Sniper Warning: 'Children Are Not Safe'

Oct. 22 -- Investigators in the serial sniper case pleaded with the shooter today to contact them without hurting anyone else, hours after they revealed that an earlier note to them warned "your children are not safe."

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The focus on the sniper's communications comes as authorities investigate whether the deadly shooter struck again this morning. Conrad Johnson, a 35-year-old bus driver, was gunned down as he was about to start his route.

As officials tried to determine whether Johnson was the killer's 10th fatality, they sent out messages to the sniper and to the community.

In one press conference this afternoon, Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose said police had received another message in the Washington, D.C., area serial sniper case. Plus, Moose disclosed details from an earlier communication.

Moose and his task force investigating the sniper attacks chose to respond to several reports about the contents of a note left at a shooting Saturday in Virginia. The note demanded a large sum of money — $10 million according to The Associated Press — and said that if it was not paid there would be more violence. The multi-page letter reportedly was written in garbled English.

Alluding to community concern about school children's safety, Moose said investigators thought it was important to reveal the exact wording of the threat.

"Your children are not safe anywhere at any time," Moose read.

Moose would not reveal more about the contents of the note, saying it would jeopardize the investigation. He said leaders in the investigation and school officials were previously told about the threat so that they could make informed decisions.

In another press conference tonight, Moose offered a direct message to the sniper.

"In the past several days, you have attempted to communicate with us. We have researched the options you stated and found it is not possible electronically to comply in the manner you requested," Moose said. "However, we remain open and ready to talk to you about the options you have mentioned. It is important that we do this without anyone else getting hurt. All us at the same number you used before to obtain the 800 number that you have requested."