Indiana Highway Snipers

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by sara1998

Thanks. I know I will. But really, in a situation like this, you can't be careful. .

That's the worst part of these types of crimes - the complete randomness - it's really scary.

When I was in Rochester, I was aware that it has the highest murder rate per capita in New York - BUT if you're not in the drug trade your chances of being murdered are decreased significantly -there are ways to be cautious etc...but something like a sniper - that is just so scary.

All in all the state of the world as it is right now scares the bejeezus out of me...

[DavidMn]

I remember there being a similar problem in Columbus Ohio a couple years ago.

[sara1998]

Originally Posted by chiliD

(I opened the thread thinking it was going to be about some new band called the Indiana Highway Snipers)

They got him.....


http://www.theindychannel.com/news/9571282/detail.html

Police: 17-Year-Old Killed I-65 Motorist, Fired I-69 Shots

INDIANAPOLIS -- A tip led authorities to arrest a 17-year-old Indiana boy Tuesday in connection with Sunday's interstate highway shootings that killed one person and injured another, state police said.

Zachariah Blanton, of Gaston, was being held Tuesday afternoon in the Jackson County Jail on suspicion of shooting at two motorists -- killing one -- on Interstate 65 in southern Indiana and shooting at two vehicles on I-69 in east-central Indiana's Delaware County early Sunday.

State police said someone who knew Blanton, concerned that he was involved in the shootings, contacted a Delaware County reserve sheriff's deputy on Monday. That reserve deputy then contacted the Delaware County sheriff.


Investigators pursued the lead Monday night and searched Blanton's house, where they found a rifle that they believed -- based on ammunition fragments found in the attacked vehicles -- was used in the shootings, Indiana State Police Superintendent Paul Whitesell said at a news conference.

Blanton cooperated with investigators, and authorities gathered enough information to arrest him on charges of murder, attempted murder and criminal recklessness, Whitesell said.

When asked whether Blanton confessed, Whitesell answered: "It is my understanding that his cooperation was to such an extent that it was sufficient for probable cause, and I would call that a confession."

Whitesell declined to comment on whether investigators had information on a motive in the shootings. He said Blanton was the only suspect in the case.

Police: Shootings Began From Overpass

Police said they believe that shortly before the shootings, Blanton drove to an I-65 overpass and parked his vehicle. He then leaned across the vehicle's trunk and shot at a pickup truck passing below, fatally wounding Jerry L. Ross, 40, of New Albany at about 12:20 a.m. Sunday, police said.

Moments later, Blanton shot at another pickup truck on I-65, police said. That round grazed the ear of Robert John Otto Hartl, 25, of Iowa, but Hartl was not seriously injured, according to police.

State police said Blanton then drove to the Muncie area, where he allegedly shot at a tractor-trailer near the 42 mile marker of I-69 at about 2:30 a.m. No one was injured in that shooting.

Blanton then went a mile south and shot at a parked, unoccupied sport utility vehicle, police said.

Police said they wouldn't speculate on how the targets were chosen.

Authorities said Blanton is a student of Wes-Del High School in northwestern Delaware County. He was about to start his senior year there, 6News reported.

Police said they believe Blanton was familiar with the area where the I-65 shootings happened, having taken some hunting trips nearby.

Governor Thanks Investigators For 'Superb Police Work'

Gov. Mitch Daniels, speaking at the news conference, thanked state police and local and federal authorities for "superb police work" in the case.

"Indiana has now been spared, through the combined efforts of these outstanding professionals, the sort of fear, uncertainty and disruption that has befallen other jurisdictions elsewhere," Daniels said.

Whitesell said state, local and federal authorities were involved in the probe. Earlier in the week, state police consulted with law enforcement personnel who probed sniper shootings on I-270 near Columbus, Ohio, in late 2004 and early 2005.

Stay with 6News and TheIndyChannel.com for updates to this story.

[DavidMn]

I'm sure the next thing we'el hear is that no one wouldve guessed that he could do this. It's always like that it seems.

[macfan 57]

Thank God they caught him. What in the world would possess a 17 year old kid to do something like this?

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by macfan 57

Thank God they caught him. What in the world would possess a 17 year old kid to do something like this?

Abuse/neglect, social isolation, hopelessness, depression... It's very sad and insane.

[DavidMn]

I just heard today that they are not going for the death penalty in this case. I'll reserve my judgement on that until I hear more about his psychiatric condition.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by DavidMn

I just heard today that they are not going for the death penalty in this case. I'll reserve my judgement on that until I hear more about his psychiatric condition.

I didn't hear that, and I've been watching local news all evening. I heard that the death penalty requires something like "forethought, and intent", and sitting and focusing through a scope certainly seemed to make the death penalty applicable.

[DavidMn]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

I didn't hear that, and I've been watching local news all evening. I heard that the death penalty requires something like "forethought, and intent", and sitting and focusing through a scope certainly seemed to make the death penalty applicable.

I'm pretty sure I heard it on Fox today.