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A quick reminder that if you haven't already listened to part one of this story, you might want to before continuing.

In 2002, a series of random yet connected shootings and armed robberies were occurring with disturbing frequency across the United States.

By October 23rd, 16 people had been killed and almost a dozen others injured from Washington

State to Alabama.

Authorities had been able to link incidents in Florida and Georgia.

But it was the residents of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. that were terrorized most

of all.

In just a three-week period alone, ten unsuspecting people were gunned down as they went about their lives.

No one was safe.

It had taken law enforcement months to identify potential suspects, and locating them would be just as challenging.

The number of people killed, and the randomness with which the shooters picked their targets,

was absolutely terrifying.

It created widespread fear and paranoia, as no one knew if they would be the next victim.

Nothing like this has ever happened in Montgomery County. This is a very safe community.

Our homicide rate just increased by 25% in one day.

For detectives working the case, there was too much at stake for them to get anything wrong.

If they did, it could not only jeopardize the investigation, but also the public's ongoing safety.

The investigation, not surprisingly, was high profile and had been the focus of intense media coverage for weeks.

It was also extremely complex, with more than just a few moving parts.

To manage the incredible amount of information, numerous police departments, the FBI, ATF, and the Secret Service, were all working

...