Dean Harold Meyers, the ninth victim of the Washington-area sniper, was an engineer at Fairfax, Va.-based the Dewberry Companies. Meyers, 53, was gunned down Oct. 9 at a Manassas, Va., gas station. He lived in Gaithersburg, Md.

John P. Fowler II, Dewberry CEO, said, "All who knew him are quick to say that Dean was 'one of the nicest people I ever met.' Our heartfelt prayers and condolences go out to his family and friends."

Earlier this year, Meyers celebrated his 20th anniversary with Dewberry & Davis, a unit of the Dewberry Cos. He was a Vietnam veteran and worked out in the firm's land design and survey division in the Manassas office. He previously had worked in the Fairfax, Va., office.

Since Oct. 2, eight people have been killed and two injured. The latest fatality came on Oct. 11. Reports say evidence links the first nine of the shootings, which have occurred in Washington, D.C., and nearby suburbs in Virginia and Maryland.