For the first time since the serial shootings began nine months ago the task force has a description of the shooter.
Described by witnesses as a white male about 30 to 40 years old, the shooter continues to move further and further south, said Franklin County Chief Deputy Steve Martin.
Two vehicles were shot around 11:20 a.m. yesterday on Interstate-71 near mile marker 71 in Fayette County. No one was injured, but both vehicles were struck on the hood near the driver’s side, Martin said.
“The fact is that we’ve seen this guy. We have witnesses that saw him. Can they make an eyeball description? Probably not, but at least he’s been seen,” Martin said.
Although there were two shootings reported in broad daylight, within minutes of each other, Martin said the new evidence is a positive step for the investigation.
The two incidents occurred on seperate overpasses within minutes of each other. Martin said he believes the same person was responsible for both shootings.
The first incident involved a white van that was traveling northbound on I-71, near the Brock Road overpass. The second incident involved a brown Mercedes also traveling northbound on I-71, near the Prairie Road overpass – the two intersections are located within minutes from each other, about one mile apart. Police did not receive an emergency call from either of the two victims.
Although evidence collected at the scene is still preliminary, Martin said it appears to be related to the other 23 highway shootings.
Witnesses to the two shootings claim to have seen a white male get out of a dark colored sports car around the time of the shootings. The male appears to have had a handgun, although investigators are not releasing the caliber of the weapon.
Martin said the task force is keeping in constant contact with sheriffs in Pickaway, Madison and Fayette counties.
Fayette County Sheriff Vernon Stanforth said he has not heard of any extra tension among residents; however, the police presence has increased since the shootings.
The number of calls also has increased in the hours directly following the shootings, but Stanforth said a lot of the calls have been generated by an increased number of “sight-seers” visiting the area.
“We have units in the area and we are doing extra patrols and trying to answer the calls as they come in. We are doing our part and we ask that they keep doing theirs as well,” he said.
Shortly after the shootings occurred the Ohio State Highway Patrol stopped a vehicle and detained two juveniles, who had possession of a BB gun, for questioning. After interviewing the suspects, it was determined they were not involved in the shootings.
In addition to yesterday’s shootings, an incident which occurred Feb. 3, also on I-71, was ballistically linked to the bullet that killed Gail Knisely in November, according to a statement released by the Franklin County sheriff’s office Friday.
A van was heading northbound on I-71 in Madison County when an object struck the driver’s side door. Because he thought the object was a rock, the victim continued driving and did not notify police until he returned home to Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Police re-examined the vehicle and discovered bullet fragments in dash area.
Also on Friday, a truck driver called the sheriff’s office around 9:09 a.m. reporting an unknown person claiming to be the “sniper”. He said he heard the man say he was “going to kill someone (Friday),” according to the statement.
Martin said there is no evidence that the unknown caller was the highway shooter, but he encourages people to remain observant and call any tip in to the Sheriff’s Office’s tip line at 614-462-4646.
