Unidentified man's body found along the Patuxent

The body of an unidentified man was discovered yesterday evening by a fisherman walking along the banks of the Patuxent River near Browns Bridge Road in southwestern Howard County, police said.

Authorities, including the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, investigated whether the man, who appeared to have been shot once, might have been the seventh victim in a string of sniper-style shootings in Montgomery County and Virginia. But they ruled out any connection within a few hours.

After an initial review of the Howard County site -- including the condition of the body and where it was found -- law enforcement officials said there was no apparent connection to the other shootings.

The body apparently was dumped in the woods about 12 feet from the road.

"It just doesn't fit how the other shootings occurred," said Howard County police Officer Denise Walk, relaying information from Montgomery County and federal law enforcement officials.

The fisherman, who was not identified by police, reported the body at about 7:30 p.m., Walk said.

Montgomery County police received the emergency call and responded to the scene first, Walk said. But an officer soon discovered that the body was in Howard County's jurisdiction, and police from that county arrived at about 8:20 p.m.