By The Associated Press

A tarot card with the words “Dear policeman, I am God” was found near a shell casing outside a school in Bowie, Md., where a 13-year-old was shot apparently by a sniper, a source familiar with the investigation said on the condition of anonymity.

The “I am God” message left on the tarot card called the Death card was first reported by WUSA-TV and then by The Washington Post. Police sources told the newspaper the items were found 150 yards from the school in a wooded area on matted grass, suggesting the gunman had lain in wait.

The Washington Post on Thursday reported that the tarot card also contained a handwritten request from the sniper that it not be revealed to the media. Sources said some detectives had hoped that if they honored the request, the sniper might communicate with investigators again.

Tarot cards, used mainly for fortunetelling, are believed to have been introduced into western Europe by Gypsies in the 15th century. Many tarot enthusiasts say the Death card usually does not connote physical death, but instead portrays a symbolic change or transformation.

Crime experts, while noting that the link between the card and the sniper remained unconfirmed, recalled other serial killers who left “calling cards.”

One of the most notorious was David Berkowitz, who killed six people in New York in 1976–77. Robert K. Ressler, a former FBI profiler, interviewed Berkowitz after his arrest.

“He said this was a stimulating thing for him to see the letters in the paper,” Ressler said. “Even though he’s the only one who knows, notoriety becomes very satisfying to an inadequate loser. It’s a way of imposing power and control over society.”