Washington, D.C.-area serial sniper claims 10th victim

The recent sniper slaying of a Black Philadelphia man in the Washington, D.C., area has laced hearts with fear and cast a pall over surrounding suburbs, while authorities search for the killer and public safety groups volunteer aid.

The latest victim, at JET press time, was Kenneth H. Bridges, 53, a Philadelphia businessman and father of six who was shot as he pumped gas at an Exxon station just off Interstate 95 in Spotsylvania County, VA, about an hour south of Washington.

Bridges was the co-founder of a marketing distribution company. He was the 10th victim of the random serial sniper killer.

A state trooper, who was across the street writing a traffic ticket when Bridges fell to the pavement as gasoline continued to pump into his silver Buick, rushed over, but was too late to help him. The killer slipped away during the calamity. Most of the sniper's attacks have taken place within easy access of a major highway.

In each shooting--carried out in public places as oblivious victims went about their daily tasks--the sniper has used a single .223 caliber, armor-piercing bullet fired from a distance of at least 100 yards. Authorities say the sniper's attack plan is to select an open area and then wait for a target to appear. They believe his weapon can be accurate from up to 500 yards away.

Police have said race did not appear to be a motive, noting the victims included Blacks, Hispanics and Whites. "We're across the board in genders and ethnic backgrounds," police said.

Beleaguered police officials raised the reward for information in the case to $500,000. They also released their first wanted poster--composite images of a White box truck.

The two images, produced by the FBI based on witnesses from more than one shooting, show a flat-front White truck with a roll-up door in the back, a weathered paint job, a small dent in the back bumper and unknown dark purple or Black writing on the side.

"We're putting information out, asking people to have their memories jogged," said police Chief Charles Moose of Montgomery County, where five people were killed.

Sniping experts have offered tips to Washington, D.C.-area residents on how to avoid getting shot: avoid unneeded errands, zig-zag, never walk in a straight line from your car to a store, keep an eye on bushy areas near shopping malls, don't linger in parking lots and use parked cars for cover.

Members of the Guardian Angels, the volunteer public safety organization, manned two gas stations in Alexandria, VA, to pump gas for travelers who were too scared to get out of their cars. "We're just trying to do our part to make people safe," said group member John Ayala.