Police in sniper case to investigate Sept. 5 shooting

BALTIMORE -- Investigators are looking into whether a Sept. 5 shooting in Clinton is related to the Washington-area sniper, a police spokesman said Sunday.

A man was shot six times at close range around 10:30 p.m. after closing his restaurant, which is near the home of sniper suspect John Allen Muhammad's ex-wife, Mildred.

A Sony Vaio laptop computer was stolen with more than $3,000 in receipts. A Sony laptop computer was found in Muhammad's car when he was arrested Oct. 24 at a rest stop.

Paul LaRuffa, 55, survived the shooting and was able to go back to work after two weeks in the hospital.

Prince George's County police spokesman Capt. Andy Ellis said the sniper task force has been notified and police were investigating a possible link.

Reached at his restaurant Sunday, LaRuffa said he wanted to know if the laptop was his.