| Serial Shooter | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Dale Shawn Hausner Samuel John Dieteman |
| Killings | |
| Number of victims: | 8 |
| Span of killings | May, 2005–July 30, 2006 |
| Country | USA |
| State(s) | Arizona |
| Date apprehended | August 3, 2006 |
The Serial Shooter refers to what authorities now believe to be two men who committed multiple drive-by shootings targeting random pedestrians. The shootings occurred in Phoenix, Arizona, United States, between May 2005 and August 2006, simultaneous to the search for the serial killer known as the Baseline Killer who was also committing random murders of brutality and sexual assault. Investigators believe the Serial Shooter(s) were responsible for eight murders and at least 29 other shootings in the Phoenix area (some reports put the number as high as 38 incidents).[1]
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The Serial Shooters' most recent crime occurred July 30, 2006 in Mesa. According to police, Robin Blasnek, 22, was shot and killed at approximately 11:15 p.m. while walking from her parents' house to a friend's house after having an argument with her boyfriend. On August 3, Phoenix police released a statement linking Blasnek's murder to the Serial Shooter, citing forensic evidence and other similarities to the Serial Shooters' past crimes. Prior to that, they shot pedestrians, cyclists, dogs and horses. Phoenix police originally believed that the Serial Shooter was a single individual responsible for 4 murders and 25 shootings beginning in May 2005, and that a series of 13 shootings in the same area were the work of another offender. However, on July 11, 2006, investigators revealed that they believed the two series of shootings were related.[2]
The Serial Shooter attacked from a vehicle without warning. The offender targeted victims who walked, biked or were otherwise alone outside, usually between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. Victims appear to have been targeted randomly.
In an audio recording that was presented at trial, a police wiretap records Hausner and Dieteman discussing the shootings in graphic detail.
According to reports, police first identified Dale Hausner and Samuel Dieteman as suspects on July 31, 2006, through tips received from the community, mainly from Ron Horton who died before he could testify at trial. On August 3, 2006, police arrested both suspects outside of their apartment in Mesa, Arizona.
On the morning of August 4, 2006, Phoenix police announced two arrests had been made in connection with the Serial Shooter.[4] The suspects have been identified as Dale S. Hausner and Samuel John Dieteman. Authorities said they have also linked Hausner and Dieteman to two arson fires at Wal-Mart stores on June 8, started 45 minutes apart from each other that caused approximately $7 to $10 million in damage.[5]
Hausner was charged with 87 crimes attributed to the Serial Shooter investigation, including 8 murders, 19 attempted murders, numerous aggravated assaults, drive-by shootings, firearms charges, cruelty to animals and arson.[6] Hausner was convicted on 6 of 8 murders, and 80 out of 87 charges overall on March 13, 2009.
Hausner's former roommate, Samuel Dieteman, has pleaded guilty to two murders, plus conspiracy to commit some of the other related murders. Dieteman receives a sentence of life without parole.
On March 27, 2009, Dale Hausner was sentenced to six death penalties. Hausner had previously ordered his lawyers not to argue against persuading jurors to deliver the death sentences, saying the jurors should put him to death to help the victims' families heal. He fell short of confessing any guilt for the convicted crimes. Hausner is not expected to appeal.[7]
During Hausner's 1/2-hour ramble to the jury right before sentencing, he apologized to several people including his family. He stated that he ruined the family name, as people would hear the Hausner name and think of Charles Manson. He even compared himself to Charles Manson. "When you think of Manson, 50 years from now you'll think of Hausner", he said. [8]