THE United States may be dealing with another sniper on the loose after police confirmed three shooting victims at convenience stores in West Virginia were killed by the same weapon.

Ballistic tests showed all three victims in a series of sniper-style shootings at convenience stores in West Virginia were killed by the same weapon, investigators said.

POLICE backed away yesterday from a “random sniper” theory behind three murders outside convenience stores last week, saying at least two of the victims were deliberately targeted.