Boston: It's Over, Suspect Alive and In Custody

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 07:03:43 PM EST
Tags: Boston Marathon Bombing (all tags)

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Update: 8:45 pm ET: Suspect is in custody and alive. A medic has been called.

Thoughts: I'm still having flashbacks to Andrew Cunanan, suspected of killing Gianni Versace, who was surrounded on a houseboat in Miami. (So is reporter Frances Robles, who covered the incident live.) I was in NY that night providing live commentary for MSNBC. I remember when Cunanan was found dead inside the houseboat, and some idiot law enforcement official on the show said "Justice had been done." I blasted him, and told him justice is done when a suspect is arrested and brought to trial, not found dead. Kudos to law enforcement tonight for getting the suspect to surrender or at least apprehending him alive. [More...]

On MSNBC, Rachel Maddow asks if the federal court in MA is up to trying the case because terror cases are usually tried in the Southern District of New York. What? Shoebomber Richard Reid was tried and convicted in MA. He's doing life at Supermax. Timothy McVeigh was tried in Denver. Moussaoui was tried in Virginia. Terrorism cases are tried all over, the Southern District has no monopoly on them. Of course MA is up to the task.

Since there is only one defendant at this point, the Federal Defender will be appointed to represent him. Apparently, he's been talking so far, but I suspect that will end shortly. [Added: The news is reporting that he will be interrogated under a public safety exception. They have 48 hours to do so. They won't provide him with Miranda rights. Does this mean the public defender won't be able to meet with him and advise him not to say anything?]

Here come the law enforcement pundits. Already one on MSNBC, someone named James Cavanaugh starts out by calling him a terrorist and a killer. Hello? He's a a suspect, it hasn't been proven he's committed any crime yet. After calling him a killer and a terrorist, the agent says we must provide him a fair trial. And then pontificates about how he thinks he's a great big terrorist. What a jerk. I'm turning off the TV now.

****

Update 8:13 pm ET: There is a fire in the boat. Suspect is believed to be covered in blood.

Apparently, the suspect didn't leave Watertown and is hiding in a boat. Authorities are preparing to "assault" the boat. There has been blood observed by the boat and on the tarp. It's parked in a driveway.

It sounds like the major worry is whether there are explosives with the suspect that might go off.

The last gunshots were about 10 minutes ago, and now it's silent.

The suspect is believed to have traveled about 1/2 mile since last night -- through all the police.

< Boston News Conference: 6:00 PM ET: Indoor Stay Lifted | Obama Press Conference on Boston Bombing Suspect >

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Boston: It's Over, Suspect Alive and In Custody | 76 comments (76 topical)

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And Huck Graham goes there, unsurprisingly (5.00 / 2) (#1)
by scribe on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 07:39:06 PM EST

Immediately after the reports you note, TL, MSNBC reported that Senator Lindsey Graham has tweeted urging the Obama administration to discard Miranda and due process, declare this suspect an enemy combatant and, well, you know...

As far as I'm concerned, the only surprise is that it took this long for him to get there.

Of course he did, and I'm sure (5.00 / 3) (#7)
by Anne on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 08:03:19 PM EST

the Sunday shows will be filled with people like Graham and Lieberman and Peter King and Fran Townsend, all slavering over the whole awful situation.

Don't misunderstand - I'm glad the other suspect is in custody - but if ever there was a time for us to demonstrate our commitment to the Constitution and due process, I think it's now.

I'm not confident, but I can still hope.


And you know what Anne? (5.00 / 2) (#13)
by Ga6thDem on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 08:34:29 PM EST

More people were killed by a fertilizer plant explosion than by these two jokers this week.


"[J]okers"? (none / 0) (#27)
by oculus on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 11:14:38 PM EST

: I use (5.00 / 1) (#42)
by Ga6thDem on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 07:19:01 AM EST

that word because I refuse to be cowed down by the acts of these two.

Huck is a moron. (none / 0) (#8)
by Angel on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 08:09:53 PM EST

These guys may be part of a larger cell, but if so, why didn't they have an escape route? I'm betting they went back home and stayed there until they saw their photos were out then they hauled it and robbed the 7-11 because they didn't have enough money to get anywhere.


Actually, the 7/11 was robbed by someone else (none / 0) (#9)
by Mr Natural on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 08:18:01 PM EST

Oh, thanks for the info, I had not heard that. (none / 0) (#14)
by Angel on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 08:47:43 PM EST

Actually (none / 0) (#15)
by CoralGables on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 08:50:59 PM EST

there may not have been a robbery at all. The police commish said the 7/11 is where the carjacking took place which is why they were called there.


