Editing D.C. sniper attacks (section)

==Preliminary shootings==
On February 16, 2002, 21-year-old Keenya Nicole Cook was shot and killed by Lee Malvo at the front door of her aunt's home in [[Tacoma, Washington]]. Cook's aunt, Isa Nichols, had been good friends with John Allen Muhammad's ex-wife Mildred and had encouraged her to seek a divorce.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.king5.com/article/news/dc-snipers-first-intended-victim-speaks-out/281-332833536 | title=D.C. Sniper's first 'intended victim' speaks out | date=November 10, 2009 | access-date=February 15, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216025211/http://www.king5.com/article/news/dc-snipers-first-intended-victim-speaks-out/281-332833536 | archive-date=February 16, 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref>

On March 19, 2002, Jerry Taylor, 60, was killed by a single shot to the chest fired from long range as he practiced chip shots at a [[Tucson, Arizona]], golf course.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Manning|first1=Stephen|date=October 26, 2006|title=Tucson police question DC sniper about golf course murder|url=http://tucsoncitizen.com/morgue/2006/10/26/30626-tucson-police-question-dc-sniper-about-golf-course-murder/|work=Tucson Citizen|access-date=June 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011132359/http://tucsoncitizen.com/morgue/2006/10/26/30626-tucson-police-question-dc-sniper-about-golf-course-murder/|archive-date=October 11, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="ArizonaGolfer">{{cite news|last1=Richards|first1=Chris|title=Police say Malvo confessed to killing Arizona golfer|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-10-27-snipers_x.htm|access-date=November 5, 2017|work=USA Today|date=October 28, 2006|location=Tucson, AZ|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012071616/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-10-27-snipers_x.htm|archive-date=October 12, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Muhammad's sister lived near the golf course, and he was visiting her at the time of the shooting.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cooper |first=Michael |date=May 27, 2017 |title=DC sniper Malvo admitted to killing Tucson man |url=http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/35529359/dc-sniper-malvo-admitted-to-killing-tucson-man |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215144056/http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/35529359/dc-sniper-malvo-admitted-to-killing-tucson-man |archive-date=February 15, 2018 |access-date=February 15, 2018 |website=Tucson News}}</ref>

On August 1, 2002, John Gaeta, 51, was changing a tire slashed by Malvo at a parking lot in [[Hammond, Louisiana]]. Malvo then shot him in the neck.<ref>{{cite news|last=Finch|first=Chris|title=Hammond shooting connected to D.C. sniper|url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/03/04/malvo.sniper.confession/index.html|publisher=WVUE|access-date=December 5, 2010|date=February 24, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831134316/http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/03/04/malvo.sniper.confession/index.html|archive-date=August 31, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> The bullet exited through Gaeta's back, and he pretended to be dead while Malvo stole his wallet. Gaeta ran to a service station after Malvo left and discovered that he was bleeding; he went to a hospital and was released within an hour. 

