kage genin
Member
Can anyone confirm that this happened in Washington DC? If so, HOW COULD THAT BE?! DC is supposed to be safe from gun crime, isn't it?
Man, not even the dog got away
Five Dead in Suburban Washington Shootings (DC??)
- Thread starter kage genin
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Man, not even the dog got away
71Commander
Member
According to the article
This wasn't in DC. It was in the suburbs. Only DC proper has the ban.
This wasn't in DC. It was in the suburbs. Only DC proper has the ban.
captain obvious
Member
Northern VA - Great Falls - DEFINATELY not DC
Way too early to start analyzing this one here, too.
My prayers to all involved.
Way too early to start analyzing this one here, too.
My prayers to all involved.
Highland Ranger
Member
"Shootings" get's top billing; and if you don't read it you gte left with the impression that someone is running willy nilly through Virginia giving it to people behind the ear.
Should read: "Murder(s) and Suicide"
Should read: "Murder(s) and Suicide"
captain obvious
Member
Great falls is a bit different - lot of gun fearers in those woods. As it's the breadbasket of Fairfax County (property taxes) FCPD does a good job covering that area.
Guns aren't some magic shield that stop all crimes, not by themselves anyway.
Guns aren't some magic shield that stop all crimes, not by themselves anyway.
mtnbkr
Member
It's Northern Virginia and a relatively wealthy area of NoVa. In other words, it's blissninny paradise.WT said:
Chris
longeyes
member
Families are dangerous; in fact, any close relationship can go wrong.
Do we need to register them?
Do we need to register them?
captain obvious
Member
we do - marriage licenses, drivers licenses, child tax credits, etc
TrybalRage
Member
Gotta love CNN - the guy shot more than 50 rounds from a 9mm handgun, and '...appears to have reloaded more than once.' Really? Stupid?
And this quote from the commander of the police department's criminal investigations bureau. Way to go there, sherlock.
And this quote from the commander of the police department's criminal investigations bureau. Way to go there, sherlock.
RioShooter
Member
Home Protection Needed
Va. Man Who Killed 4 Had Mental Problems
Dec 26, 6:32 PM (ET)
By DERRILL HOLLY
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) - Police said Monday that a Virginia man who killed four people, then himself, on Christmas Day had a history of mental problems.
Still, police were trying to determine a motive for the rampage. "Perhaps we'll never be able to answer the question that is most prevalent, and that is why," said Col. David Rohrer, chief of the Fairfax County, Va., Police Department.
"This is obviously a complex investigation with separate crime scenes and five victims. The events ... have certainly shocked and saddened us all," said Rohrer.
Investigators believe Nathan W. Cheatham shot and killed his mother in the driveway of her McLean home. He then drove 10 miles to a home in Great Falls and fired more than 50 shots that killed three other people, before turning the gun on himself.
Cheatham, 27, had been arrested on several occasions by Fairfax County police for what they described as "minor infractions."
Court records obtained by WRC-TV show that Cheatham was arrested in 2000 for driving on a revoked license and in 2001 for assault on a police officer, escape and carrying a concealed weapon. He spent 10 days in jail in 2002 for possession of cocaine and other drug offenses.
Police also said Cheatham had a history of psychiatric problems but did not elaborate.
He had been living with his mother, Sheila G. Cheatham, 53, for at least two weeks. He had also stayed with his two brothers at another location in Fairfax County. Police are hoping they can learn some indication of his demeanor, which may lead to an understanding of what led him to go on a rampage.
Police believe he broke into the second home and systematically went from room to room, fatally shooting Janina C. Price, 50, and her son Adam S. Price, 19, who both lived there, and Christopher J. Buro, 20, of Great Falls, who was visiting.
Another member of the Price family hid in the basement and was able to call for help as Cheatham opened fire. He escaped after the gunfire stopped.
Police said Cheatham was an acquaintance of the Price family. He had called them earlier in the day and was asked not to go to the home.
