[OT] Sniper plays D&D?

[Aristotle]

People are really latching onto that tarot card. The sniper most likely was not eluding to some occult background he (or she) might have. Snipers have been leaving the Death Card, or the Ace of Spades, as a calling card for decades. Professional, military snipers, did it all the time during the war in Viet Nam. The killer is almost definitely trying to emulate that tradition...

 

[kenjib]

Another strike against the terrorist angle is that if there was any indication of this whatsoever, however slight, the feds would jump on it immediately and feed it to the media in order to hype up the danger of Iraq.

 

[Mistwell]

People are really latching onto that tarot card. The sniper most likely was not eluding to some occult background he (or she) might have. Snipers have been leaving the Death Card, or the Ace of Spades, as a calling card for decades. Professional, military snipers, did it all the time during the war in Viet Nam. The killer is almost definitely trying to emulate that tradition...

I totally agree, with one exception. I don't think this guy is trying to emulate that tradition, I think this guy IS a trained military sniper. He has consistently killed people with one shot so far, from a great distance. It's the same MO as actual military snipers. And, he is using the miliary Psyop (Psychological Operations) calling card from Viet Nam.

See:
http://www.parascope.com/ds/1096/psy.htm

Part of which states:

One U.S. PSYOP leaflet pictured a dead Viet Cong guerrilla and a drawing of a skull and the "Ace of Spades" -- this brought to mind the practice of some U.S. soldiers, who left copies of that playing card with the bodies of their victims as a deathly omen. The message on the leaflet read: "Viet Cong! This is a sign of death! Continue your struggle against the National Cause and you will surely die a mournful death like this!"

 

[MEG Hal]

IMHO he is not a terrorist, few reasons:
1) I think they may have claimed the incident by now
2) I think they would have had a few people do this in 4-8 major areas
3) It just does not feel like it

As far as playing D&D, no biggie one way or another. I am in law enforcement and play and publish stuff, so it can work anyway the person reporting wants it to.

The tarot card was a reaction to the local authorities calling him stupid.
I am not a profiler but I read some books for my classes and job. And I do not play one on TV

My gut reaction says one guy, loner and off his meds. Most likely with a recent traumatic experience, some military training as well. And I tend to think based on % it is not a female.

Ok, back to getting art done for Foul Locales: Beyond the Walls

 

[D'karr]

He can't be a D&D player.

If he was, the note on the Tarot Card would have read, "Dear City Guards, I am Vecna."

 

[Aristotle]

I totally agree, with one exception. I don't think this guy is trying to emulate that tradition, I think this guy IS a trained military sniper.

I'm hoping this is not the case, although I am well aware that it may be. I live in the area (Reston, VA) so am hoping this guy is not so well trained as I'd prefer him to slip up and get caught. He *could* just be an avid gun enthusiest, who happens to be an incredible shot.

A lot of people are crying "terrorist". I guess, given the times we are living in, that this is going to continue to be the standard reaction to any violent crime. As others have pointed out, these killings have none of the standard hallmarks that one would expect from "standard terrorists". These hallmarks are the very reason a terrorist does what he or she does, so it seems unlikely that a terrorist is behind the shootings.

We are probably going to find out we are dealing with a non traditional serial killer or a spree killer. As others have guessed, there may even be two of them working together.

If it is a terrorist, than it is most likely a home grown terrorist. Those guys haven't gone away just because the nation is facing bigger issues now. Survivalist Groups and Militias are still a threat to our country and our people. I would also point out that the acts of terrorism that these groups commit often lack the common hallmarks of traditional terrorism. I would also point out that even if the gunmen have no military training they would still have access to such training and equipment through one of these organizations.

If we are playing "guess who" then I would put my money on a gun bunny from some well organized militia group. This may be an even worse case scenario then the ex-military sniper however. What the gun bunny would lack for in training he would make up for with a well organized network of contacts and safe houses.

 

[Xarlen]

Just for a bit of Trivia, according to the radio, Yesterday the first Female serial killer was put to death via lethal injection.

 

[MEG Hal]

Just for a bit of Trivia, according to the radio, Yesterday the first Female serial killer was put to death via lethal injection.

In my state and she deserved it as well, and she wanted to die so.......see ya!

Lethal injection, we had "Old Sparky" decommissioned.

 

[diaglo]

My gut reaction says one guy, loner and off his meds. Most likely with a recent traumatic experience, some military training as well. And I tend to think based on % it is not a female.

does anyone remember the slayings recently near Fort Bragg by military personnel?

they were guys who had been given meds and went home and killed their wives and themselves.

 

[Zappo]

It is good to hear that the profiler didn't suggest that D&D could have led to insanity. She suggests it could have been an effect, not a cause. Same for the Germany case - you can lure a boy with D&D, yeah but you can also do it with a candy. I hope the media don't turn that around.

However, we can't hope that D&D stays without a concrete and proven association with a single murder case forever, as it is now. Statistics will win eventually. That is, unless such a hypothetical case will be viewed as "He was already nuts, D&D was just the trigger", which IMO would necessarily be correct, but I know that media wouldn't find that showy enough.