WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- Investigators leading the hunt for the perpetrator of a dozen sniper attacks in the Washington area have rescinded a description given by a witness, which described a man with olive complexion shooting an assault-type rife near a cream-colored van Monday night.
Mike Bouchard, the top official from Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms in the interagency taskforce that is investigating the sniper attacks, said the witness description from the scene of Monday's fatal shooing in front of a Virginia Home Depot store was no longer considered credible.
But police emphasized that the several previous descriptions of the van remained credible and of interest in the investigation into 12 shootings, which have killed nine and wounded two since Oct. 2.
The description of the vehicles -- one a white Chevrolet Astro van and the other a white Ford Econovan -- was provided by "a number of witnesses" to the latest killing, this one located about 10 miles west of the capital, Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose said.
Fairfax County Police Chief Tom Manger Tuesday had announced the killing of Linda Franklin, 47, Monday night outside the Home Depot in a busy shopping center in the Seven Corners neighborhood of northern Virginia was the work of the serial sniper, who has been linked to at least 12 shootings. This is the most recent attack in a string that has terrorized the region.
Police had originally been optimistic that Monday's shooting, which had more witnesses than the previous attacks, would lead to a quick arrest and had even hinted that a composite sketch of a suspect might be forthcoming. But Thursday's announcement that the initial reports were not credible could be seen as a setback for the investigation, a suggestion that made Moose bristle.
"I hope the public didn't hear you use that word," he replied to a reporter's inquiry. "Because there has not been any setback. We continue to investigate."
Monday's victim, Franklin, worked for the FBI but was not assigned to the sniper case. FBI officials said she worked as an analyst for the counter-terrorism desk at FBI headquarters.
Investigators hunting for the serial sniper said Tuesday's composites and the weekend release of an image of a white box truck with a damaged rear bumper seen in the area of at least two of the shootings has generated several tips from the public. They said the truck has dark lettering on the side and emitted a loud noise, suggesting it is an older vehicle.
Officials are offering a reward of $500,000 for details leading to an arrest and indictment.
The FBI has asked the Pentagon to search its records for recently discharged soldiers who received training in sniper school and the military is using planes equipped with surveillance gear to help track any vehicles near any future shootings.