"There was a phone conversation between Nathan and somebody at the house," said Maj. Bob Callahan, commander of the police department's criminal investigation bureau.
Four spent clips from the 9 mm handgun were found at the house in Great Falls, an upscale suburb about 17 miles west of Washington. Cheatham also had other unused ammunition in his possession.
The body of one man was found in a bedroom closet. Another victim was found by a bed in a separate bedroom. Mrs. Price was found in the master bedroom on the second floor. Each had been shot several times.
"It appeared that they probably were still asleep or in their rooms when everything started," Callahan said.
Cheatham's body was found in the master bedroom with what police called a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
One of two black Labrador retrievers owned by the Price family was shot three times, but was treated by a veterinarian and is expected to survive.
My alarm system would have sounded as soon as he entered my house. If he proceeded to my bedroom, I would have welcomed him with 9 pellets of "00" buckshot.
Va. Man Who Killed 4 Had Mental Problems
Dec 26, 6:32 PM (ET)
By DERRILL HOLLY
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) - Police said Monday that a Virginia man who killed four people, then himself, on Christmas Day had a history of mental problems.
Still, police were trying to determine a motive for the rampage. "Perhaps we'll never be able to answer the question that is most prevalent, and that is why," said Col. David Rohrer, chief of the Fairfax County, Va., Police Department.
"This is obviously a complex investigation with separate crime scenes and five victims. The events ... have certainly shocked and saddened us all," said Rohrer.
Investigators believe Nathan W. Cheatham shot and killed his mother in the driveway of her McLean home. He then drove 10 miles to a home in Great Falls and fired more than 50 shots that killed three other people, before turning the gun on himself.
Cheatham, 27, had been arrested on several occasions by Fairfax County police for what they described as "minor infractions."
Court records obtained by WRC-TV show that Cheatham was arrested in 2000 for driving on a revoked license and in 2001 for assault on a police officer, escape and carrying a concealed weapon. He spent 10 days in jail in 2002 for possession of cocaine and other drug offenses.
Police also said Cheatham had a history of psychiatric problems but did not elaborate.
He had been living with his mother, Sheila G. Cheatham, 53, for at least two weeks. He had also stayed with his two brothers at another location in Fairfax County. Police are hoping they can learn some indication of his demeanor, which may lead to an understanding of what led him to go on a rampage.
Police believe he broke into the second home and systematically went from room to room, fatally shooting Janina C. Price, 50, and her son Adam S. Price, 19, who both lived there, and Christopher J. Buro, 20, of Great Falls, who was visiting.
Another member of the Price family hid in the basement and was able to call for help as Cheatham opened fire. He escaped after the gunfire stopped.
Police said Cheatham was an acquaintance of the Price family. He had called them earlier in the day and was asked not to go to the home.
"There was a phone conversation between Nathan and somebody at the house," said Maj. Bob Callahan, commander of the police department's criminal investigation bureau.
Four spent clips from the 9 mm handgun were found at the house in Great Falls, an upscale suburb about 17 miles west of Washington. Cheatham also had other unused ammunition in his possession.
The body of one man was found in a bedroom closet. Another victim was found by a bed in a separate bedroom. Mrs. Price was found in the master bedroom on the second floor. Each had been shot several times.
"It appeared that they probably were still asleep or in their rooms when everything started," Callahan said.
Cheatham's body was found in the master bedroom with what police called a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
One of two black Labrador retrievers owned by the Price family was shot three times, but was treated by a veterinarian and is expected to survive.
My alarm system would have sounded as soon as he entered my house. If he proceeded to my bedroom, I would have welcomed him with 9 pellets of "00" buckshot.
Highland Ranger
Member
Tough dog . . .
No mention of where the gun came from. I assume that means it was illegal otherwise it would have been the headline.
No mention of where the gun came from. I assume that means it was illegal otherwise it would have been the headline.
