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REPORT: Virginia Schools Linked to Sniper Threat
Wednesday, October 23, 2002
Reuters

"There was a credible threat made in the area that something was going to happen," one high-ranking local government official told the newspaper.

WASHINGTON -- Reuters
A note found near the Virginia restaurant where a man was shot and critically wounded by the elusive Washington area sniper indicated a possible threat to area schools, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported on Tuesday.

Citing several high-ranking school and government officials, the newspaper said information in the note prompted school superintendents in the area south of the U.S. capital to decide on Sunday to close schools on Monday and on Tuesday.

"At 4, the decision was that schools were the safest place for students," Chesterfield County School Board Chairman Dr. James Schroeder was quoted as saying. "At 7, obviously the superintendents had received other information recommending that schools be closed."

A spokesman for the task force investigating the shootings was not immediately available to comment on the report.
(More: A Duluth News Tribune News Source)
2002 © Reuters, Lrd.

Dan