A chance meeting between Lee Malvo, a Jamaican teenager, and John Muhammad, a disaffected US Army veteran, sets in motion a murderous road trip.
The snipers travel to the nation's capital to begin their reign of terror; in 24 hours, they leave a city in alarm.
As the snipers claim two more victims, ballistics confirm all the shootings are connected; investigators have no leads apart from the alleged sighting of a white box truck.
The killing zone expands, and the snipers shoot a 13-year-old boy.
As their killing spree continues, Malvo reveals the true nature of his relationship with Muhammad.
With nine dead, the snipers play a high-stakes game, leaving a series of cryptic clues for the police.
With the entire region on the lookout for a blue Caprice, the snipers' car is spotted by an alert citizen in the dead of night.