Phyphor
Member
TrybalRage said:
Don't assume that everyone knows how many rounds an average normalcap mag will hold. Just be glad they're actually trying to report the facts, and not some uber-panicky "OMG, he used an assault pistol with high capacity magazines to do mass murder!"
Is Falls Church considered DC? I have to spend two weeks there in January, and it would be nice to be able to keep a gun at the hotel.
I don't know if I could even get it there, though. I have to fly into Reagan National to get where I'm going, and I'm pretty sure that's DC.
jmm
I don't know if I could even get it there, though. I have to fly into Reagan National to get where I'm going, and I'm pretty sure that's DC.
jmm
Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
Another nitwit who should have shot himself first, then everybody else.
mtnbkr
Member
Falls Church is definately Virginia. I'm not sure if Reagan National is in Va or not. Looking at a map, it looks like it's just over the river from DC, but I'm not 100% positive. That said, all of the Reagan Nat. phone numbers are 703, a Virginia area code (DC is 202). Why not fly into Dulles? It's deep within Virginia.grimjaw said:Is Falls Church considered DC? I have to spend two weeks there in January, and it would be nice to be able to keep a gun at the hotel.
I don't know if I could even get it there, though. I have to fly into Reagan National to get where I'm going, and I'm pretty sure that's DC.
jmm
If you bring your gun, hit the NRA Range for some shooting time. It's just a few miles down I66 from Falls Church.
Chris
longeyes
member
And the moral is...
When you visit friends and family, PACK. Just in case you get a "visitor."
When you visit friends and family, PACK. Just in case you get a "visitor."
peashooter
Member
Falls Church is fine to carry with a permit and to keep in your hotel room. Reagan National is not in DC, it's in Northern Va. Arlington to be exact.mtnbkr said:
I lived in Falls Church and the Tysons area fro nearly 20 years before moving to TN 5 years ago.
captain obvious
Member
This wasn't in Falls Church - it was Great Falls - BIG difference there
and yes, for heaven's sake, PACK everywhere you go.
And there was no mention of the shooter being a felon, or otherwise restricted from ownership (drug charges pending IIRC)
and yes, for heaven's sake, PACK everywhere you go.
And there was no mention of the shooter being a felon, or otherwise restricted from ownership (drug charges pending IIRC)
captain obvious
Member
If there's a quote to learn from out of this, its this one:
http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20051226-114614-5914r.htm
I don't think I need to say anything further than that, not on this forum.
http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20051226-114614-5914r.htm
I don't think I need to say anything further than that, not on this forum.
JohnBT
Member
I'd guess by now Great Falls has a population pushing 10k, an average income of nearly $200k, houses must cost over a million and the estates on the river five or ten times as much. It used to be that something like 3/4 of the residents had colleges degrees, but who knows these days with all the tech millionaires running around with money falling out of their pockets.
It's exactly the kind of place you'd move to get away from crime.
John
It's exactly the kind of place you'd move to get away from crime.
John
Camp David
member
grimjaw said:
Most definately not!
Falls Church is just south of Seven Corners and Arlington, generally centered around Route 50, and is not part of D.C. whatsoever... it's a generally safe hamlet... lots of high-priced and middle income homes and very low crime...
Conversely, Great Falls is generally centered north/west of Arlington and McLean, along Potomac in parts, and has the most expensive homes in NOVA, and like Falls Church, has generally low crime...
Although folks from DC try to migrate out into Falls Church and Great Falls, most if not all of the low cost homes, apartments, etc. are generally taken so they don't last, thus crime stays low in both areas.
This incident is not typical of area; generally workers are government or government contractors largely and crime like this is unnatural... last incident in area was sniper shooting at Home Depot in Falls Church/Seven Corners!
benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
Approximately 50 rounds fired, 4 empty-and-ejected magazines found (assuming one still in the gun); sounds like the murderer was using 10-rounders rather than full-caps?
peashooter
Member
captain obvious said:
I didn't say it happened in Falls Church. Read the whole thread.
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