Several people saw the sniper

FOR the first time since the Washington-area sniper slayings began, more than one witness saw a man fire and flee in a white van, but police said yesterday that none of the witnesses got a good enough look to yield a sketch.

“There are a couple of people who believe they saw a man shoot, unfortunately distance and darkness and perhaps adrenaline have made them unable to give a clear composite that we can disseminate,” said Montgomery Co. police captain Nancy Demme.

Capt Demme said one witness told police the shooter used an AK-74 rifle to kill 47-year-old FBI analyst Linda Franklin on Monday night outside a Falls Church, Virginia, Home Depot store: “The witness firmly believes this is the weapon, but we have to keep in mind that weapons are inter-