TUCSON, Ariz. - A rifle tied to the Washington-area sniper suspects was not the weapon used to kill a golfer in March, police said yesterday.
Detectives determined late last week that the Bushmaster .223-caliber rifle linked by ballistics to many of the sniper shootings was in a gun dealer's inventory when the golfer was shot, said Sgt. Marco Borboa, a Tucson police spokesman.
Jerry Taylor, 60, was killed March 19 while practicing chip shots - felled from long range by a single bullet to the chest.
Police would not release further information on the gun or ballistics evidence. They are investigating a possible sniper connection because many elements of the slaying are similar to the random killings and the suspects were in Tucson when Taylor was killed.
Tucson detectives last week interviewed a friend of the suspects, Harjeet Singh, who said John Lee Malvo bragged about shooting two men on golf courses in the spring.
Tucson Assistant Police Chief Robert Lehner said Singh gave details of the shooting not released to the public, but added that there were inconsistencies.
Singh said Malvo told him he and Muhammad shot two golfers, robbed them and buried their bodies.
Taylor was alone when he was shot, and his body was dragged about 50 feet into some bushes where other golfers found him.
Police were trying to determine whether a golf course shooting in Florida was connected to the sniper suspects. The victim in that shooting survived.