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Victim's brother reacts to sniper case arrests
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Residents in the Washington area began to feel a sense of relief Thursday after authorities arrested two males in connection with the sniper attacks that began October 2. CNN anchor Paula Zahn talked Thursday to Bob Meyers, a brother of Dean Meyers, 53, the sniper's ninth victim. ZAHN: Joining me on the telephone right now is a man whose life has been forever changed by the sniper spree. His name is Bob Meyers. He lost his brother, Dean, on October 9 -- that was the sniper's ninth victim -- when he was shot a gas station. Bob, it's good to hear from you again. First of all, where were you when you heard this news that police think that they have got the two men responsible for this horrible, horrible spree? MEYERS: Still at home, preparing for the day. ZAHN: And I know [there have] been a lot of fits and starts in this investigation and some promising leads that were followed and didn't yield as much. Was there part of you that was skeptical that maybe in the end the investigators had found the two men that were responsible for this? MEYERS: I was quite hopeful. I had seen some news [Wednesday] night when [Montgomery County, Police] Chief [Charles] Moose was identifying the people and the vehicle and all, and I was quite hopeful that the pieces were coming together, and it certainly appears that they have. ZAHN: You have shown such enormous strength for this long period you've had to endure, and I know you said that you come from a close-knit family. And you've really tried to go on with your life. You've so eloquently honored the legacy of your brother's life. Is there a sense of relief? Can you feel that yet, or are you just too numb? MEYERS: Well, the relief is really not for us. The relief is for everybody else that's still alive. Every time that we would hear of another act against someone, you know, shooting them down, injuring them or killing them. You know, it just caused you to sink one more notch ... just in empathy for the people because now there's a whole other realm of people that have to go through what we are already experiencing. So my relief primarily is for the rest of the people that are still alive. ... ZAHN: I know from my previous conversations with you, you're a man of great faith. You have very strong convictions. But are you bitter at all about what happened to your brother? ... MEYERS: It is certainly [something] that one has to be vigilant about, but no, I would say that there isn't a bitterness. I believe that those responsible have to deal with the authorities that God has instituted. First, he instituted human government, and I believe that these men have his faith, the justice from the human government, and also God says that he'll avenge losses as well. So we defer to those two authorities and obey the Scripture that indicates that we're not to avenge ourselves as individuals. ZAHN: I know in my last conversation with you, you talked a lot about the very principled life your brother led, a veteran, a man who served his country well and a man who certainly appreciated the great outdoors and showed a sense of gratitude every day for God's gifts. What do you want people to know about your brother who haven't heard you talk about him before and his legacy, and what do you think his life should stand for? MEYERS: Well, he was a multifaceted man, so it's hard to pin down a couple of words of what that would be. But certainly he was a patriot and on a personal level, and a little phrase has come out recently within the family, and that is that he was Uncle Dean to many and a friend to all. And that's really what Dean was. ZAHN: Bob, a final thought on what this means to the community, if in fact, the law enforcement has finally nabbed the two men they believe are responsible for this reign of terror in this part of country? MEYERS: Well, certainly from the community's perspective, once things are finalized to confirm that these are in fact the men responsible, there has to be a great relief. And it just goes to show that folks need to be vigilant not only as a protection for themselves, but as that motorist was [Thursday] morning to protect others by being vigilant for information that might be helpful to keep bloodshed from occurring again. ... [A motorist and attendant at a Maryland rest stop off Interstate 70 alerted authorities to the car where John Allen Muhammad, 41, and John Lee Malvo, 17, were sleeping. Sources said authorities consider Muhammad and Malvo suspects in the sniper atttacks.] ZAHN: Well, you have shown great grace throughout this horrible period of time in our nation's history, and we really appreciate your sharing some thoughts about your brother. ... MEYERS: Thank you very much. It's a privilege to be able to discuss these things with the world through the medium that you're providing because Dean certainly is a man who is worthy of respect and honor of his memory, and we certainly want to project a view that honors God as we go through it. We are happy to salute his legacy.
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