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Beltway Sniper Theory

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Sniper Twenty-three days is a long time to stay in and worry about being next on the shooters list. “The day of October 2, 2002, the beltway snipers began terrorizing people (FBI.Gov).” The beltway snipers, who are they, what crime did they commit, and theories of why they committed the crime is what this paper is about. The beltway snipers were, “John Muhammad, 41 and Lee Boyd Malvo, 17 (FBI.Gov.)” John Muhammad was a 41 year old African American. He was born on December 31, 1960 in Louisiana. 1985, Muhammad converted to Islam. He also joined the Army. During the Gulf War he become a skilled marksman. Around 2000, Muhammad took his children to Antigua. While in Antigua, Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo met. Muhammad returned to Bellingham, …show more content…
Malvo and his mother moved to Antigua. Malvo and his mother made it to the United States in 2001. While in the United States, Malvo and his mother stayed in Miami. Malvo moved to Bellingham, Washington, where Malvo and Muhammad began their strange friendship. Muhammad became Malvo’s father figure and challenged Malvo with exercise and diet. Malvo and his mother were caught by INS in December 2001. One month later Malvo was released pending deportation. Muhammad and Malvo went on a killing spree fall of 2002. The police surrounded their car and arrested them without incident. During Malvo’s trial, prosecutors used letters to another inmate. In those letters, Malvo was calculating and sinister. December 2003, Malvo was convicted of murder and sentenced to life without parole. 2004, Malvo pleaded guilty to murder and attempted murder. He was sentenced to life. Finally in 2009, Maryland sentenced Malvo to life for six murders. Malvo is in Virginia’s Red Onion State Prison. Muhammad and Malvo went for many days terrorizing people. Were they crazy or …show more content…
Some theories to explore the crime they committed are Differential Association Theory and psychological theory. According to Dictionary.com, “Differential Association theory is defined as, a theory that criminal and deviant behavior is learned through close and frequent association with criminal or deviant behavior patterns, norms, and values (Web).” “The theory was developed by Edwin Sutherland (Web).” “Sutherland was a sociologist with a Ph. D from University of Chicago in 1913 (Web).” Psychological theory is the second theory is a reason for the spree killings. “Psychological theories of crime begin with the view that individual differences in behavior may make some people more predisposed to committing criminal acts.” “These differences may arise from personality characteristics, biological factors, or social interactions (Web).” Differential Association Theory and Psychological Theory are the best fit for why the crime

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