March 16, 2004

(CNN) -- Authorities in Columbus, Ohio, late Monday issued an arrest warrant for a suspect in a series of shootings around the city's outerbelt highway that have left one woman dead, a spokesman for the Franklin County Sheriff's Department said.

According to Detective James C. Clark Jr., the warrant for Columbus resident Charles McCoy Jr. was issued around 10 p.m.

In a news conference earlier in the day, Franklin County Chief Deputy Steve Martin first identified McCoy, 28, as the suspect and distributed a photograph of him. Martin said McCoy was identified as a result of evidence collected in the case, though he would not elaborate about that evidence.

Martin said McCoy owns a dark green 1999 Geo Metro with a black hood and Ohio license plate number CGV 7387. Martin said McCoy may be armed and urged people not to approach him.

"We believe he's bought another gun," Martin said.

Authorities have used ballistics tests and other evidence to link 24 shootings since May on and near I-270.

Gail Knisley, 62, was killed November 25 when a bullet pierced her window as she was riding in a car on her way to a doctor's appointment. No other injuries have been reported.

Witnesses to a shooting in February said they saw a man firing from an overpass. They described the man as white, about 30-40 years old, of average height and weight, with dark hair, and wearing a dark hat and dark sunglasses, police said.

After firing, the man casually got into a small- to mid-sized, dark-colored sedan and drove off, they said.

A $60,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the shooter.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Midwest/03/15/ohio.highway.shootings/index.html