Phoenix police hunt two potential serial killers

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Baba Louie

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Heard this on Fox News tonight.
Anyone members in the Phoenix area have any comments?

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/07/12/phoenix.crime/

PHOENIX, Arizona (CNN) -- Phoenix police are trying to solve two separate strings of killings that have terrorized the community.

Authorities say they are looking for someone who has shot 34 people at random in the past year as they walked or rode bicycles, killing four.

Police say the other suspect is a serial killer and rapist who has struck 20 times, killing six of his victims. Police are not saying how many of the victims were raped. (Watch what a psychiatrist thinks compels them to kill -- 3:08)

"We're doing a lot of community talking right now," police Sgt. Andy Hill told CNN's "American Morning" on Wednesday. "We have a big meeting planned for the community tonight. We've been encouraging people to understand that they can be empowered if they're cautious, careful and take the time to call us with information."

However, people in Phoenix say they remain on edge.

"I'm afraid to walk outside," one resident said. "I'm afraid to be alone." (Watch police show how the killers operate -- 3:01)

In the attacks on walkers or bicyclists, police have decided that the same person is likely responsible for a recent series of shootings and an earlier one in which four people were killed -- for a total of 34 shootings.

"We believe we have enough similarities and MO to go ahead and put those two series of shootings together," Hill said.

The shootings were all random, he said, and there were no witnesses. The victims all were walking alone, riding a bicycle or pushing one when the shootings occurred.

"There is no connection to race or gender or sex that would indicate to us that anybody's being targeted," Hill said.

The suspect is believed to have used a vehicle, possibly a light-colored sedan. But police urge anyone with information -- regardless of whether a vehicle matches that description -- to call them, Hill said.

The serial killer, dubbed the "Baseline Killer," is believed to be responsible for at least 19 attacks and five homicides in Phoenix since last summer, said police Detective Stacie Derge. In the Phoenix suburb of Tempe, a sixth homicide, which happened in September, also is believed to be related, Hill said.

"He started with robberies and sexual assaults," Derge said, and initially was called the "Baseline Rapist," because many of his attacks occurred near Baseline Road.

The suspect has been described as a black male between 25 and 40. In some instances, he was described as bald or having a shaved head, but in others he was said to have long hair. Police suspect he may wear a wig as a disguise.

<end story>

Anyone know what type of weapon(s) are being used?
 
So one guy struck 34 times, killing 4. The other struck 20 times killing 6. At least the odds of surviving are good.

It must be a low calibur gun. Or the guy does not know how to shoot.

Too bad there hasn't been someone to shoot back. If everyone carried a gun, I doubt it would have gone to 54 people shot.
 
Pretty hard to shoot back once you have been shot. You can't draw on every car that drives by. It is pretty much impossible to stop random attacks like this. But, yeah, my wife carries on her morning walks now.
 
Pretty hard to shoot back once you have been shot. You can't draw on every car that drives by. It is pretty much impossible to stop random attacks like this. But, yeah, my wife carries on her morning walks now.

If everyone carried a gun, you would not have to shoot back. A good samaritan would do that.
 
The DC shooters shot about 1/3 of this amount of victims. Why has PHX PD been sitting on this?
 
The DC case was an actual sniper. This guy here is a crazy with a gun and a car. He doesn't take the time to 'snipe' people, he just drives by and starts shooting.

The less coverage of the case is due to it not being the nations capital. But its starting to get some serious coverage now on O'Reilly and one of those other shows on Fox.

Also, there is literally no information on a suspect. So the Police can't really do anything. They can do 'stuff', but really, when the only description you have is "a van"...what are you supposed to do?
 
The Phoenix TV stations have been carrying it for about a week or two now. I don't live there, and even though I live closer to Tucson, the "local" channels I get on my satellite are the Phoenix stations. Ironically, my wife and her sisters are attending the national Parents of Murdered Children conference in Phoenix next month (my sister-in-law's son was murdered about 6 years ago). What a time for a group like that to converge on a city where there are two serial killers running loose. My wife and one sister are kinda scared (my wife does not have a CCW, and my SIL's are from California). The SIL whose son was killed is a California LEO. I don't know if she's planning on packing, or if it is legal for out-of-state LEOs to pack in AZ. I think she should if she can.....

ETA: My wife tells me my SIL packs when she travels. Good for her. Too bad other Californians cannot...
 
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The DC case was an actual sniper.

No he wasn't...the older guy "your sniper" actually had a marksman medal, but was not a sniper, believe he was regular infantry. The younger one did all the shooting and his kill ratio was horrible. Definitely not one shot one kill.
 
No he wasn't...the older guy "your sniper" actually had a marksman medal, but was not a sniper, believe he was regular infantry. The younger one did all the shooting and his kill ratio was horrible. Definitely not one shot one kill.

I mispoke. I was refering to the type of shooting being someone in a prone, or other variation of- a "sniper", position while taking potshots with a "sniper-esque" weapon.

When I said "actual sniper" its refering to our news calling the latest one here a "sniper" when in reality its a "drive-by".
 
As I type this I am sat about 1 mile south of Baseline, I had heard about the killer but I thought he had "moved on".

Thanks for the update, my XD45 will be accompanying us for dinner tonight.

There aren't many black males in Phoenix, hopefully they'll catch him soon.
 
Well folks, drivebys go kinda like this - Person walking down the street, hears *pop pop pop* takes a second or three to register that it's gunshots, especially if you've never been exposed to them in that environment, takes another second or three to make a "fight or flight" decision and by that time, the drive by shooter has driven by.
Generally speaking, even if you've been calm and cool, by the time you draw your weapon, you're shooting at a fleeing vehicle, rapidly creating distance, that is intermingling with other regular traffic.
In most cases, I wouldn't take a shot at the car...waaay too many ways that you could do a lot more bad than good.
Fact is, folks who're getting shot at unexpectedly usually learn how to low-crawl quick, fast and in a hurry. Those who don't often never get a chance to learn how to low-crawl at all.

Biker
 
I Will

Be flying to Phoenix for business in a couple weeks. I will be bringing my pistol for the first time out of Connecticut.
 
Actually Phoenix PD has been working on this for quite awhile.
It has just gotten media attention recently.
They have only recently tied several of the shootings together.
Creeps like this are hard to catch!! You almost have to wait for the next victim to get your next clue!!
 
Biker said:
Well folks, drivebys go kinda like this - Person walking down the street, hears *pop pop pop* takes a second or three to register that it's gunshots, especially if you've never been exposed to them in that environment, takes another second or three to make a "fight or flight" decision and by that time, the drive by shooter has driven by.
Generally speaking, even if you've been calm and cool, by the time you draw your weapon, you're shooting at a fleeing vehicle, rapidly creating distance, that is intermingling with other regular traffic.

And that is if you haven't been hit by one or more of the bullets. The serial killer in Phoenix (not the Baseline rapist, the other one) is randomly selecting targets based on them being alone with no witnesses nearby. If you're hearing the pops, you're likely the target. No time for anyone with CCW to react, the way he is operating. Their best hope here is that he messes up and attacks without noticing that there are witnesses nearby - meaning more victims.:(
 
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