10 Years Ago: DC Sniper Shootings
What do you remember about the days when John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo were on the loose?
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Today, Oct. 2, is the 10-year anniversary of what became known as the DC sniper case—a horrific chapter in local history that began in Montgomery County and riveted the nation.
Only one of the attacks was in Prince George's County— outside of Benjamin Tasker Middle School in Bowie.
A 13-year-old Iran Brown was shot around 8:09 a.m. as he arrived to school. Brown survived the attack and later testified at the trials.
It's hard to describe to those who weren't here what it was like to fear a random bullet during routine trips to the grocery store or gas station, or to drive past playgrounds and parks empty of children, runners and bike riders.
The cold calculation of the crime was unthinkable at the time.
The perpetrators, John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo, were regulars at the YMCA of Silver Spring in the weeks before their killing spree.
New details of their time there emerge in an account in The Atlantic magazine by Jim Ross, a public health researcher. Read Ross' article here.
The Washington Post has published a rare new interview with Malvo in which he describes himself as a "monster."
Muhammad was executed by lethal injection in November 2009. Malvo was convicted of six murders in Montgomery County and is serving a life sentence without parole.
What are your memories of the case? Have you put it behind you or does it still haunt county residents?
Tell us in comments.
Jenni Pompi
1:35 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
The 13-year-old shot at Benjamin Tasker Middle School by the sniper on Oct. 7 2002 survived and went on to testify against Muhammad.
I remember that attack and just being appalled and horrified that the sniper was shooting children.
Sharp Shooter
2:24 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Took my then 5 year old son to Allen's Pond to play and quickly realized we were the only ones there. The entire park was empty and eerily quiet considering how nice the weather was that day.
Pachacutec
10:37 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
I remember being VERY uneasy every time I'd walk out my door; not a terribly great way to feel! I had family living in Bowie at the time Iran Brown was shot, we'd constantly keep in touch with each other as to our whereabouts, how we were doing, if we'd heard any more about the shootings, etc. Horrible.
By the way, has anyone heard about Iran Brown and how HE is doing, now?
Cindy Freland
1:39 pm on Monday, December 17, 2012
I remember it like it was yesterday. My oldest daughter was 13 and a student at Benjamin Tasker where Iran Brown was shot. I remember being scared as my brother told me it was a 13-year-old girl who was shot. So I was scared for my daughter. My youngest daughter was at Samuel Ogle Elementary School at the time. I remember walking very closely to her to protect her when I picked her up from school.