Ballistic tests have connected Saturday’s shooting on Interstate 70 to a series of shootings around Columbus, investigators said yesterday.

The shooter, standing on the Tollgate Road overpass in Licking County, hit the right, front fender of a 1988 Chevy Suburban traveling eastbound at 10:15 a.m. Saturday. The single bullet lodged in the Suburban’s car battery.

The bullet matches eight others, including the one that killed Gail Knisley, 62, in November, investigators said.

Witnesses said the shooter’s getaway was calm and described the vehicle as a small to mid-sized dark-colored sedan, according to local media. The shooter is described as a white male, approximately 30 to 40 years of age, average build and dark hair. He was wearing a hat and sunglasses.

The shootings began in May and intensified in the fall – all occurring on or around Interstate 270. In late January, the shootings began to move southwest of Columbus. Saturday’s shooting occurred five miles east of the city limits.

As of Friday, the task force had received 4,414 leads via the tip phone line – 1,000 identify possible suspects by name, said Steve Martin, chief deputy of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.

“All law enforcement officers continue to be on task and fully occupied,” Martin said Friday. “Investigators have increased patrols, both covert and overt, in the areas where the shooting incidents have occurred, but we still need the assistance of every citizen.”

Martin suspects that the shooter familiarizes himself with an area before he attacks.

“This person most likely must ‘get comfortable’ in a particular area before he commits to shoot,” he said. “This may mean that he drives to a particular area several times before deciding to shoot, checks escape routes, surveys a neighborhood to determine risk level.”

Martin reminded the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to 911 or the tip line at 462-4646.

A $60,000 reward remains for anyone providing information that will lead to the arrest and indictment of the person or persons responsible for the death of Knisley.