Published October 22, 2002
ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) - A bus driver was shot to death yesterday as he was about to set out on his morning route in what authorities fear was the 13th attack by the Washington-area sniper. Police also revealed a chilling warning found at a weekend shooting scene: "Your children are not safe anywhere at any time."
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Conrad Johnson, 35, was fatally wounded just before 6 a.m. as he stood on the top step of his bus, setting off a police dragnet and snarling traffic in the suburbs north of the nation's capital. He died later at a hospital.
The shooting happened in Aspen Hill, the same community where the shootings began. Since Oct. 2, the sniper has killed nine people and critically wounded three others in Maryland, Virginia and Washington.
The slaying came after two days of public entreaties by police for the sniper to contact them.
Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose suggested yesterday police had received a new message from the killer, and he said authorities were preparing a response. He refused to disclose details about the message, believed to be the fourth authorities have received during the investigation.
The warning about children's safety was discovered by police outside a steakhouse just north of Richmond, Va., where the sniper critically wounded a man Saturday night.
Moose said the warning came in the form of a "postscript," but refused to describe the rest of the note.
However, a senior law enforcement official speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said the note demanded $10 million.
More than 140,000 students in the Richmond area remained home yesterday as schools were closed for a second day. School officials cited information from police in shutting down, prompting questions for Moose, whose office is leading the sprawling investigation.
Moose said investigators recognized "the concerns of the community" and decided to provide the "exact language that pertains to the threat."
Schools will reopen today.
In Maryland, Kathy Franco, who was shopping with her year-old son, Liam, and six-week-old daughter, Katherine, was angered by the warning about children.
"As a parent, it just completely brings out every animal instinct," Franco said. "These two are the most important things in the world for me."
