A phony police officer shooting drivers dead on...

Mississippi may have a phony police officer taking potshots at drivers once he motions them off the highway and onto the shoulder of the road, or in the median, according to reports on Monday.

Two victims, a 74-year-old man named Thomas K. Schlender and a 48-year-old female named Lori Ann Carswell, were each traveling in Mississippi separately on different days, between 1 and 2 a.m., when they were killed by gunshot wounds.

Schlender was on Interstate 55, with Carswell traveling Highway 713, when each encountered their assailant, KETV reported.

A distance of 55 miles between the crime scenes, as well as the fact that both vehicles appeared to have been pulled overÂ—one in the median, the other on the shoulder of the roadÂ—makes law enforcement think the two cases are related despite the victims having no obvious connection.

CNN reported that three days separate the crime scenes, with Carswell being killed on May 11, while Schlender died on May 8. The elderly man was reportedly en route to Florida to pick up his grandson from college.

Police are warning those traveling the Mississippi roadways to use extreme caution. They also are asking the public to err on the side of caution by contacting a 911 operator for verification of the officer's police affiliation in the event someone tries to get them to pull over.

This is especially true if the patrol officer makes the attempt between the 1 to 2 a.m. hour time frame, when the first two victims died.

Additionally, drivers should seek a well-lit area, and preferably one that is crowded as well, before any nighttime traffic-related stop.

Comments: 12

Heather - child of God, C. May 15, 2012, 4:10am UTC

How awful. I hope they catch the guy.

I have had two experiences with men who claimed they were police officers and they weren't. Some men do this. I think the first one thought I would give him money not to get a ticket.... at least that is what I was told when I drove down and spoke to a real policeman. The guy said I would get a ticket in the mail, and back in the 1970's I thought it was strange.

Hillary Hill May 15, 2012, 4:16am UTC

Me too, Heather. What a needless tragedy. That poor grandfather, just trying to help his grandson.

Did the two men who approached you have blue lights on top of their cars? And were they in vehicles that had the name of a law enforcement agency imprinted on them or unmarked vehicles?

Heather - child of God, C. May 15, 2012, 4:25am UTC

Both in vehicles both unmarked... the first guy flashed his lights and then passed me enough to tell me to pull over. The first one flashed a badge and asked for my papers. He walked back with my license etc and then said I'd get a ticket in the mail.. I was in my 20's. It sounded like the police where aware he was shaking people down. It was in Paterson, New Jersey. I drove right over the the police station.

The second one just said he was an officer and threatened me. He had cut me off... and I almost hit him...scared me...then he went very slow... so I passed him and he didn't like that... so he followed me home....and got out of his car threatened me. When he left my son followed him on foot...tracked down where he lived (near us) so I could tell the police who he was. I was in my 40's and in Palm Harbor Florida.

Heather - child of God, C. May 15, 2012, 4:26am UTC

I often wondered if he didn't realize my son was in the car. My son was a teenager but looked older. I often wonder what would have happened if my son wasn't with me.

Hillary Hill May 15, 2012, 4:57am UTC

I don't want to wonder; I'm just thankful your son was with you. I worry that young women, like you in your 20s, aren't as knowledgeable about the fact that cops nowadays expect women are going to seek a well-lit area and call 911 if it is a late night stop.

And cops don't pull over anyone if they are in an unmarked vehicle, unless they see you committing a crime or a blatant red light or stop sign violation. They don't do it for speeding tickets. Those unmarked cars are for other purposes.

The danger is that cops do sell their old cars, minus police signs, when they get newer vehicles and wanna be cops (and bad guys) try to buy those unmarked vehicles for just that kind of purpose, I hear.

Renee Nal May 15, 2012, 5:02am UTC

Heather, you really have some amazing stories!

Hillary Hill May 15, 2012, 5:03am UTC

Does she now? I'll have to go check out her posts. :-)

Heather - child of God, C. May 15, 2012, 5:23am UTC

I just have a good memory. I have a good recall on conversations. When I was small my parents watched Perry Mason when I was supposed to be in bed asleep... now if I watch the old reruns... I don't recognize the video part... but the vocal part comes back and I get close to what was said word for word.

I'll be 58 in October.