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DC sniper scheduled to die tonight

Joni L. Reynolds | Posted November 10, 2009 9:00 AM

In 2002 the DC area was terrorized by an insidious sniper. He killed 10 people and injured others. People had no idea of who was doing this or why or where would they strike next. The killers, John Allen Muhammad and Lee Malvo, were finally caught outside of Baltimore.

In August of this year I had the opportunity to hear Muhammad's ex-wife Mildred Muhammad. She shared her horrific story at the Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community Conference in Long Beach, California.

There she shared how she was the real target of the sniper. He actually killed the other victims as part of an elaborate plan to kill his wife. For the sniper the other killings were merely collateral damage.

His lawyer is now saying Muhammad should be spared because he is mentally ill, but that is a tough pill to swallow. Muhammad has shown that he possesses a criminal, sinister mind.

Some conservative columnists, most notably Michelle Malkin have tried to establish a link between the actions of Muhammad and Nidal Malik Hasan the Ft. Hood killer. Both of these men were driven by hatred, but that is where the similarities end.

Muhammad hated his wife and Hasan hated his country. Muhammad terrorized a region and killed 10 and for that the state has determined he must pay for his crimes with his life. The death penalty is an extreme measure, but what Muhammad did was extreme and for that he must pay the ultimate price.

[Original Entry]

Joni L. Reynolds, an African-American mother, writes a blog called Ebony Mom Politics.

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Comments 53

Phobos
2009-11-10 10:36:12

I think your headline is pretty biased. It should be DC Sniper to be murdered by the State tonight.

Karen
2009-11-10 10:44:22

I concur with Phobos. The death Penality is so barbaric. Wasn't he in the gulf war were people are allowed to kill their enemies? or allowed to kill for what they want. So hypocrital.

Ostend Street
2009-11-10 11:09:18

This one is tough. I, personally, don't believe in the Death Penalty, but this has nothing to do with how I feel. This is about what has been decided based on the crimes. He was wrong, and he hurt a lot of lives, but is taking another life the right thing to do. As I said I feel very torn by the State's decision.

Justice
2009-11-10 11:18:00

I cant wait !!!! barbaric ? are you out of your do good minds. This idiot secretly,randomly changed the security of a nation by selecting innocent humans to die for no reasons at all what so ever. I hope he freaks out and makes a scene, I hope he makes a duty in his drawers before he takes his well deserved dirt nap. This human has no dignity and deserves none. Celebrate his death as an example to all the rest of the loons out their who would dare think of trying to repeat this offense,let this action be the consequence you pay when you KILL innocent people.

Texas
2009-11-10 11:43:34

There is nothing tough about getting rid of a menace to society. Why do we keep them behind bars like animals. The should get the same as they gave. Why spend my tax dollars on their well being when there are people out in society that need and could use it to a better end. You do gooders would feel different if it happened to one of yours.

jamie
2009-11-10 11:47:21

Karen are you out of your mind. dont compare this guy to solders in the war. this guy killed people in random attacks on the steets. he is a coward and shouldnt be shown any pitty. after all where was the pitty for the familys of the murdered by him. he is a disgrace and now is going to be punished. if anything im sure its easy way out for him. because he knows he will never leave prision. if spared the death sentence

Charles
2009-11-10 11:50:28

This is a very sick individual. Maybe soom type of intervention couldve helped him. I dont know. But I do know that anyone evil enough to sit in a car, kill innocent people they never met before is truely SICK... May God have mercy on his soul. And the souls of those he stole away from us.

Karen
2009-11-10 11:59:32

Oftentimes have I heard you speak of one who commits a wrong as though he were not one of you, but a stranger unto you and an intruder upon your world. But I say that even as the holy and the righteous cannot rise beyond the highest which is in each one of you, So the wicked and the weak cannot fall lower than the lowest which is in you also. And as a single leaf turns not yellow but with the silent knowledge of the whole tree, So the wrong-doer cannot do wrong without the hidden will of you all. ---Khalil Gibran

Karen
2009-11-10 12:21:14

when one of you falls down he falls for those behind him, a caution against the stumbling stone. And he falls for those ahead of him, who though faster and surer of foot, did not remove the stumbling stone.

