The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) announced on February 23 that “Without Warning: Ending the Terror of the D.C. Snipers” will open this May in the National Law Enforcement Museum’s Dupont Gallery. The exhibit will debut ahead of National Police Week (May 10–16, 2026) and remain on view through December 2027.

In October 2002, a series of sniper attacks across Washington, D.C.; Maryland; and Virginia left 10 people dead and three others injured over the course of 23 days. The events deeply affected the region and prompted an extensive investigation that ultimately brought the attacks to an end with the involvement of five federal and 14 local and state law enforcement agencies.

Opening to the public this spring, “Without Warning” presents an in-depth look at one of the most significant criminal cases in the history of the Washington region and what has been called the largest manhunt ever conducted in the U.S. Through artifacts, multimedia elements and historical documentation, the exhibit explores both the events of October 2002 and the broader impact the case had on the community.

Featured items include the modified vehicle used by the perpetrators, the firearm recovered during the investigation, written communications connected to the attackers — including the tarot card left at one crime scene — and a regional map detailing each incident. Photographs of the victims will be displayed throughout the exhibit space, alongside audio recordings of 9-1-1 emergency calls that convey the gravity of that period.

“The D.C. sniper case had a profound impact on the Washington region and beyond,” said Thomas Canavan, chief operating officer of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and executive director of the National Law Enforcement Museum. “This exhibit provides historical context surrounding the events and honors the victims while documenting a case that shaped the region.”

—www.NLEOMF.org—