The police chief overseeing the investigation of recent sniper shootings in
the Washington, D.C., area blasted the news media for its coverage of the local
crisis and Gannett Co. Inc.-owned WUSA(TV) in particular for revealing a clue in the
investigation.
"Do you want the police to work this case, or do you want Channel 9 to do it?"
asked a clearly angry Charles Moose, chief of police in Montgomery County, Md.
Moose was referring to WUSA's report that a tarot card, used in fortune-telling,
had been found in woods near the Prince George's County, Md., shooting of a
13-year-old schoolboy. The taunting message, confirmed by police to WUSA, read:
"Dear policeman, I am God."
Moose said commenting further on the investigation could "hinder our ability
to bring this person or these people into custody." Asked during a press
briefing Wednesday morning about the tarot card, Moose said, "If you want
Channel 9 . if you want The Washington Post . if you want CNN [Cable News Network] to conduct
this investigation, let me know."
WUSA said it stood behind veteran reporter Mike Buchanan and his
story.