Ash
2009-11-10 12:40:07

I don't understand how this woman can write a book and try to make a profit from the tragedy. We will never hear John M. side of the story.

We don’t know the full story of what drove him over the edge. Or even more, the complexity of his relationship with his former wife. It is apparent that he loved his kids and could not handle the wife having full custody.

I am not trying to defend John M., but I think we should try to understand this situation from another point of view.

nhlanhla
2009-11-10 12:48:43

I dont understand how a death penalty especially by electrocution is the ultimate punishment to the one dying. I suspect it is a punishment to the one person doing the killing. And the spectators. I doubt any one who kills with intention and repeatedly would not be happy to rest in peace.

for me death penalty does not achieve stated objectives. Besides the fact that, like war, it is trauma for those left behind.

Charles
2009-11-10 13:18:24

I have to admit my state of conflict regarding the issue of capital punishment. After all there are clear biblical references supporting such a thing found in the old and new testament. However I can also see the justice in making one convicted of horrible crimes live the rest of their lives thinking about the horror they inflicted on the lives of their victims. And having to die, in an hour only known by thier creator. To give them an added since of horror. But unfortunately many of these people are crazy as hell, and have no fear of God. No natural affection, human heart, NOTHING. So maybe we should give them NOTHING, but an electric chair. Again I admit this one is hard. I dont have the answer.

wwally
2009-11-10 14:28:15

if you do not think this man should die than let him come live with you. why should i have to pay to keep him up? it is prople like you that the world is like it is

Dr.bucksnort
2009-11-10 14:44:14

The only problem I have with this execution is that it has taken 7 years. It should of been done the next day at noon. If there was ever a case where the death penalty is 100% called for. these would be it .Let this scum rot in hell

niel
2009-11-10 14:53:06

you guys should have taken a leaf out of the uk book from sentence to death 30 days one appeal if it fails tough short walk quick drop job done none of this fighting for years to get a last minute repreive,, fastest hanging was 7 secs none of this 25-30 mins injection,, sit in this chair an plug it in

Lee
2009-11-10 15:14:39

Ash : You are a cunt. Words simply fail me when I read comments like yours. Except the 'C' word that is.

John
2009-11-10 15:35:55

"Anyone who strikes a man and kills him shall surely be put to death." - Exodus 21:12

Cindy
2009-11-10 15:44:22

Eye for an Eye.......This gentleman doesn't have enough eyes! The death penalty is more merciful than what this man did to other innocent people. He has been given time to consider he may die and hopefully has had time to reconcile that with himself, God and whomever else he thinks necessary. Life comes with rules and the obvious anger and hate in this man's face is disturbing. If his parents didn't see, the state or whoever came across him in his developmental years....well, shame on society. However, that should never excuse someone from their actions. We have mental health care available in this great nation and it was there, often times free of charge, for him to use. Just as if you have a cold, do nothing about it and it leads to pneumonia and you die.....isn't that essentially what he did?

Cindy
2009-11-10 15:55:13

P.S. The guy above me named Lee is an.....! I can't believe he/she just called Ash the C word. Wow! this person has some obvious issues. Can't we all be diplomatic and allow others their opinions even when we may not agree with them? I don't agree with Ash, I think there comes a time in life where we face our past and personal tradegy's and move beyond them. We are meant to grow even after we turn 18 and recentment is not a a reason for murder. I'm personally very sick of the "poor me I was raised so horribly story". I did not have a tremendous upbringing either. I was raped as a child....so on so forth....but as I matured realized that the only thing I could do was refuse to let that person ruin the rest of my life. We all make choices, it's a shame he made the choice he did....now he dies! Oh and also, what's the thing about getting life in prison to think about his wrongs and be tormented story. Please...most these people are not remorseful, never will be, and why should we as a public pay for their miserable existence? Makes no sense to me.

MidwestGuy
2009-11-10 16:32:41

It's not ok to kill the unborn. But it is ok to kill the living under the protection of judicial system?

