The Beltway Snipers: Trained to Kill— Ep. 3 | MK Confidential

Kenya Cook's murder in Tacoma1:41

On February 16, 2002, 21-year-old Kenya Cook was shot and killed in her aunt's foyer after answering the doorbell, leaving the case cold with no viable clues.

Lee Boyd Malvo's childhood in Jamaica6:11

Malvo was born in Jamaica in 1985 to a soft father and a hard mother who beat him, and he experienced multiple separations and rejections by both parents before age 15.

Malvo meets John Allen Muhammad in Antigua10:42

In October 2000, 15-year-old Malvo met Muhammad at an electronics shop in Antigua, admired his fatherly demeanor, and later received care from him when sick with rheumatic fever.

Muhammad's grooming and training of Malvo15:11

Muhammad introduced Malvo as his son, taught him an American accent, replaced his wardrobe, and trained him in marksmanship with paper-man targets, rewarding him with a 'sniper' T-shirt.

Muhammad's custody loss and revenge motive13:47

After losing custody of his children in September 2001, Muhammad blamed his ex-wife Mildred and her friend Issa Nichols, calling the court date his 'own September 11th' and seeking revenge.

Malvo's first murder of Kenya Cook18:00

Muhammad drove Malvo to Issa Nichols's home, instructed him to ask for Issa and shoot if she wasn't there, and Malvo killed Kenya Cook instead, after which Muhammad praised him and gave him a new ID.

Cross-country killing spree begins20:46

Following the Tacoma murder, Muhammad and Malvo embarked on a seven-month cross-country spree, killing Jerry Ray Taylor in Arizona and others in Alabama and Louisiana, using stolen money to fund their travel.

Paul LaRoufa shooting and robbery21:00

On September 5, 2002, Paul LaRoufa was shot multiple times in a Maryland strip mall parking lot, and his briefcase containing $3,500 and a laptop was stolen, funding the next phase of the spree.

Mildred Muhammad as the intended target23:32

• Robert Holmesopinion

  Mildred was the primary target of the killing mission.

Dean Myers and Kenneth Bridges gas station murders24:56

In October 2002, Dean Myers was killed at a Virginia gas station, followed two days later by Kenneth Bridges at another Virginia gas station, with police finding no shooter or vehicle at either scene.

Linda Franklin murder at Home Depot27:32

On October 14, 2002, Linda Franklin was shot and killed while loading shelves into her car at a Home Depot parking lot, with Malvo later revealing he fired from a concealed position near a community center.

Brainwashing versus willing participation debate29:59

• Dr. Dewey Cornellopinion

  Malvo was brainwashed or indoctrinated like a cult member.

• Dr. Evan Nelsonopinion

  Malvo was not brainwashed but eagerly chose to idolize and follow Muhammad.

Modified Chevrolet Caprice sniper vehicle31:27

Muhammad and Malvo used a modified 1990 Chevrolet Caprice with a hinged back seat and a gun port in the trunk lid, allowing a shooter to fire while lying flat and concealed.

FBI profilers identify a sniper team33:29

• Jim Clementiassertion

  The crimes were committed by a sniper team, not a lone adult gunman.