Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 14, 1991 TAG: 9104140279
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: D3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
"You pray that this is the type of person who talks about it," police Chief John Miller said. "That's the type of mistake we need."
No one has been hurt.
If someone witnesses another shooting and calls 911 quickly, police will have an opportunity to catch the sniper by flooding the area with patrol cars, he said.
Six of the nine cars hit were traveling on U.S. 250 just east of Charlottesville between 9:30 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. Wednesday, police said.
Cars also were hit Wednesday on U.S. 250 just west of Charlottesville and U.S. 29 near Crossroads.
Thursday, a bullet struck a car on U.S. 29 North near the Sheraton Charlottesville hotel, according to police reports.
Police believe the shots were fired from either a .38- or .357-caliber handgun, Miller said.
Many of the shots came within inches of hitting drivers and passengers in the vehicles.
Descriptions of a suspect vehicle ranged from a large, dark colored car to an old blue Subaru.
Investigators could not say if the shots were fired by one person or if there was a copycat, emulating Wednesday's shootings, Miller said.
Police are seeking information about the drive-by shootings through the Crimestoppers program, which offers a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.
Bill Almond, a retired Virginia state trooper, said he just finished listening to a radio report about the shootings Thursday when the left rear glass blew out of his car.
"I worked for 23 years, I was never shot at," Almond said Friday. "All at once the glass explodes behind my head."
by CNB