The most reasoned case for a "team" of snipers: http://www.counterpunch.org/pipermail/counterpunch-list/2002-October/023164.html from Ken Mccarthy at Brasscheck.. October 14, 2002 The probable make up of the Washington sniper team First of all, we are most likely looking at a TEAM of people. I've glanced at the moronic news coverage which seems designed solely to baffle and terrorize the public. Some of the things that were obvious immediately to anyone with a lick of sense and knowledge, but have somehow not been mentioned in the press: 1. Snipers work in teams (that's finally dawning on them) 2. Leaving death cards is an old Vietnam trick (intended to add to the terror of the situation) 3. In spite of their seemingly unsophisticated weapons, these guys are military-level practitioners This is NOT simply a lone marksman and is quite possibly is more than just two people. Why? Being a sniper requires: 1) getting into position undetected, 2) maintaining cover while waiting for the shot, 3) taking the shot, and 4) getting away undetected. You don't learn that at a rifle range and even law enforcement trained snipers (of which there are many) don't learn and practice the last, vital, trick and are not well trained in skills #1 and #2. A standard sniper team includes a shooter and a spotter. The latter helps the shooter find the target and assists in the getaway. He's a second mind and pair of eyes in a very stressful and challenging situation. Why do I think this is a team of more than two? Common sense. One person to find the shot. One person to take it - and at least one person to be sitting behind the wheel ready to drive away at a second's notice. Neither the spotter nor the shooter are in a mental state to be able to do that last thing as effectively as these guys are doing. Can you imagine them running to the car, fumbling with keys (can't leave them in the ignition, can you?) etc? There may be another team member - or three - to monitor police radio, plan and navigate escape routes (which probably change depending on conditions), and provide lookouts and diversions. If the team is as big as I think it might be, it will have to have a leader, someone to be in charge of overall management and security for the group. They will also need some mundane things: food, places to stay - and they need to be controlled. Speaking of providing diversions... the white panel truck. This team could also include additional vehicles, including a white panel truck, which would be noisily and conspicuously present at every shooting as a red herring. So who is doing this? A government. You need a lot of resources and a good sized pool of highly trained and well disciplined people to pull this off. What government? Either our own or someone else's. There sure is a lot of motivation floating around right now, particularly after the Bush administration's announced 'one bullet' diplomacy initiative in Iraq. Domestic motivations: 1. Casts further negative light on private ownership of guns, essential for moving the coup to the next level 2. Maintains the atmosphere of tension and terror Bush & Co. need to continue the ongoing coup at a relatively low cost 3. Blocks the headline space so that there is room for no news of substance to be reported 4. Conducts an experiment in social control The fact that this operation is taking place in the United States and so near to the largest concentration of supposedly sophisticated law enforcement and intelligence practitioners in the country - and that this team has not been even close to getting caught - leads me to favor the hypothesis that this is a domestic operation, or a foreign operation that is being permitted to take place to serve the interests of the ongoing coup. I sure wish this wasn't the case. It would be more comforting to think this is another lone 'gun nut,' but it doesn't add up. Even if such a person is 'apprehended,' I will have to doubt the veracity of the report. Logistics, it all boils down to logistics, and this looks like big league stuff.

