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Ex gi and teen Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/kr/20021024/lo_krnewyork/cops_hunt_ex_g_i____teenhttp://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/kr/20021024/lo_krnewyork/cops_hunt_ex_g_i____teen
Local - New York Daily News
Cops hunt ex-G.I. & teen
Thu Oct 24, 7:19 AM ET
By HELEN KENNEDY, MARTIN MBUGUA and RICHARD T. PIENCIAK
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
The sniper task force put out an arrest warrant for an "armed and dangerous" former Army soldier traveling with a teenager last night - but insisted he is not considered the maniacal marksman.
Just before midnight, Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose sent a new bizarre and cryptic message to the Beltway sniper, begging him to make contact.
"You have indicated that you want us to do and say certain things. You asked us to say, 'We have caught the sniper like a duck in a noose.' We understand that hearing us say this is important to you," Moose said.
The arrest warrant on charges of firearms violations was for 42-year-old John Muhammad, also known as John Allen Williams, a former soldier at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Wash., and a Gulf War (news - web sites) veteran.
He is believed to be traveling with 17-year-old John Lee Malvo, a Jamaican national who is believed to be Muhammad's stepson.
"This charge is not related to the sniper case," Moose said. "We believe Mr. Muhammad may have information material to our investigation."
"He should be considered armed and dangerous."
Abandoned, torched
The FBI (news - web sites) put out an alert for a blue or burgundy 1990 Chevy Caprice with New Jersey plates NDA21Z and a stolen white 1989 Chevy Celebrity with Maryland plates ZWE517.
A burgundy Caprice was seen leaving one of the sniper shootings with its lights off. A car matching that description was later found abandoned and torched.
The long-stalled hunt for the Beltway sniper leaped into overdrive as federal agents conducted several searches across the country, including at a home in Tacoma where Muhammad may have lived.
"They have an ID," an investigative source told the Daily News. "They know who they are looking for."
Moose made it clear, however, that neither of those two men should be considered the sniper and, looking into the cameras, delivered his latest message to the gunman, who has taken 10 lives in three weeks.
"We want you to know how difficult it has been for us to understand what you want because you have chosen to use only notes, indirect messages and calls to other jurisdictions," Moose said.
"If you are reluctant to contact us, be assured that we remain ready to talk directly with you. Our word is our bond," he said. "Let's talk directly. We have an answer for you about your option. We are waiting for you to contact us."
Fox News reported the sniper has demanded that $10 million be transferred to a particular credit card. The card has been traced to a Sept. 22 liquor store robbery in Alabama, where it was stolen.
It was not known whether Muhammad is suspected of involvement in the robbery.
After weeks of apparent stalemate, there was a rush of developments last night:
Mark Asmundson, the mayor of Bellingham, Wash., told reporters the FBI was at the local high school - apparently asking about Malvo.
The 2001 Bellingham High School yearbook listed a student named Lee Malvo as a junior.
Authorities executed a search warrant at a paramilitary training facility outside Marion, Ala.
FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents dug up a Tacoma backyard looking for bullet fragments. They X-rayed and dug up a tree stump that may have been used for target practice.
Chris Waters, a Fort Lewis private who lives across the street from the home, said he called police after hearing gunshots in the neighborhood nearly every day in January.
"It sounded like a high-powered rifle such as an M-16," he said. "Never more than three shots at a time. Pow. Pow. Pow."
Intense training
The ATF says the Beltway sniper is likely using a hunting rifle, such as an AR-15, the civilian, semiautomatic version of the M-16.
Officials at Fort Lewis said they were contacted by the FBI yesterday but would not comment further.
The sprawling base is home to the elite 1st Special Forces Group and the 2nd Ranger Battalion. It is the largest Army base in the Pacific Northwest and home to soldiers who undergo some of the Army's most intense sniper training.
As part of their Fort Lewis training, teams of snipers - one shooter and one spotter - are taught to remain undetected in an area at least 48 hours before they fire their weapons.
Base spokesman Lt. Col. Joseph Piek said he could not confirm TV reports that a Fort. Lewis soldier may have been a tenant at the Tacoma home.
With Richard Sisk
Text of Chief Charles Moose's message to the sniper:
We understand you communicated with us by calling several different locations. Our inability to talk has been a concern for us as it has been for you. You have indicated that you want us to do and say certain things. You asked us to say, "We have caught the sniper like a duck in a noose."
We understand that hearing us say this is important to you. However, we want you to know how difficult it has been to understand what you want because you have chosen to use only notes, indirect messages and calls to other jurisdictions.
The solution remains to call us and get a private toll free number established just for you. We still ask you to call or write us at PO Box 7875, Gaithersburg, Md., 20898-7875.
If you are reluctant to contact us, be assured that we remain ready to talk directly with you. Our word is our bond. If we can establish communications with you, we can offer other means of addressing what you have asked for. Let's talk directly. We have an answer for you about your option. We are waiting for you to contact us.
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