It seems there may be another sniper person or persons on the loose, this time in West Virginia. I just caught this on CNN this morning, but here's an article from a local WV TV station...

Kanawha Authorities Investigating Separate Shootings[/URL]

Kell

Reading these stories just makes me so mad, Kell! With crimes like these, there are so little precautions to take. What else can you do besides not go out? How do you hide from a sniper?? How do you look for one? How can you protect yourself from something you can't see? My heart goes out to the families of those lost. I am praying for everyone in that area.

Stay safe, everyone.

I have to agree Christine that hearing about things like this happening can just drive you crazy! The scary thing is, there is really nothing that anyone can do. You can try and be cautious about where you go or how often you go out, but truth be told, it could happen to anyone at anytime.

My heart really goes out to the families of those slain. They were taken way too soon and without cause or reason. I hope that they catch this person/persons soon before more innocent people are killed. =(

Yikes!! Charleston is only an hour from me. That's just scary.. I haven't been catching the news lately so I hadn't heard about this till tonight a friend of mine was saying something about it. I just don't understand why anyone would want to hurt random people. Just makes no sense to me at all. I'm going to go check out our local stations news and see what they've got to say about this.

Here's the latest from the local station about this guy. http://www.msnbc.com/local/wsaz/m318735.asp?0ct=-302&cp1=1[/URL]

I'm glad they're making a bit of headway in with the ballistic evidence. I hope they catch this creep soon.

I agree... how do you defend yourself against this kind of crime? What are we left to do.... pump gas in a zig-zag pattern!? I know that sounds kind of silly to say on such a serious subject; I'm not trying to make light of the shootings themselves, but rather the predicament we're all in these days just trying to avoid these idiots.

I do wonder about the victims at the Go Mart. Were they sitting in their cars, walking into/out of the store, or standing? I think one victim was using a pay phone.

Kell

[ August 17, 2003, 02:54 PM: Message edited by: KellKell ]

Just wanted to update this a bit. They are now looking for a heavy set white male in a dark extanded cab Ford F-150 truck. However lots and lots of men in WV and the surronding area fit that description to a tee. They now have 100 suspects and are continuing ballastics testing. Some opinions is that this guy is a copycat of the Beltway Sniper.
This is just so scary, what does a person do? While Charleston and where these things have happened is a good hour from me it's still very close to home. One of the victims was out buying milk and the others were pumping gas and talking on the phone. Hopefully they catch psycho soon.

Gee Miranda,
You've just discribed a couple of my hubby's cousins. That's close to the area where my hubby grew up and where most of his family (his mom's side) lives now.

How can you not go out? You need to go to work and you need gas in your vehicle to do so. There is no public transportation and you can't walk. I guess walking in a zig zag pattern; parking your vehicle between the store and any area that would provide cover for a shooter; and pumping gas in a stooped position are the only safe guards I can think of except maybe break out the old football helmet.

On the news tonight they sat at a Wal-Mart and counted extended cab dark colored F-150's. In under 30 minutes they had already counted 12... There is no way to protect yourself from something like this in my opinion. I was thinking to myself and personally I know around 10 men who fit that description and their vechile fits that description. Just not much to go on however I suppose it's better than nothing.

I was just up in Charleston at the mall they had there a week or so ago, so it's sorta scary to think that someone in my family could have been hurt. Its a good thing that we filled up with gas before going.

My friends up in the area are afraid to even get gas. I don't blame them. Its just a shame when things happen that make people afraid to do the normal everyday things that they used to do =(

I hope it ends soon and they catch him so everything can go back to normal.

This thread is a little old but... that sniper dude is still out there somewhere. And just to let some of you feel a little more comfortable while in this crazy state, my cousin is married to an FBI agent who was working the case and it was leaked to the family (so we'd feel better) that the shootings were all drug-related in some way.

Oh, one other thing... they just annouced today that there is a $50,000 reward out for the capture of this creep...

KDogg

Although I am a beleiver in a right to bear arms, I do think the government needs to do a more extensive check on the people that buy guns.
I know here in Ohio they did everything but take my blood, I have a permit to carry a concealed weapon.
I am not just talking felony backgrounds, but neighbors, work friends, etc. It seems alot of shootings that happen (not all but some) these people we outwardly showing signs of mental trouble or deep anger.
The only thing we can't stop is the thug selling guns out on the street, but if we make the laws tougher on these idiots, might be a bit better? They know those stolen guns are going to bee used for robbery, murder, etc. So, give them life for selling illegal guns?
Sad thing is citizens medical records are sealed so those couldn't be checked. I think for purchasing a gun they should.
A gun is a lethal weapon, we need to tighten the laws somehow. Right now I have a neighbors who just shoot out behind their houses, one the them a Sheriff?
Hunting season is coming and I leave all the lights on outback, one year I got a bullet through my walk in window? Very rural here, but I don't think they should be just shooting guns off here there and anywhere.
As to the description, Curt could fit that also, and my oldest son? Not alot to go on, hopefully ballistics bring something up, but that is only going to mean another crime.
Fifty thousand? We can't find Bin Ladden or Hussien for twenty five million?
Truthfully, maybe the guy just did away with himself, its been a long time. Not sorry to say that, he took innocent lives. May the Lord have his way with him!
And as for why the shootings occurred, didn't seem like a execution style drug murder to me. I never heard that the victims even knew each other.
Ok, had my say. No matter, I feel badly for the victims and their families, gossip isn't going to help them.
Piggster

Sad,& wrong.Sick people... =(

The thing is...tougher laws only affect people that abide by laws.Selling illegal arms is a problem.

Around here criminals want a gun they rob a gun shop...laws never enter into it unless they get caught.

The socio-economic conditions & military backgrounds seem to be the contributing factors in cases like these.Maybe more attention in those areas might help.But,those are some really huge and broad spectrum issues.