On September 5, 2002, at 10:30{{nbsp}}p.m., Paul LaRuffa, a 55-year-old pizzeria owner, was shot six times at close range while locking up his Italian restaurant in [[Clinton, Maryland]]. LaRuffa survived the shooting, and his laptop computer was found in Muhammad's car when he and Malvo were arrested.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/22/us/polite-but-dogged-sniper-suspect-offers-defense.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss |title=Polite but Dogged, Sniper Suspect Offers Defense - The New York Times |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 22, 2003 |access-date=August 16, 2009 |first=James |last=Dao |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090424202027/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/22/us/polite-but-dogged-sniper-suspect-offers-defense.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss |archive-date=April 24, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On September 14, 2002, 22-year-old Rupinder "Benny" Oberoi, an employee of the Hillandale Beer & Wine liquor store in [[Silver Spring, Maryland]], was shot in the back outside the store. Oberoi survived the shooting. The shooting was officially linked to Muhammad and Malvo by the Montgomery County Police Department.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CNN.com - Police link September shooting to sniper suspects - Nov. 1, 2002|url=https://www.cnn.com/2002/US/11/01/sniper.shootings/index.html|access-date=May 1, 2022|website=www.cnn.com|archive-date=May 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501030518/https://www.cnn.com/2002/US/11/01/sniper.shootings/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On September 15, 2002, Muhammad Rashid was shot while closing Three Roads Liquors in [[Brandywine, Maryland]]. Rashid later identified Malvo as the shooter in court.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 4, 2013 |title=DC Area Sniper Fast Facts |url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/11/04/us/dc-area-sniper-fast-facts/index.html |access-date=May 1, 2022 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=May 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501030518/https://www.cnn.com/2013/11/04/us/dc-area-sniper-fast-facts/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 7, 2019 |title=A collective timeline of the DC Sniper case, from 2002 to 2019 |url=https://northernvirginiamag.com/culture/culture-features/2019/11/07/a-collective-timeline-of-the-dc-sniper-case-from-2002-to-2019/ |access-date=June 26, 2022 |website=Northern Virginia Magazine |language=en-US |archive-date=June 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626221726/https://northernvirginiamag.com/culture/culture-features/2019/11/07/a-collective-timeline-of-the-dc-sniper-case-from-2002-to-2019/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On September 21, 2002, at 12:15{{nbsp}}a.m., 41-year-old Million A. Waldemariam was fatally shot in the head and back with a .22-caliber pistol in [[Atlanta, Georgia]]. Waldemariam was helping the owner of a Sammy's Package Store close up for the night when the shooting occurred.<ref>{{cite news|title=Before Area Sniper Attacks, Another Deadly Bullet Trail|url=http://research.lifeboat.com/sniper.htm|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=December 15, 2002|first1=Serge F.|first2=Michael E.|last1=Kovaleski|last2=Ruane|access-date=September 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106071144/http://research.lifeboat.com/sniper.htm|archive-date=November 6, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

Nineteen hours later on the same day, Claudine Parker,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20091110/NEWS01/911100329|title='Justice' served: Parker's family to watch D.C. sniper's execution|access-date=July 11, 2013|date=November 10, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113001315/http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20091110/NEWS01/911100329|archive-date=November 13, 2009|first1=Kym|last1=Klass|website=Montgomery Advertiser|publisher=Gannett|url-status=dead}}</ref> a 52-year-old liquor store clerk in [[Montgomery, Alabama]], was shot in the chest and killed during a robbery. Her coworker, 24-year-old Kellie Adams, was critically wounded with a shot through the neck but survived. Evidence found at the crime scene eventually tied this killing to the Beltway attacks and allowed authorities to identify Muhammad and Malvo as suspects,<ref>Hickey, Eric W. ''Encyclopedia of Murder & Violent Crime''. 2003, p. 54.</ref> although this connection was not made until October 17, almost four weeks later.

On September 23, 2002, at 6:30{{nbsp}}p.m., 45-year-old Hong Im Ballenger was shot in the head and killed with a [[Bushmaster Firearms International|Bushmaster]] rifle in [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana]].<ref name="CNN Library">{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=September 26, 2016 |title=DC Area Sniper Fast Facts |work=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/04/us/dc-area-sniper-fast-facts/ |url-status=live |access-date=January 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118050949/http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/04/us/dc-area-sniper-fast-facts/ |archive-date=January 18, 2017 |ref=CNN Library }}</ref><ref name="Fox News 1">{{cite news|title=Husband of La. Victim Knew It Was Sniper|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/husband-of-la-victim-knew-it-was-sniper/|access-date=January 17, 2017|work=Fox News|agency=Associated Press|date=October 31, 2002|ref=Fox News 1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211204943/http://www.foxnews.com/story/2002/10/31/husband-la-victim-knew-it-was-sniper.html|archive-date=February 11, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Muhammad and Malvo were later linked to the killing.<ref>{{cite news |last=Roberts |first=Joel |date=November 2, 2002 |title=Antigua Sniper Connection? |work=[[CBS News]] |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/antigua-sniper-connection/ |url-status=live |access-date=August 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204231106/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/11/04/national/main527967.shtml |archive-date=February 4, 2011}}</ref>