Sniper Ties To Suspicious Ala. Camp?

(CBS)  The investigation into the fatal sniper shootings that have gripped the Washington, D.C. area may lead to an alleged terror camp in rural Alabama.

CBS affiliate WBRC reports that investigators are expected to serve warrants to the owners and some participants of the Ground Zero paramilitary style camp near Marion, Ala., in the southwest part of the state.

Last year the Ground Zero camp became a hotbed of activity after the September 11th terror attack. Several broadcast reports tied the Ground Zero camp to Al Qaeda. The camp allegedly offered live-fire training with automatic weapons, urban warfare, and SWAT tactics.

The furor eventually died down, but late Wednesday night the camp came back into the national spotlight. This time, there is speculation that the sprawling campground may be connected to the Beltway area shootings.

A suspect in two robberies at a Montgomery, Ala. liquor store, that left one person dead and another person seriously injured, may also be tied to the beltway shootings.

The Ground Zero camp is approximately 75 miles from Montgomery.

Montgomery Police Chief John Wilson confirmed today that his department has been assisting law enforcement agencies with their investigation into the Washington-area sniper shootings.

Wilson said investigators are still sorting through evidence to see if there is a possible link between the sniper suspects and the September 21st double shooting at a state-run liquor store. He said so far, police have not found a connection.

But CBS News' Jim Stewart in Washington reports that law enforcement officials say the Alabama case was related a "crucial early lead" in the sniper shootings.

And, according to the Baltimore Sun, in one of his communications, the sniper hinted that police should look at "Montgomery." After first being confused, police checked into recent crimes in Montgomery, Alabama, and found that there had been a double shooting Sept. 21, which involved .223 ammunition – the same kind used by the D.C. sniper.

At the scene of the crime, police found a magazine about weapons with John Lee Malvo's fingerprint. Police traced Malvo to Tacoma, to a house where he had been living with former soldier John Allen Williams.

Both men were arrested early Thursday at a Maryland rest stop and are suspected of being involved in the D.C. area sniper attacks that have terrorized the region for three weeks.

Montgomery, Ala. Police Chief John Wilson told reporters during a news conference that a suspect from the liquor store robbery has "very good similarities" to the arrested sniper case witness John Lee Malvo.

Wilson says the gun used in the Montgomery, Ala. robbery was not like the D.C. area sniper case.

Fifty-two-year-old Claudine Parker and 24-year-old Kellie Adams were locking up the state Alcohol Beverage Control liquor store for the night on Sept 21st when they were shot.

Adams said her back was to the street when a single shot struck her just below the base of her skull. She said the gunman had not approached them.

Parker was killed and Adams was seriously injured.