Fears of fresh US 'sniper' attacks

Fears are mounting in the American state of West Virginia that a gunman may be copying the sniper attacks which sparked panic in the Washington area last year.

State police have joined forces with federal agents and other government teams to mount a full and immediate investigation to quell residents' fears that a serial killer is on the loose.

Preliminary findings after three people were killed in Kanawha County last week show they were all shot in the head or neck at a range of more than 30 metres with a rifle bearing the same calibre.

Ten people were killed and three were wounded in October 2002 around the Washington DC area. Two men are facing charges relating to the attacks.

Last week's victims were all shot dead outside of petrol stations on Sunday and Thursday.

Kanawha County police have not formally linked the killings and are treating the incidents as separate homicides, but have warned residents not to use filling stations alone after dark.

Forensic results released by West Virginia police revealed the three were shot from a distance of over 30 metres.

Widening search

County sheriff Dave Tucker said: "All the cases had the similar actions as far as occurred, but we're not treating this as a serial type killer. Each one of these we're treating as an individual homicide or murder.

"We've pooled resources, we've linked with different agencies and set up a special response force and that includes a lot of federal agencies. We have a command centre and we're working out of that."

Local police are being assisted in their investigations by the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives.

Police said they had received more than 200 calls and tips following Thursday's shooting and have appealed for information about a black pick-up truck seen in the Campbell Creek area after the murder of Jeanie Patton.

Investigations include a previous shooting on 20 March in the neighbouring town of Charleston, where a lethal bullet was fired from a different calibre rifle.

Authorities are not ruling out a possible connection, Sheriff Tucker said.