NCJ Number
199283
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 30 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2003 Pages: 20,22,24,25
Date Published
February 2003
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes the investigation of the suburban Washington, DC, area sniper shootings.
Abstract
In narrative form, the author discusses how the Montgomery County Police Department, other local police agencies, and more than 1,500 Federal agents investigated the DC area sniper attacks that occurred October of 2002. The sniper task force, which was based on three floors of a building across the street from the Montgomery County police headquarters, was the largest investigative team ever assembled for a local murder case in the United States. Chief Moose, who holds a Ph.D. in Urban Studies and Criminology, is described as the most celebrated police chief in the Nation. After the sniper suspects were arrested, large banners were erected over local highways thanking the chief and suggesting that Chief Moose should run for president of the United States. The author reveals that during the investigation there was speculation that the sniper shootings were terrorist related. However, Chief Moose points out that it is important in any investigation to track down every lead and remain open-minded. Speculation may cause officers to focus too narrowly on one scenario, which may not be correct. The sniper task force investigated over 16,000 tips, including thousands of phone calls, and at least one phone call from a person claiming to be the sniper. After linking the phone call to other pieces of evidence, including a call from a priest who said the sniper called him, the investigative team narrowed in on Malvo and Muhammad. The pair had left a string of crimes and shootings in their wake from Tacoma, WA through Alabama and into the suburban DC area. Chief Moose credits the arrests on hard working officers who tracked down every lead, no matter how small.