They watched events unfold hoping that the man and a teen arrested early on Thursday were behind the shootings.

John Williams, school system employee

John Williams: "I don't want to get my hopes up too high"

"Everything is still preliminary right now. Nothing is finalised. Until the i's are dotted and t's crossed, everyone should still be aware. Until they say it's over, it's not over. But it's a good start. I'm waiting for the finalisation - I don't want to get my hopes up too high.

William Johnson, works at law firm in Maryland

William Johnson: "It was getting crazy around here"

"I'm just glad he's captured because it was killing everything around here. I live in New Carrolton, Maryland, and they stopped my son from playing football and all the outside activities.

"It was getting crazy around here. That guy was off the hook.

"I'm just glad he's caught. I hope he's caught. From what I've heard, they're not sure yet, but they think pretty much it's safe."

Jonathan Weekley, analyst at an economic consulting group

"I'm pretty happy that they caught him. It was rather unnerving that this continued. Then yesterday, there was news about how the police were incompetent. And the next day, they go and catch him. It was pretty relieving.

"I generally think the police are incompetent here in Washington DC. I can't say anything for Virginia or Maryland. I didn't have too much confidence in them this time around. They have prevailed this time it seems. But I don't know though. I guess we have to wait and see."

Darryl Oden, office services worker for a law firm

Darryl Oden: "My daughter was scared to go to school"

"There could be more out there if we find out somebody else gets shot. My daughter was scared to go to school. She's in the second grade. I took extra precautions, but I wasn't that nervous. I didn't fill up on the expressway. I stood away from bus stops.

"I'm glad they caught them before Halloween and Christmas too, before the shopping season really starts. People can start going back to the malls and shops."

Michael Ames, graphic artist

"I actually live up in Olney, Maryland, which is about a mile north of where the first shootings took place. We've been under lock and key inside the house.

Michael Ames: "This was true, true fear"

"This was true, true fear. We had towels on our windows. As we drove into town on the first day of the killings, we drove down Georgia and Connecticut, and the six shootings basically followed us.

"We're very, very relieved. I think we're very square (that this is the right guy)."

Suzanne McMahon, fundraiser

"I was glad to hear that there more arrests, but I guess I was still unsure as to whether it was really the person that we were looking for.

"I was just saying to my friend that the authorities must know more than we know because it doesn't seem as clear to me. But they really seem to be sending out positive messages that it's the right person. I'm looking forward to hearing more later on today. "

Jack Pogue, director operations for a staffing company

"I was extremely pleased. I was down in Richmond when they picked up that white van, and I thought it was hopefully over at that point.

Jack Pogue: "I don't think it will have a lasting effect on the economy"

"It seems like they've got a pretty solid case against him, but of course, they have to do the ballistics test. But I'm really pleased. It's a terrible thing, especially for this economy, that has already been hurt pretty significantly.

"I think people will feel more comfortable just going about their day to day business, which is extremely important. People aren't just going to forget about it. Hopefully, they'll be more vigilant to other stuff going on out there. I don't think it will have a lasting effect on the economy. I think it will pretty much bounce right back."