: What about the MIT cop? (none / 0) (#35)
by unitron on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 04:15:28 AM EST

They say he was responding to a disturbance, but they never say exactly what the disturbance was.
Supposedly he was still in his car when he was killed.
Taken by surprise while responding to a call?
Hmmm.

They (none / 0) (#12)
by Ga6thDem on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 08:31:27 PM EST

sure didn't act like they were part of larger "cell" To me they just acted like garden variety terrorists.

They reminded me of the SLA back in the 70's with the shootouts and everything.


nice to see (5.00 / 2) (#17)
by ExcitableBoy on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 08:54:05 PM EST

the people lining the streets cheering the cops and firemen as they drove through after it was over.

I'm not going to pick on the cops for losing him after the firefight last night. They did a fantastic job. They trapped him, gave him nowhere to go, and got him without having to kill him or injuring anyone else. And two of them aren't going home: an MBTA policeman, a husband and father injured but alive, and Sean Collier, a 26-year old MIT cop executed in his car. Many people, including me, tend to take lightly or make fun of these "lesser" cops, call them rent-a-cops. I won't do that again.

: Great post (none / 0) (#21)
by Slado on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 09:40:28 PM EST

Well said

Ghoulish response (5.00 / 4) (#19)
by MKS on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 09:10:53 PM EST

from too many. Even the Memorial Service made me uncomfortable.....

The Press is drooling....this is just so exiciting.....

There is a hint of the Ancient Coliseum to this. This whole cycle of tragedy, grief, memorial service, and aprehension of the perpetrator has become way too ghoulish.......a new national sport....

The press and talking heads are sounding like very sick people.

Could not agree more; my stomach has (5.00 / 2) (#25)
by Anne on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 10:18:03 PM EST

been in a knot, and I just feel so uncomfortable with all of it - most especially the way the media has been salivating over the whole thing, beside themselves with the utter excitement of it all.

I don't know if I can watch or listen to any more of it.


Completely agree (5.00 / 1) (#32)
by sj on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 11:54:45 PM EST

...with everything you just said.

"Coliseum" was my first thought when I heard the cheering from the crowd and the gloating from the talking heads at his apprehension. To me it is a somber event. Awful in every sense of the word.


Me too (5.00 / 2) (#44)
by ruffian on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 08:28:28 AM EST

There is always a point where my relief that a dangerous situation has been alleviated by the capture of a suspect gives way to disgust with the media and law enforcement commentariat circus. I saw Cavanaugh on MSNBC like Jeralyn did, and was equally disgusted.


NPR was doing a "special" last night. (none / 0) (#58)
by oculus on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 12:02:10 PM EST

A man whose name and credentials I missed was distinguishing "terrorism" (Boston) as opposed to Newtown, Aurora, and Columbine. It seems the alleged murderers in the latter three instances did not intend to incite terror. Huh?


I know a bit about Columbine (none / 0) (#59)
by Militarytracy on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 12:15:29 PM EST

and I have to call bull. There were bombs that were placed under the gas lines in the cafeteria, the boys had keys to the cafeteria because they worked there and they were trusted.

So the gas lines were supposed to blow the hell out of the place and as the survivors ran out of the school they planned on picking them off with their guns.

The bomb plan failed, then they were winging it.

How is picking off terrorized survivors one at a time while they flee horror not inciting terror?


Get up to date MT (none / 0) (#61)
by CoralGables on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 12:30:36 PM EST

Terrorist: noun: 1. a label applied for those that use violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes by people with a difficult to pronounce surname. (as opposed to murder which is the appropriate label for those with an easy to pronounce surname)


Now they are saying that the (5.00 / 1) (#77)
by Militarytracy on Sun Apr 21, 2013 at 03:56:22 PM EST

Terrorism charge is derrived from the use of a weapon of mass destruction, so both Columbine and OK City bombing were acts of terrorism under that definition.

Newtown? Well, I consider that a weapon of mass destruction and that is the beef with NRA at this point for me. Background checks? Okay, but I want the WMDs made illegal.


Seriously? (none / 0) (#62)
by sj on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 02:02:33 PM EST

That's how you are going to dismiss Peter G's very informative link?


Seriously (none / 0) (#63)
by CoralGables on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 03:08:08 PM EST

Tell me where you see me respond negatively to anything Peter G has written. I'm responding to MT, who responded to oculus about a guy with no name at NPR. But if you can identify the somewhat clueless no name guy on NPR as Peter G be sure and let me know.


