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Sniper admits to 2002 Clearwater shooting

The Washington Post, citing a person familiar with the case, reported Friday that the shootings occurred before the three-week sniper spree in October 2002.

By JACOB FRIES
Published June 16, 2006

CLEARWATER -- Police say they have no evidence that convicted snipers Lee Boyd Malvo and John Allen Muhammad were involved in a May 2002 shooting at a golf course here, despite a report in Friday's Washington Post saying that Malvo had admitted to the shooting.

The Post, citing an unnamed source familiar with the case, reported that Malvo told investigators the pair was responsible for four additional shootings -- including the one in Clearwater -- that had not been publicly tied to the men.

The article also noted that Malvo has previously given contradictory accounts of the
shootings and testified that he lied to police after being arrested.

The shooting in Clearwater took place on May 18, 2002. Read the St. Petersburg Times coverage from   May 19, 2002 and May 21, 2002.

Albert S. Michalczyk, then 72 and visiting from Arizona, was playing a round of golf at the Glen Oaks Golf Course when he was shot near the tee box of the seventh hole.

The bullet passed completely through Michalczyk, who was taken to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, where he was treated and released. Investigators did not find the bullet, but believed it was shot from a small-caliber rifle.

Michalczyk could not immediately be reached for comment Friday morning.

Detectives have investigated whether the Muhammad and Malvo could have been involved in Michalczyk's shooting, but found no link, Clearwater police spokesman Wayne Shelor said Friday.

"During the course of the Beltway sniper investigation, Clearwater investigators compared notes with the task force," Shelor said. "We never found any connection whatsoever with Muhammad or Malvo. We also have not had any contact with investigators or prosecutors in recent months."

The shooting case remains open and active, Shelor said.

"If there is something new in the case, we'd love to see it," he said.

Malvo and Muhammad were arrested in October 2002 after 10 people were shot to death and another six wounded in the Washington D.C. area. Muhammad, 45, convicted of murder in Virginia and Maryland, is awaiting execution in Virginia. Meanwhile, Malvo, 21, has been convicted of murder in Virginia and sentenced to life in prison.

[Last modified June 16, 2006, 11:12:12]