World News 21-10-2002 Sniper Leaves Message With 12th Victim who: Montgomery police chief Charles Moose what: Appeals to sniper to call after 12th shooting where: Ashland, Virginia when: Yesterday snippet: US investigators believe the Washington sniper left a message with a telephone number at the scene of the latest shooting in Virginia, reports The Independent after a 12th victim was shot in the stomach as he left a Virginia restaurant on Saturday night. In a televised appeal, Police chief Charles Moose said: "To the person who left us a message at the Ponderosa last night. You gave us a telephone number. We do want to talk to you. Call us at the number you provided. Thank you." Police refused to elaborate on the details of the message, saying only that "it should make complete sense" to the person who left it, and that person "is the only person Chief Moose wants to talk to." The 37-year-old victim was last night in a critical condition in nearby Richmond, but with a "fair to good" chance of survival, adds The Scotsman. "The attack comes at a time when the public is in near despair at the failure of police to hunt down the killer," concludes The Guardian, which notes that since the start of the sniper killings there have 18 other unrelated homicides in Washington which have been almost entirely ignored by public and media alike. Nevertheless the panic caused by the man The Mirror loves to call "Thriller Killer" is understandable and all-pervasive. "Schools are in virtual lockdown with all extramural activities suspended," observes The Independent. "Businesses are suffering as consumers steer clear of filling stations, shopping malls and restaurants. One Virginia garage even erected a large blue tarpaulin to screen the forecourt so customers can fill up without being seen." [... more]

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