read it, comment it & please share it
The FBI is hunting a gunman with a grudge against the US armed forces after a spate of shootings at military locations around Washington DC.
Investigators have confirmed the latest incident at a coastguard recruiting station in Northern Virginia was the fifth involving the same high-powered rifle.
No-one has been injured in any of the shootings and the FBI believe the sniper is trying to avoid casualties by striking at night or during the early hours of the morning.
The gunman first took aim on the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Virginia in mid-October, firing at least 10 rounds.
Staff initially thought marks on a window were bird droppings.
A few days later, five to seven shots were fired at the Pentagon, home of the US Department of Defence, just across the Potomac River from Washington DC.
The sniper next fired at a Marine Corps recruiting station in Virginia before again targeting the museum, which is associated with the Quantico Marine Base.
Investigators say ballistics tests have concluded the latest shooting involved the same weapon, although the FBI is refusing the reveal details of the rifle used.
Because three of the incidents took place at Marine Corps buildings, the FBI has been working on the assumption they were the work of someone who may have been part of the Marine Corps who has a grievance with the military.
John Perren, acting assistant director for the FBI's Washington field office, said: "We obviously welcome contact from this individual so we can better understand his grievance and work towards its resolution.
"We understand that he may be feeling a great deal of stress in his life at the moment, however, relieving this stress by shooting at buildings puts others at risk."
The FBI believes the sniper may have suffered a major trauma, like a bereavement, in recent weeks and have appealed for people to report suspicious behaviour in family members.
There is not believed to be any link to al Qaeda's recent reported call to individuals to take up arms against Americans.
Mari Bever, who runs a dog grooming parlour next door to the marine recruiting station that was fired on, said: "We usually chalk these things up to some nut-job trying to make a statement.
"But, since I've heard about the larger targets, it has made me nervous that it could be a terrorist group or something."
SKYNEWS
0 Comments