LANGLEY, Va. -- A man with a rifle opened fire near the main gate of the Central Intelligence Agency Monday, killing two employees inside their cars and wounding three others, authorities said.
Fairfax County police released a composite drawing and description, based on eye-witness accounts, of a man being sought in the shootings.
The suspect is described as a white male with dark complexion, between the ages of 20 and 30, about 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing between 145 and 165 pounds. He is described as being of medium build with dark brown or black hair of medium length. The suspect was wearing a tan jacket and dark colored pants, possibly blue jeans.
Sen. Robert Smith, R-N.H., was in a car stopped at a light on Virginia State Route 123 and about to turn left for the quarter mile drive into the CIA grounds around 8 a.m. EST. He watched helplessly as the killer got out of his car and stalked his victims in other cars stopped at the light.
'He methodically, with no emotion, no expression, and no words -- he simply walked up to the automobiles and fired at pointblank range into the windows at these people,' Smith said. 'It was a pretty horrifying experience to witness.'
Police said they were hunting a man who fled in a light brown compact station wagon.
CIA spokesman David Christian identified the dead as CIA employees Frank Darling, 28, and Lansing Bennett, 66, both of Reston, Va.
Two other CIA employees, one in critical condition and another in serious condition, were at The Fairfax Hospital.
Another man grazed by a bullet was treated at an Arlington, Va., hospital and released. Christian said he worked for a company under contract to the CIA.
The shootings occurred in a turnoff lane that leads only into the CIA grounds.
'Unless he was totally deranged, he knew he was firing at people who were probably CIA employees' because of their direct route onto the grounds, Christian said.
A witness, Larry Bright, told CNN the man 'wasn't in a rush.'
Another witness, Gilbert Robinson, told the UPI Radio Network, 'I heard the sound of popping like firecrackers, and then I looked to the left and there was a man standing with a rifle, or an automatic weapon, firing first to the right then to the left at each car as they were about to go in.'
'I don't think anyone realized what was happening,' Robinson said. 'It was like in a dream.'
'I was looking at the barrel of the gun to see where it was pointed, particularly if it was going to be pointed in my direction,' he said. 'I just saw that he was medium height and it looked like he was wearing a field jacket.'
A CIA official said the land surrounding the Langley facility was not patrolled by government security.
Virginia State Police spokeswoman Lucy Caldwell said troopers were pressing a search for the gunman.
'If they hit the interstate, we'll be looking for them there,' Caldwell said. 'All the troopers are on alert.'
White House spokesman George Stephanopoulos said the incident had prompted no special security arrangements at the White House, and called the shooting 'a real tragedy.'