So whether it's abortion or the death penalty (both moral objections) our tax dollars will be used to do something we morally disagree with.

Concerned About the Mentally Il and War Vets
2009-11-10 16:40:17

My concern is not for the individual as it is for the consistency of this country's enablability to first identify and secondly NOT JUST MEDICATE its very large population of mentally ill and the veterans whom are turned into monsters and never desensitized. John Muhammad, the Ft. Hood shooter both appeared to be suffering in the midst of onlookers who did absolutely nothing for them but waited until they committed some unforgiveable act and now wants to kill them for it. My question is where is America's punishement for ignoring mental illness in its many many forms. I speak of what I live with each and every day and there literally no REAL help. I don't want to justify there acts, rather my concern is for allowing the illness to be ignored until the acts manifested themself. WHY???

John
2009-11-10 16:45:08

Ash - Should we also try to understand what drove Al-Qaeda over the edge and fly an airplane into the World Trade Center? Should we try to understand that situation from another point of view? Or what about Malik Nidal Hasan? Maybe he was neglected as a child and this was an outlet for all of his rage. Perhaps we should sit him down and try to understand his situation. Ignorant liberals. Does executing someone bring back those who were killed in cold blood? No. There can never be a just punishment for the victims or their families - at least not on this earth. But it sure as hell sends a message to others who may be thinking of doing the same. Who cares if he loved his children? Congratulations. I'm sure those people who were shot down while pumping gas and buying groceries loved their children too. And I'm sure the parents of the child who was shot down loved that child as well. That man was afforded a life and after his actions - conscious, pre-meditated actions - he gave up the right to live. "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man." - Gen 9:6

John
2009-11-10 16:52:30

MidwestGuy - another liberal moron. Biblical interpretations aside, common sense would tell you that killing an unborn, innocent child is wrong. Killing a ruthless killer is punishment as set forth by a judicial system. The same judicial system, by the way, that was predicated on, guess what, Biblical principles. "If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. "And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth . . ."--Ex. 21:22-25

Sassy
2009-11-10 16:59:27

He will go to Hell tonight. He might need a fire hose when he meets Satan. All of you morons who defend him are no better. Shame on you!

Let's keep him alive!
2009-11-10 17:05:04

I want to extend my hand to the rest of the bible pushing people on here. Please... set up an account and make donations at about $30,000 a year. Let's keep this guy alive in jail. It's what Jesus would want... right

John
2009-11-10 17:08:06

Exactly the opposite of what Jesus would want.

wwally
2009-11-10 17:27:27

i like sassy and her way of thinking

KILL KILLERS!
2009-11-10 17:35:28

i hope everyone who kills another gets them and thier family mudered and guted basically eye for an eye + 10 you pathetic pukes I hope you never face themurderer of your child and say i forgive you you spineless pathetic waste of space on earth.

Catherine
2009-11-10 19:58:33

The 23 days of terror caused by the DC snipers will never leave my mind. I lived very close to where three of the poor, innocent people were shot and killed. Filled my car with gas regularly at the Shell station where the poor woman was murdered while vacuuming her car near Kensington, Maryland. What those two men did to an entire region is shocking. I remember one night being stopped at the Chevy Chase circle as police told everyone to get out of their cars and open their trunks for searching. I was stopped in traffic for a long time as officials went car to car. There was massive confusion and fear everywhere. I was afraid each and every day. I was afraid for my children and husband. I certainly will not be happy about another death tonight, but honestly, Jon M. deserves it. Living in the DC region at that time will always be a scary, terrible memory for me.

McMinn Co, TN
2009-11-10 20:06:40

first off sassy is my hero!!! I think if we started killing more people that killed others and torturing people that deserved it, this world would be a better place! if he had killed ur little girl or boy how would u want him sentenced? our tax money is being spent to keep people like him in prison.. our country is filled with a bunch of dumbasses! i say slay him!

