October 24 - D.C. Sniper: 23 Days of Fear

This movie has a scene that happens today  - October 24. I hope you enjoy this film and watch it tonight.   

D.C. SNIPER: 23 DAYS OF FEAR

One morning in Montgomery County, Maryland a man cutting grass is shot by a sniper. Then a very short time later a taxicab driver is shot while pumping gas. A woman is shot on a bench outside a post office. Police get a first incorrect report of a white box van. Next a woman is shot while vacuuming her car. The media suggest the shootings may be terrorist in origin. Later that night another man is shot. FBI gets onto a militia group member. Then a woman is shot in a parking lot. The militia member is arrested but he has nothing to do with the shootings. A 13 year old student is shot at a school and they find a tarot card. This is reported by the media, even though card warned police not to release it to the media.  The shooters are questioned in their car but released. Then another person is shot at a gas station. The head of the investigation, Chief Charles Moose blasts the press. Yet another person is shot at a gas station. Then a woman who worked for the FBI is shot at a Home Depot. A guy lies and says he saw the shooter.  John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo call police for third time, but get nowhere. They shoot a man at a restaurant and the police find a letter. Moose asks them to call police again.  Muhammad and Malvo call a priest and tell them to investigate a liquor store shooting in Montgomery Alabama. Moose calls Alabama and from that gets a fingerprint and car description. Then a bus driver is shot. Print matched to Malvo. Moose releases threat made by Muhammad and Malvo against children. Interviewing people abut Malvo, the police get onto Muhammad. Muhammad realizes police are onto him. The police barely save Muhammad’s ex-wife from being killed by him. Info about car gets out and it is spotted. On October 24, 2002 [1:14:40 to 1:21:07] John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo are arrested.

A very good police procedural. Sticks very close to the actual facts of the case. Also highlights the irresponsible attitude of the media in this case.

Serial Killers by William Murray (Canary Press, New York, 2007) at page 167 gives the date of their arrest

Producer - Orly Adelson, Jonathan Eskenas and Tracey Jeffrey

Director - Tom McLoughlin

Screenplay - Dave Erickson

Runtime -  1 hour 25 minutes

Released – October 17, 2003

Starring –

Charles S. Dutton as Chief Charles Moose

Jay O. Sanders s Douglas Duncan

Bobby Hosea as John Muhammed

Trent Cameron as John Lee Malvo

Helen Shaver as Sandy Moore

Charlayne Woodard as Mildred Muhammed