DC Snipers

In an emergency shelter, in Vancouver's DTES (Downtown Eastside), I met the mother and wife of the 'DC Snipers'. She asked me one day if I would meet her husband, that he really wanted to meet me. I had no idea why, except I had just come back from LA where I lived homeless and could relate to the woman's plight. She had two little girls with her and was homeless in a new country. I felt for her, while understanding what life was like where she came from. I had said to her, "Americans are really rough on each other". Apparently she and her husband agreed with me.

She introduced her son and husband to me in front of the shelter entrance as John, her husband & John, her son.

I joked that I would get confused in the DTES with two John's.

So her son introduced himself as John Malvo and his father as John Muhammed. The father wanted me to know what he planned to do and wanted proof of our meeting, so in early July 2002, the only time I ever met the man, John Muhammad told me of his plans in front of the surveillance camera of the shelter. He must have wanted the proof to be there, that we met and that he did tell me what he was about to do. The footage WAS there when I emailed FBI about where they could find PROOF the DC Snipers WERE in Vancouver. They found it and the bad cop was retired, not sent to prison for allowing the murder of Americans to be carried out. If I were the relatives of those victims, I'd sue that cop.

John Muhammad seemed to be very angry and frustrated with the way of life for the poor and blacks in 'America'. I had just comeback from LA where I was homeless and could not help but agree with him. The rich deny the poor human respect (let alone life) while catering to the wealthy and corporate (criminals).

Although Muhammed's way was not my idea of how to solve things. I do not think that killing anyone is the answer, I do understand how someone could reach the state of wanting to kill; so much injustice is done to the poor and no one who could care, would, or would even be allowed to care. But murder? No, not me.

Many people were murdered in my hometown in Mississippi in the 50's, 60's and beyond. No one has ever been convicted of ANY of the deaths as far as I know. The deaths were not even considered deaths by the authorities back then, because the victims were not white and even if they were, that too would be kept hush-hush. No one reported black people who went missing and if anyone tried, no report was ever taken by the white police officers of Mississippi in it's dark heyday of hatred. Those people simply disappeared, no questions asked. (and I do mean No questions)

Yet murder is never the answer, even in response to murder. Justice is. There are those (white Klansmen) in my hometown who have gotten away with serial murder, even assassination; they need to be brought to justice. I will do my part, but it is, as always, up to the authorities to DO something about it. Why should it take so long?

John Muhammad proceeded to tell me of his plan to have his son tucked into the trunk of a car to shoot and kill Americans, even acting it out by pretending to shoot a rifle as we talked. I became fearful that since he knew I was an American, my life could be in danger too. I looked around as he talked and noticed that the man could get a good shot at me from any rooftop in the neighbourhood, so I went along with him, to lessen the chances he would shoot me first.


I mentioned to him that there were plenty of KKK in Mississippi who are guilty of murders they will never be convicted for. The FBI in Seattle were guilty for LAUGHING when I tried to tell them about the 911 attackers (See Fatwah) I had met in Canada in 1999. I mentioned this to him to lessen the chance he would shoot me first. It really wasn't the time to start lecturing the man on the moral conduct.

I could tell the boy was afraid of his father too. What can you do when you are 17, know that if police don't listen and it could cost you your life in trying to tell them? What would you do if there was no police you could turn to and nowhere to escape this man, but the streets?

A few days later I saw John Malvo sleeping on the church steps at the corner of Gore and Cordova Streets in Vancouver's DTES. I went up to him and asked if he was all right and if he wanted some help. He was curled up in a sleeping bag in front of the locked door of 'God's' empty House.

He smiled sweetly and said he was all right. I could tell he wasn't; I saw the fear in his eyes, so I walked across the street to the back of the British Columbia courthouse where there was the big, white, grey-haired Vancouver Police Department (VPD) officer#___, an officer, unknownst to me, with a BAD reputation even amongst his coworkers. I figured a man of his stature and position could do something to help John Malvo and stop John Muhammad before he left Canada and murdered Americans.

I explained to the officer what Muhammad had said he planned to do and told him the man had a rifle with him. Then I asked for his assistance for the boy saying, "The boy needs help to get away from his father. Please can you help him? I believe his father intends to carry out the threat he made to me".

The big cop, with the character of a pitbull, laughed and walked off at the mention of Americans in danger. He refused to help. There was nothing more I could do, but I had tried.

I felt strongly John Malvo had no choice but to go along with his father. The police officer should have helped. It was his job. You just can't be that ignorant and still be a good cop, it is scientifically impossible.

Let's all pray VPD have regained their moral code of ethics and now employ a few good cops who can diligently pursue the bad ones that do exist. Let's all pray VPD get over their admitted "indifference" to the plight of the not-so-rich. Let's all pray that independent investigations of police misconduct becomes a reality, everywhere. Let's all be thankful the big, crooked cop is "retired". Who took his place?

© Terri Williams

MysTerri@gmail.com

Links

    Uncle Bubba

    Fatwah

    Petition to Out-law Police Self-investigation