MLee
2009-11-11 03:18:08

I have conflicting emotions about the death penalty. I value human life. On the other hand, some people are so evil that the death penalty is my preferred way of eliminating that evil. Then again, the justice system in this country is so flawed that I do not trust it to decide who should die. A lot of innocent people are on death row. Also, some guilty people should not be sentence to death because of extenuating circumstances in their cases. The brother of one of the victims of the DC sniper was a high school classmate of mine. The brothers were from a good family.

nhlanhla
2009-11-11 04:32:22

In 1964 Nelson Mandela was on the death row.

And so many of you are so primal. Evolve.

nhlanhla
2009-11-11 04:43:45

And dont say that you support execution because it is an administration of justice.

If dying, even by explosive fire, was so terrible for these type of mentals, why do you think suicide bombers cherish it so much ??

The only reason why you could possibly support execution is if it was entertainment to you. With your sick-vengeance-filled old-testament verses

You want him communally killed - because you are just like him.

John
2009-11-11 09:48:01

You're right...I'm just like him. Except for the fact that I've never ruthlessly murdered numbers of innocent people with a teenage boy as my accomplice. Otherwise, we're pretty much just alike. Oh, except for the fact that I'm still alive. But other than that... So execution is not an administration of justice? justice n - The upholding of what is just, especially fair treatment and due reward in accordance with honor, standards, or law. Maybe Muhammad did cherish the idea of being killed. If so, then he certainly got what he wanted. Funny though that he was claiming to be innocent and pleading for life in prison instead of death. He was a worthless waste of space and the world is better off without him. Call the verses what you will, but they are the inspired word of God, and ultimately He will be Muhammad's judge. I'm sure justice will prevail in a life of eternal hell. God bless the victims and their families.

Karen
2009-11-11 12:24:53

nhalanhl, Barvao to you. These people are exactly like the sniper their core is primal and unevolved just like the sniper. They are unsophisticated and can not see the links between their morals and societies morals,. They are talking about Satan and hell. the vengence and bitterness in their hearts is nothing that Jesus Christ ever showed when he walked this earth. While these people may have knowledge they posess no wisdom and understanding of the human mind behavior and capabilities.

Ash
2009-11-11 13:49:39

Part of message did not get posted

Here is what you missed:

John M. has been excuted by the "State" The STATE was the one who TAUGHT him how to kill other people in the Gulf War. So now the State killed him

When killings happen in this country, Americans get so rightous: Kill the basters, killem all

Yet, WE go to other contries and kill people...innocent people, women, men and children. And WE, don't get a rats azz. As long as we can have our Starbucks Coffee.

So to the fool who called me the C word...You are full of it. My point for my posting was to say, Look at John M. from another point of view.

Food for thought...911 did not just happen over night. Do you see the point?

brooklyn moe
2009-11-11 15:04:11

nelson mandela was never on death row in 1964. he was sentenced to life in prison.

LOL!
2009-11-11 20:21:46

It's not uncommon in this forum that Nhlanhla gets her facts mixed around.

nhlanhla
2009-11-12 03:40:40

I've always thought he was sentenced to death and appealed it. And then sentenced to life.

In any case hundreds of his colleagues were put to death sentence by the S.A. regime. I am sure only international publicity saved him, as the person.

And my point is that in South Africa because of this immediate ANC history we KNOW that death sentence is not an administration of justice

And like I said, with your twisted mind, what you really crave for is to laugh-out-loud in entertainment as you watch a human's execution. You sicko.

brooklyn moe
2009-11-12 08:14:56

it's kind of funny that you use the nelson mandela example as a contrast to those who you call "primal". mandela and his ANC colleagues, by mandela's own admission, have the blood of innocents dripping from their fingers. the umkhonto we sizwe staged a bombing campaign across south africa that resulted in the death or maiming of countless civilians. i understand mandela's motivation and the bombings don't paint the picture of mandela's greater body of work, but don't his actions make him "primal" at his core? why is it ok for mandela to determine that civilians should die in the name of justice against the oppressive south african regime, but when a court of law determines that john muhammad should die for the murders of innocents, including at least one child, we are all primal and unjust? just wondering. regards.

