By NILES LATHEM and ADAM MILLER

October 13, 2002 --

The hunt for the D.C. area's Psycho Sniper took two huge leaps forward yesterday, as sources revealed detectives have a video that may hold the maniacal mass murderer's face - and officials released a composite picture of a white box truck believed to be the cold-blooded killer's ride. A surveillance tape reportedly caught a suspicious person during Wednesday evening's attack on a 53-year-old engineer, who was killed in Manassas, Va., by the mystery gunman who police say has killed eight and wounded two in his spree.

According to a 36-year-old Georgia man detained by investigators near the scene of Friday's fatal shooting at a Massaponax, Va., gas station, police compared his face with a photo from the tape.

"They thought I was the sniper," said Hobert Epps, a 5-foot-9 white male of medium build with sandy brown hair and a mustache.

Epps, who was later released, said cops told him the wallet-sized image was from a video surveillance tape taken at one of the crime scenes. Cops have declined to confirm if they have such an image.

Meanwhile, the two truck pictures released yesterday were produced by the FBI and based on witness reports from more than one crime scene.

Authorities said the vehicle is white with a roll-up back door, a weathered paint job, a small dent in the back bumper and unknown dark purple or black writing on the side.

As officials disseminated pictures of the truck, the Washington Post reported yesterday that cops are drawing up a composite sketch of the suspect. The madman, who uses a high-powered rifle to pick off random victims with single shots, is believed to be in his 20s or 30s.

Cops yesterday said they're moving in on the killer - and his accomplice - whose spree began on Oct. 2 in Aspen Hill, Md.

Physical evidence has been scant, with one taunting clue left by the shooter: A tarot "death" card with the words "Dear Policeman, I am God" scrawled on the back. Kenneth Bridges, 53, a Philadelphia businessman and father of six, who police yesterday confirmed as the killer's eighth victim, was remembered yesterday by neighbors as "a great man who was very well-respected."

-- Anonymous, October 13, 2002