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Warrant Filed for Ohio Shootings Suspect

Posted on: Monday, 15 March 2004, 06:00 CST

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Investigators filed an arrest warrant Monday for a suspect in two dozen highway sniper shootings that have left one woman dead and unnerved motorists for months.

The warrant charges Charles A. McCoy Jr., 28, of Columbus, with felonious assault in a Dec. 15 shooting that damaged a house. One bullet was found in a bathtub, and two bullet holes were found on the front of the house.

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office said investigators did not know McCoy's whereabouts, but Chief Deputy Steve Martin said he was considered armed and dangerous.

"The key issue for us right now is to locate this guy," Martin said. "We believe he bought another gun."

The shootings at vehicles and buildings around Interstate 270, which circles the city, and other highways started in May, although most have occurred since October. The most recent was on Valentine's Day. One woman was killed in a November shooting.

Bullets have struck homes, a school, school buses, vans, cars, delivery trucks and tractor-trailers. The only person hit, Gail Knisley, 62, was fatally wounded Nov. 25 while riding in a car on I-270.

In the last three shootings, witnesses described seeing someone aiming at them while standing next to a car. Their descriptions of the suspect and car were similar to information the sheriff's office released Monday.

The suspect is a 5-foot-8, 185-pound white male with brown hair and green eyes, the sheriff's office said. The car is a dark green 1999 Geo Metro with a black hood.

The address traced to the car's license plate is within a mile of the stretch of I-270 where many of the shootings occurred.

A light was on in the split-level house but the curtains were drawn and no one answered the door.

At least three men removed at least three large plastic tubs from the house and placed them in unmarked cars. The contents weren't visible.

As people milled about, a woman removed a "for sale" sign that had been posted outside and drove away. Real estate agent Sheila Bell said the house had been on the market for six months.

Several neighbors said they barely knew McCoy, whom they recognized from a photo released by investigators.

Authorities were seeking the public's help Monday in locating McCoy.

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