago he was driving in that area coming home from vacation near Norfolk/Virginia Beach. A year ago, he ate at that very Ponderosa, three years ago I stopped right on that road to get gas before heading to my relatives (as traffic from Richmond to Norfolk can be very heavy and I get too anxious to get there to stop for gas so I do it before I hit Richmond). We travel that corridor ALOT!!! And, like the person that was shot - we do not live there or even in Virginia. Anyway - it's only a thought but now that they are shooting lower, it pulls away the focus on the DC area which could possibly leave that are WIDE open to something else, perhaps something bigger...I really hope that the authorities have already thought of this possibility - I'd hate to see what could happen and praying very hard that NOTHING happens...that this is just a freak with a sick mind!!!!!

 

[MeanLaureen]

What I don't understand is why they are assuming this person lives in the NoVa, DC, MD area? Just because the first shootings were from that area doesn't mean this wacko doesn't live in Richmond, Charlottesville, VaBeach etc and he actually traveled away from his home to throw the police off the track. Just like in the beginning when the police closed off 95 north but 95 south is wide open.

 

[Blondie]

I agree with the white van being a decoy. That's how he (they've) managed to get away.

They need to start focusing on other things, because this guy is doing the exact opposite of what they think he'll do.

This could all very well be practice for a much larger attack on the DC area.

The terrorists who flew into the WTC had taken hours of flight school lessons, meaning they had lots of practice.

Here's a scary thought, what if the sniper(s) involved are using the same gun, but every time it's a different person doing the shooting.

 

[kylara]

I honestly do not think that the serial sniper has any ties to Al Quada. I really do believe what the profilers are saying in that it is a person who gets his kicks out of the "power" he gains from the kills. I think the weekend shooting was because people felt safe, but also because he went farther out of his comfort zone and needed to do more casing of the area so that his escape routes were worked out. I do believe that it could be two people. One does the shooting and the other drives the escape vehicle.

This isn't the first or even second serial sniper. It has happened before. I do wish that the news services wouldn't give out so much information and that the sheriff's deparments and FBI would put a clamp on some of the leaks. I can understand wanting to put some information out, but really, they are getting way to much.

As to why I do not think it is a terrorist group. Well they usually like big examples...like bombs or what they did with the WTC. If a terrorist group wanted to get our attention and make us feel unsafe, I don't think that this is how they would do it. Sorry but they like the power of having the entire country feel unsafe, not just one area. If you look at the Home Depot parking lot where the previous victim was shot, a terrorist group probably would have looked at that parking garage and thought "car bomb." That would have done some massive damaged and probably killed many people...which seems to be the way terrorists groups work. Also terrorist groups usually take credit for the terror they cause.

Whatever way it turns out, I hope they catch this psycho or psychos soon.

 

[minnieandmickey]

I agree with Kylara about them not being with a terroristic group. My husband and I were talking about this last night and my theory on it that he is a white male, ex military or police, mid 30s. The reason I state the above is because most of the serial killers have been white, he obviously has the sniper training (military or police), and is normal looking as you and I which explains why no one has been able to identify him(think Ted Bundy type), and he is not bragging about it(think Ted Bundy again). This is just my opinon.

I hope all of you in the area keep safe, I'll be praying for you.

 

[adamak]

My theory is that there is only 1 person. If there are 2 or more, co-ordination will crack sooner. I also think a white van is not involved. What if the guy(s) follow a white van, then shoot, just to elude the police? That would be scary.

I also think we'll never catch him. He's not smart, he's just sick, careful, he studies the map, and he's a very powerful gun. How are you going to catch this guy(s) if there is no witness. What would police be searching for. Didn't they say they have 20+ people unders watch? Well, all down the drain.

I agree that the media / police has released too much information. The police should just stop talking, stop the hoop la. Too much profiling (which probably doesn't work). Remember, none of the 911 terrorists fit any traditional profiles.

These incidents are making me sick to the stomach.

 

[one_cat]

I agree that I don't think it's terrorism. It just doesn't seem to be the way AlQaida works. I think it's a psychopath who enjoys the killing and the thrill of being the hunted. I think he is probably a delivery person or a plumber or someone who has to do some travelling in a truck for a living. Between jobs he shoots a person then goes to the next job. Every so often he changes his routine and kills someone on an evening or weekend just for fun. Every so often he swears off his habit for a week or two but like a crack addict he will always kill again.

Bottom line - this guy needs to be caught and destroyed.

Stay safe everyone.

 

[DocRafiki]

As to why I do not think it is a terrorist group. Well they usually like big examples...like bombs or what they did with the WTC. If a terrorist group wanted to get our attention and make us feel unsafe, I don't think that this is how they would do it. Sorry but they like the power of having the entire country feel unsafe, not just one area. If you look at the Home Depot parking lot where the previous victim was shot, a terrorist group probably would have looked at that parking garage and thought "car bomb." That would have done some massive damaged and probably killed many people...which seems to be the way terrorists groups work. Also terrorist groups usually take credit for the terror they cause.

Didn't we learn not to assume that terrorists follow a typical M.O.? (like before when we thought it was best to cooperate with them when they hijacked planes) Not all of their terror is "big." Many of their bombs kill only one or two people. You probably are right with the taking credit, but then again maybe that is the new way they're working now too, just to keep the investigators busy and stumped.

I haven't been watching much of this on the news, but I'm getting pretty scared just reading what you guys are writing. I'm not sure why, but I do hope it's a lone psycho and not a terrorist cell (maybe a lone psycho would be easier to catch and eliminate, but I'm not a detective so I don't know). The thought of them doing this all over the country is just horrible. The scary thing is, even if it's not them, they're probably seeing the way everyone is reacting to it and thinking, "good idea."

 

[Disneyaholic]

Originally posted by DocRafiki
You probably are right with the taking credit, but then again maybe that is the new way they're working now too, just to keep the investigators busy and stumped.

Wasn't the original bombing of the WTC (early 1990s) something that no one took credit for? If I remember correctly, it took a long time for them to be able to "pin" this on anyone. Same with the USS Cole. I could very well be wrong here, but I think that no one ever actually came forward and took credit for either of these, but Al Qaeda was eventually named.

I personally think that these guys are so wacky that they don't even CARE if they get "credit" for it or not. They just love knowing that Americans are living in terror and are having to change their normal way of living.