BREAKING NEWS: Updated 1:47 pm Sniper victim worked for FBI, but not on this case
Linda Franklin, 47, of Arlington worked at FBI headquarters, an agency spokesman told the Associated Press. A source said officials do not believe she was targeted because of her employment. Also, she was not part of the task force investigating the shootings that have now claimed the lives of nine people in the Washington metropolitan and Fredericksburg areas and injured two.
Fairfax County Police Chief Tom Manger told reporters today that police are still looking for a possible suspect vehicle — a light-colored van with a ladder rack and an apparent malfunctioning left tail light.
“We’re still at the early stages of this investigation,” said Manger. “We’re still in the process of interviewing witnesses and evaluating the information that we have.”
Manger deflected a number of questions about whether witnesses last night were able to see the shooter long enough for police to finally put together a composite sketch or other description.
“There was some additional information that we were able to get from last night’s case,” Manger said. “I am confident that information will ultimately lead us to an arrest in the case.”
When asked why police would not release any information about a possible description of the suspect, he said authorities were still evaluating statements from witnesses.
He said he would not confirm a statement by Gov. Mark R. Warner’s office that witnesses had seen at least part of the numbers on a Maryland license tag on the van.
Manger said there were many witnesses with statements about licenses and he declined to comment.
Meantime, at the Home Depot parking lot where Franklin was shot, motorists only this morning were allowed to retrieve their cars that had been roped off as part of the crime scene investigation.
Under the direction of police, a private tow truck removed a red Mercury Capri convertible and an older model Ford Bronco II and took them away under law enforcement escort.