D.C. sniper attacks

The Beltway Sniper, a.k.a. the Washington Sniper or the Tarot Card Killer, is a serial killer in the Washington D.C. area of the United States.

Beginning in the morning hours of October 2, 2002, an unknown person (or more than one person) embarked on a series of murders in the areas of Maryland and Virginia within the general area of Washington, DC. The murderer is believed to have driven around in a white van, using a long-range .22-caliber rifle to engage in sniper attacks against victims apparently selected at random.

A Tarot cards with the handwritten statement  "I am God" was found at the scene of one of the shootings.

The entire metropolitan area of Washington, D.C. is on alert, and a permeating sense of fear reigns over the area as people are afraid for their lives.

Suspect

The gunman is only presumed to be male, but no solid facts are actually known about the sniper's intent, identity or whereabouts, or whether he is working alone or with accomplices.

• He is reportedly a male, based on eyewitness testimony
• He reportedly is driving a white car, possibly a van
• At one crime scene was found a Tarot card (the death card) on which was written "Dear Policeman, I am God. Do not tell the media about this." It is not clear if this was left by the sniper.

Method

• He appears to be killing people at gas stations or supermarkets, right out in the open, with a distance-shooting rifle.
• His killing has essentially drawn a "circle" around the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and it is believed he is using the circular Beltway to get around from place to place.

Weapon

The rifle is presumed to be .223 caliber, or 5.56 NATO standard, a round designed to tumble when it hits the body.

Timeline

• October 2
  • The first five sniper shootings occurred in the course of 15 hours on October 2 in Montgomery County, Maryland, a northern suburb of Washington.

• October 13
  • The sniper had successfully committed ten long-range attacks on civilians. These attacks have so far claimed eight victims' lives, and wounded two people, including a 13 year old boy. (One shooting victim in the area was at first believed to be a victim of the Beltway sniper, but forensics experts have since stated that the incident was unrelated.)

• October 14
  • The police had a very good lead after the October 14 shooting, but it was later confirmed that the witness was inside at the time and was lying.

• October 19
  • A man was shot in a parking in Ashland, Va., about 90 miles south of Washington. Authorities discovered a 3 page letter from the sniper in the woods.

• October 21
  • Washington-area police arrested two men, one with a white van outside a gas station. The men turned out to be illegal immigrants with no connection to the sniper.

• October 22
  • Bus driver standing on the steps of his bus is shot dead. Authorities presuming sniper attack.