KAren
2009-11-12 11:34:25

Nelson Mandela progressed into a non violent man and so should you. As well once the DC sniper was caught he begame easlily contained. Fighting your oprressors for freedom is a different think my dear. It's the same as self defense. We are not killing the DC sniper out of self defense we are killing him out of spite and vengence. America nad south africa has alot in common in that they are the only first world country with the death peneality and they are the only first world country that continues to practise apartied in it's various form.

brooklyn moe
2009-11-12 12:16:59

Surely you're not suggesting that all of those civilians that died at the hands of the umkhonto we sizwe were oppressors or killed in self defense? Many were black south africans like madiba himself. They wanted freedom from oppression as deeply as anyone, but they were killed by the mk in the name of a "justice"greater than their rights to life and liberty, not self defense. So you, who seems to be suggesting above that you possess a wisdom and understanding of the human mind and behavior rare amongst your peers, feel that you know enough about me to suggest that I am a violent man? You are not so wise as you think you are. I have neither taken a position in support of or against the death penalty here. I just find it curious that one would crucify an entity that sentenced a murderer to death while at the same time praising a man who caused the deaths of dozens of innocent civilians. Regards.

Karen
2009-11-12 14:15:56

And madiba was of a sick primal mind when he committed those offensive. A product of a very sick/opressive system that dehumanized black south africans. The remenants of which still runs throught the blood of many south africans today causing them to slaughter and mame each other and rape little babies. It is unfortunate indeed, but can you dig it?

nhlanhla
2009-11-12 17:11:32

brooklyn moe, first i should say i take your question seriously and this is how i will clarify my point:

I believe all kinds of unnecessary violence should is immoral and should be avoided. This includes unnecessary wars. But - if an intruder came into your home with the intention to kill you and your family members and you reacted and killed him or her before he accomplished his intentions I could never condemn your actions. Ever.

Similarly if Muhammad was killed by the police downtown while on that shooting spree, other recent guy in the military, that could not be morally condemned. The act of killing that person, however unfortunate, is morally justified on grounds of preventing further death of innocent others.

Same thing applies when a country is invaded and its military protects its citizens. Its act of defence, NOT the offender, is morally justifiable.

The ANC was formed in 1912. For more than 50 years they asked the white regime to cease massacres on innocent black lives. More than 50 years. Instead the white regime's terror intensified after 1948. Like in the cases of self defence I have described above, the ANC believed that the ONLY way - (after having tried other peaceful means and for decades without success) to stop the offensive killing of innocent black lives - was to retaliate by the same measure. I am convinced that if the white regime had stopped the terror on blacks there would not have been a need for the armed struggle and Umkhonto Wesizwe. The violent struggle would not have occured. It Hence, the acts of Nelson and friends are the same morally justifiable acts of SELF PRESERVATION.

Those acts are not similar to an act sanctioned by a State to execute a person or people where other options and means of preventing further terror from being committed are possible. And in fact have already been found. Muhammad did not further commit his terror ever since he was incarcerated in 2003? And he could not have killed for the next 100 years, if for example, he was put into solitary confinement, for life.

Why was he killed? If his death had nothing to do with self preservation or prevention of his further terror? The act sanction by capital punishment has very different ENDS to the acts committed by Nelson and friends. I hope in your mind the difference clears. To this day, Nelson is not apologetic about the armed struggle. Like, self defence, it could never be likened to Muhammad's actions of hateful random killings nor the state's act of executing him just so as to match or mirror the degree of his own hatred. And then present that as an act of justice. Revenge is not justice. Death penalty is revenge, whether by an individual, or by a State machine. And revenge is an instinctual primal act.

I must confess I'm a little sad for your Nelson comparison to Muhammed. But I'll take it you were not clear.

