Beltway Snipers

Setting the scene

The Beltway sniper attacks occurred October 2-24, 2002, in the Washington D.C. area, when John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo killed 10 people and wounded 3 in random shootings. The snipers fired from a modified Chevrolet Caprice with a hole in the trunk, terrorizing the region for three weeks.

What happened

Victims were shot at gas stations, schools, and stores. The attacks caused schools to lock down and people to avoid public places. The snipers were caught October 24 sleeping at a rest stop. Muhammad was executed in 2009; Malvo received life imprisonment.

Why it still matters

The attacks demonstrated the psychological impact of random terrorism and led to improved law enforcement coordination. The case showed how two individuals could paralyze a major metropolitan area.

Background

A teenager and his mentor were convicted.