The Beltway Sniper Attack
From October 2, 2002 to October 24, 2002
The Story
National Government
They became involved when the shootings became consistent and in different states. The suspects would have been able to be caught earlier had they not been too focused on the white van that was reportedly seen leaving the first shooting scene. They ran his plates a million times but never did stop him because he wasn’t in a white van as witnesses had described earlier.
State Government
They stopped the suspects TWICE. Once for having a minor traffic infraction, the car was then reported two hours later for leaving the scene of yet another shooting and the second time was because they reported the car being suspiciously parked on the side of the highway with a person sleeping inside. Police were concerned given that the driver's licence was from D.C but yet the vehicle tags were registered in New Jersey and it was suspicious given the fact it matched the description perfectly of the getaway car at the shooting but yet police did not hold the occupants of the car nor did they question them extensively.
Local Government
What I Think
It helped and hurt the situation because the communications between the different branches of government involved wasn't clear enough to the point where they could have caught the suspects early in to prevent the death toll rising.