Anne
2009-11-15 06:09:41

John Allen Muhammad should have received some serious, in-depth psychiatric help before he became a sniper. But that doesn't excuse his decision to go around killing people. I also live in the DC area and remember only too well what October 2002 was like. He came to this area to find his wife and kill her, and it is said that he killed and wounded others to make her killing seem random if he had succeeded in finding her. He has had some defenders who have the audacity to say he was doing it for "his people," namely blacks. I consider that a mockery, as he and his accomplice killed black people in Washington State, Alabama, Georgia, Maryland, and Virginia. His first victim was a 21-year-old black woman named Keenya Cook, the mother of a 5-month-old son. Her aunt was a friend of Mildred Muhammad who helped her to leave John Muhammad. The snipers went to kill the aunt, but Keenya answered the door and they shot her to death. They also killed whites, a man from India, an Asian-American woman, and a Latina woman. So, obviously, they didn't care who was unlucky enough to cross their paths. He was manipulative enough to kidnap his kids and take them to Antigua for 18 months, telling his wife that if she didn't return to him, she would never see them again. He also told the kids that their mother didn't want them. The stress of dealing with him led Mildred to be hospitalized, and after she got the kids back, she won full custody. She also took out a restraining order against him. I hate to see any parent unable to see his or her children, but he showed his unfitness as a father when he kidnapped them to use as bargaining chips and told them their mother didn't want them. I hate the fact that he made so many poor decisions that sealed his fate in the end, but he made those choices, including the one to turn an impressionable kid into a murderer. Malvo will never again have a chance at a normal life. It disgusts me for him to be favorably compared with the likes of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King.

dirySouthdude
2009-11-18 11:02:19

And all the religious freaks come out tonight!! What idiots!!! While you at it John, kill your dawn child for talking back to you!! THAT's in the bible too! And you women better not talk in church. Submit to your man!! List goes on and on.

Omari Zwane
2010-01-22 07:26:35

I think the killing of that georgeous man is barbaric to the extreme. It reminds me of the also barbaric killing of one Timmothy MacVain (not georgeous). The US is a beautiful country, but has some really sick minded and cruel people. John Allen Mohammed should have been allowed to spend the rest of his days as a personal trainer to fellow inmates. He was obviously psychologically impacted by his war experiences. We don't know what he went through. If the evil people succeed in extinguishing the light of one of God's children - May his Soul rest in peace. I will always love him. He is too beautiful to die.

THATSWHATUGET
2010-01-22 15:01:06

THOSE TWO ARE NOT THE "D.C. SNIPERS"

Anne
2010-01-23 13:13:02

I'm sorry, but there was nothing "gorgeous" about John Allen Muhammad. He was a man who was unfaithful to both of his wives, and subjected the second one to extreme psychological abuse. The only difference between him and Timothy McVeigh, aside from race, is that he and his accomplice killed fewer people, but in many more areas of this country. Aside from the numbers of people each killed are those whose injuries affect them to this day in both cases. I also include the relatives of the dead and injured who still suffer with the living wounded and still mourn their losses. Muhammad came to this area to kill his wife and get custody of their children. He wanted the other murders to serve as a smoke screen if he had managed to kill her. The fact remains that there were a large number of blacks among those he and Malvo killed, so there is no sense in denying or minimizing their proven guilt. Keep in mind that they also shot and wounded a 13-year-old black boy on his way to school in Maryland, along with a white Alabama woman whose face was permanently disfigured in the shooting there that also killed a 52-year-old black woman. Anyone who would kill or wound innocent people while hiding in the trunk of a car is a sorry excuse for a human being, and about as far from being "gorgeous" as anyone can get. As "barbaric" as his execution was, what could be more barbaric than shooting people down like animals and leaving them to die on the streets?

David Kessler
2010-01-27 15:16:14

Why should it be assumed that John Allen Muhammad staged all this to kill his wife, just because she says so. It sounds like an overly elaborate plan. Firstly by killing so many people separately, he actually increased the risk of getting caught. Secondly, all he could hope to do is conceal his motive. Evidence of motive is not proof if guilt and absence of motive is not proof of innocence. I think it is obvious that he did these killings because of his evil political/religious ideology. His personal grievances towards his wife may have fuelled his overall anger. But that does not mean that killing his wife was his motive. I have mixed feelings about the death penalty in general. But in this case, I have no qualms or reservations. But some cases are not so clear cut, as I explored in a recent thriller. i suppose my position is that truly evil murderers deserve to be executed, but we have to be sure they are both guilty and truly evil. David Kessler

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