The 2002 DC sniper attacks provide a stark real-world illustration of suggestibility's impact on criminal investigations. Over a three-week period, a series of shootings that killed ten people created widespread fear, leading law enforcement to receive over 140,000 tips. The investigation was significantly misdirected after a white van was spotted at one shooting site and this detail was publicized by the police chief. Following this news conference, numerous other eyewitnesses reported seeing a white van, likely influenced by the suggestion. This led police and the public to focus almost exclusively on this incorrect lead, ignoring other tips. The error of this focus was revealed when the suspects were finally caught driving a blue sedan, highlighting how external misinformation can create false memories and derail an investigation.