snopes.com: Claim: E-mail offers sniper-avoidance tips from an experienced "SWAT sniper." Status: Undetermined. Example: [Collected on the Internet, 2002] Hello everyone, As you may already know I have been a SWAT Sniper for about 3 years. My specialty is Counter Sniper for Presidential and dignitary protection. What this basically means is, I am posted at certain locations looking for a sniper/assassin. Once a threat is detected, I am charged in countering his/her ability to attack by early detection and neutralizing (killing) him/her. Now on to business: This Sniper killing people in the DC Metro area is a skilled sharpshooter and very calculated. Unfortunately he appears very disturbed and has just left a calling card stating he was God. What that probably means is he may escalate the matter by increasing the rate of killing in each attack because he acknowledges the police's hot pursuit. This sniper knows it's a matter of time before he is discovered. He thinks he is superior to everyone, but knows eventually he will be caught. He is playing a very sick game that he feels he is winning. He will probably want to sensationalize his confrontations with the police and eventually stop running and have a standoff. The police may be his future targets. It is very important that you adjust your regular routine because this is a very deadly individual. I am going to give you my personal/professional advice on the matter. The Sniper's MO (his methods) are the following. a. 1st wave of attacks were concentrated in an area the suspect was very familiar with. b. It appears these initial attacks were closer, probably less than 100 yards away. Witnesses were hearing loud cracks. c. He definitely is showing off. He is trying to maintain 100%, one shot for one kill. (Sniper's creed). d. He is probably not shooting the first person that appears. He is looking for the highest probable kill. This encompasses distance, position, and movement of the individual and excludes physical barriers (vehicles, tress, columns, etc). e. He is shooting from areas adjacent to major roadways, thoroughfares, highways, etc. (quick egress). First group was within a couple of miles from beltway. Child shot in Bowie was a block away from the US 50 on the 197. f. He went up to northern Virginia (70 miles away) to throw police off his trail (diversion, used by snipers for stalking targets and eluding enemy). g. He is making this to be a giant "Stalk" around the Metro area. It is a game now. He wants them to come after him (like he is in his own war against the enemy). h. He is probably using any foliage (tree line, woods, bushes) that is around the malls, shopping center, gas stations, and parking lots. i. He is able to shoot accurately out to 500 yards (5 football fields) with or without a scope (depends on individual's abilities). j. The farther out he/she is, the more difficult of course it is to detect or pinpoint location. This aids in egress as well. (He knows this). My advice to you all is to consider the following. 1. Avoid unnecessary errands. 2. Bring someone along. 3. Do not stand outside your vehicle grabbing things out the car. 4. If you go to the store, put items in back seat of car (nothing in trunk) so that you can grab items and exit quickly. 5. When slowing down or at a stop, keep windows closed (glass deflects bullets, he knows this and he is not shooting through glass anymore). 6. Never walk straight to a door more than 20 feet away. Zig zag and walk at angles. The shooter is setting up on doorways/entrances and waiting for victims to line up on entrance. The hardest shot for a sniper is a target traversing laterally to his/her position. Walk between cars, use them for protection, and NEVER walk in a straight line to a doorway. Park as close as possible. Be mindful of wooded areas and any bushes around establishment. More than likely surrounding areas. Look for reflections (glare of the scope or weapon). Use drive-thru at fast food Look around and make it obvious (looking over your shoulder in the distant) he may hesitate if they think someone notices him. Point to what you are looking at as well. You want to telegraph yourself to others and get them involved. Keep clear of abandoned vehicles, but concern yourself with them. He is probably parking along roads and walking to his shooting position. You are probably safer inside the DC area only because congestion will prevent him an easy egress for the sniper. So if there is a toss up for a store then pick the inner city (not the outer boundaries). The main thing is being careful. Everyone is at risk even the police. He is able to pick the time and place so he has the overall advantage over the police. . If you still have difficulty sorting it out, then just stay home (smile). These are just my opinions and hopefully can help in your daily activities. Take care. God Bless.

The caught the snipers! Washington Post Former Soldier Detained in Sniper Case By Petula Dvorak, Christian Davenport and Sari Horwitz Washington Post Staff Writers Thursday, October 24, 2002; 7:05 AM A man who authorities were seeking in connection with the deadly sniper shootings in the Washington area was arrested without incident this morning in Frederick County, Maryland, law enforcement officials said. Shortly before midnight, Montgomery County Police Chief Charles A. Moose announced that police wanted to question John Allen Muhammad, a former Army soldier once known as John Allen Williams. Moose said Muhammad had been linked to the case in a telephone communication last week from a man who police believe is the sniper, but he emphasized that Muhammad may not be directly involved in the shootings. Hours later, Muhammad and a teenager were found sleeping at a rest stop off Interstate 70 in Frederick County, about 10 miles west of the city of Frederick and 60 miles northwest of Washington, D.C., a source said. full story @ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4422-2002Oct23.html

A review of the gun that the sniper used: http://www.gunblast.com/Bushmaster_Varminter.htm This is a deadly serious weapon. Reports are that they had a hole constructed in the trunk for firing this weapon. So much for the white van theory. Unless they had a second vehicle. It's scary that Al Queda may be taking notes. If these guys hadn't been so stupid in communicating clues they could have carried this on for a long time. Witnesses had been looking for a shooter and a fast moving car, these guys just blended in and went about their gruesome way. Al Queda has trained at least 10,000 plus in sniper skills, which aren't hard to come by. On Oct. 8, Baltimore police officers approached the Caprice and found Muhammad sleeping in the vehicle, spokeswoman Ragina Averella said. That was the day after a 13-year-old boy in Bowie was wounded as he arrived at school.