The Beltway Snipers: The Last Shot — Ep. 5 | MK Confidential

Alabama liquor store shooting evidence1:53

A paper magazine dropped at a Montgomery, Alabama liquor store shooting yielded 36 fingerprints from a single person, but the prints went unmatched for a month because Alabama was not wired into the FBI's national database. The catalog sat in an evidence room while investigators assumed the handler had no adult arrest record.

Snipers call police to claim Alabama shooting4:53

• James Fitzgeraldassertion

  The snipers' need to brag about the Alabama killing was a major clue to their identity.

• Drew Tracyassertion

  Connecting the call to the Alabama magazine was the moment investigators realized they had a lead.

Fingerprint match identifies Malvo and Muhammad7:12

• Linda Hooperassertion

  The fingerprint match identified 17-year-old Lee Boyd Malvo.

• James Fitzgeraldassertion

  Once they had Malvo's prints, they quickly identified Muhammad as his associate.

Police surround and arrest snipers at rest stop10:14

• David Reichenbachassertion

  He sealed the car in by blocking the exit with trucks and shutting down the highway.

• Lee Boyd Malvoassertion

  He was caught because he fell asleep on watch for five minutes out of laziness.

Malvo escapes custody at police barracks15:13

After the arrest, Malvo briefly escaped by climbing into the ceiling of a police barracks room and crawling 50 feet before falling through a weak spot. He was recaptured, properly handcuffed, and did not escape again.

Bushmaster rifle found and ballistically matched15:43

Investigators found a Bushmaster rifle hidden behind a modified back seat cushion in the snipers' car, with a live round in the chamber. Ballistics testing matched the rifle to 11 of the 14 shooting scenes in the region.

Mildred Muhammad believes she was the target19:14

• Mildred Muhammadassertion

  She believes John came to Washington to kill her and make it look random to get the children. She was blamed by others who said the shootings were her fault for leaving John.

Virginia chosen for trials to seek death penalty20:24

Attorney General John Ashcroft sent the snipers to Virginia for prosecution because Virginia law allowed the death penalty for defendants aged 16 and older, unlike Maryland or federal court. Muhammad was tried first in Virginia Beach, where he briefly represented himself and cross-examined victims.

Muhammad convicted and sentenced to death21:47

Muhammad was convicted under an anti-terrorism law that required only proof the killings were intended to intimidate a civilian population, and he was sentenced to death. He represented himself during parts of the trial and cross-examined victims, including Paul LaRoufa.

Malvo testifies against Muhammad in Maryland23:48

• Lee Boyd Malvoassertion

  The shootings were phase one, and phase two involved bombing schools and hospitals for terror. Muhammad picked the targets and decided who fired, and Muhammad told Malvo he created a monster.

• Lee Boyd Malvoopinion

  Muhammad is a coward.

Muhammad cross-examines Malvo in Maryland trial25:01

• Lee Boyd Malvoassertion

  Muhammad did not use his own children to murder other people.

Muhammad executed by lethal injection26:58

Muhammad was executed by lethal injection in Virginia on November 10, 2009, after his final appeals were rejected and clemency was refused. He made no last statement and watched the injection being administered.

Malvo's sentences reopened but he remains imprisoned28:04

Supreme Court rulings on juvenile sentencing reopened Malvo's cases, making him eligible for parole in Virginia, but the parole board refused release, and Maryland's ordered resentencing cannot occur because Virginia will not transfer him. Malvo remains in a Virginia prison at age 41 serving life sentences.

Malvo apologizes to victims and is forgiven29:35

• Lee Boyd Malvoassertion

  He is sorry, ashamed, and accepts responsibility for killing the victims.

• Sonia Willsassertion

  She forgives Malvo because she cannot go on hating him and it will not bring her son back.

Victims reflect on justice and moving forward31:21

• Paul LaRoufaassertion

  He does not need to see Muhammad die and does not want the execution to consume more of his life.

• Paul LaRoufaopinion

  Muhammad deserved the death penalty. Malvo has not paid enough of a price for his crimes.