Police Release Part of Sniper-Related Communication - 2002-10-22

Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose says the communication threatens children, saying they "are not safe anywhere, at any time."

Chief Moose says he believes it is important this part of the communication be shared with the public. He also says police have received another communication and will be responding soon.

Police are treating today's (Tuesday's) murder of a 35-year old commuter bus driver as though he was the 13th victim of a sniper terrorizing the greater Washington area. A ballistics report on the bullet that killed Conrad Johnson is still pending. All of the sniper victims were cut down by a 2-23 high-powered caliber bullet.

Mr. Johnson was shot in the chest while standing on the top step of his bus in Montgomery County, Maryland -- in the same general area where the first five sniper murders took place.

Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose says the sniper has shown the willingness and ability to kill people of all races, ages, genders and professions. He urged people in the Washington D-C area to remain cautious and vigilant.

Chief Charles Moose also said police are not able to release a description of a suspect or a vehicle in today's killing.

Nine people have been killed and three wounded in 12 confirmed sniper attacks since October second. The apparently random shootings have created a climate of fear in a large area around the U-S capital city.

Schools in Washington and the suburban area have kept hundreds of thousands of students inside for two weeks and sports events and other outdoor activities have been canceled.

Schools in and around Richmond, Virginia -- near Saturday night's sniper attack -- were closed Monday and remain closed on Tuesday.