I supplied you with the links (none / 0) (#72)
by sj on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 10:38:08 PM EST

And I read your comment which brought in the "unpronounceable name" thing. I apologize if I misinterpreted your remarks not knowing about clueless no name guy on NPR. Even though both of your remarks are unnecessarily sarcastic.


: No problem (5.00 / 2) (#73)
by CoralGables on Sun Apr 21, 2013 at 07:22:38 AM EST

At times my sarcasm is misread. I'll work on a sign for the future

maybe I'm too cynical (5.00 / 2) (#24)
by ExcitableBoy on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 10:15:26 PM EST

but I'm watching what looks like mainly college kids cheering and waving flags on Boston Common, and it just looks fake to me. I guess I'm generalizing, but they look like it's just something to do. Most haven't lived here long enough to feel that kick in the gut from having their city violated, their family attacked; or actually, just lived long enough to get it. They look like they could just as easily be trashing Boylston Street because the team they've loved for, like, two whole years! won a championship. Or lost -- it doesn't really matter.

"It's been reported" - heh (5.00 / 1) (#53)
by Yman on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 10:05:03 AM EST

By whom? Alex Jones? Glen Beck? Some wingnut site?

Right up there with "Some say..." or "Many believe..."

Miriam Conrad, the federal defender (5.00 / 2) (#68)
by Mr Natural on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 05:46:55 PM EST

for Massachusetts, says [today] her office expects to represent Dzhokhar Tsarnaev after he is charged.

Conrad says she believes Dzhokhar should have a lawyer appointed as soon as possible because there are "serious issues regarding possible interrogation."

Now you are just pulling stuff out yer (5.00 / 2) (#78)
by Militarytracy on Sun Apr 21, 2013 at 04:00:07 PM EST

arse and throwing it on the wall. How can you not believe in evolution? Have you seen yourself?

that comment was deleted (none / 0) (#80)
by Jeralyn on Sun Apr 21, 2013 at 06:17:12 PM EST

it was absurd


: Thank you (none / 0) (#81)
by Militarytracy on Tue Apr 23, 2013 at 10:43:26 AM EST

I'm pretty sure (none / 0) (#2)
by CoralGables on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 07:40:26 PM EST

about 27,000 runners in the Marathon last Monday chuckled when the TV guy just said somehow he managed to go half a mile since late last night when he abandoned the car.

He likely covered that distance before the cops got their act together at the abandoned car.

But didn't he cover that half mile... (none / 0) (#36)
by unitron on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 04:18:25 AM EST

...bleeding from a gunshot wound the whole way?

That's a handicap most marathoners don't face.


It's only 2640 feet. (none / 0) (#40)
by f2000 on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 05:43:47 AM EST

And gunshot wounds from handguns are not always as lethal or debilitating as TV makes them seem.


Plus no one is looking for them (none / 0) (#45)
by ruffian on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 08:30:31 AM EST

making the need to hide more important than getting far away.


: That said, no one is more deserving of a chuckle (5.00 / 1) (#46)
by ruffian on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 08:33:59 AM EST

than the marathoners, and if this does it for them, I'm not going to argue.

Flashbangs ignite boat.... (none / 0) (#3)
by unitron on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 07:40:33 PM EST

...but Constitution gets vaporized instead.

Chris Hayes reporting Lindsey Graham pushing administration to skip Miranda and just call him an "enemey combatant" instead.

: Ordinarily... (5.00 / 1) (#37)
by unitron on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 04:19:55 AM EST

...my keyboard knows how to spell "enemy".

In custody? (none / 0) (#4)
by CoralGables on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 07:42:51 PM EST

: Over and still alive (none / 0) (#5)
by CoralGables on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 07:43:53 PM EST

Thank heavens it's over. (none / 0) (#6)
by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 08:03:02 PM EST

I hope that Boston can now breathe easier.

: Agreed (none / 0) (#10)
by Slado on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 08:18:42 PM EST

Also good job by all Bostonians

Lindsey Graham (none / 0) (#11)
by cal1942 on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 08:21:27 PM EST

his ilk and followers claim to be guardians of the Constitution, but on every test fail miserably.

Just disgusting.

As Anne says above, expect the Sunday shows to be full of the Grahams of our public life demanding kangaroo "justice" and expect the David Gregory's to sit by dumbfounded.

It is not over. (none / 0) (#16)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 08:52:25 PM EST

There are scores of victims who will have to live with their horrific injuries and/or loss of loved ones for the rest of their lives.

My thoughts and prayers go out to them. May they find the strength to heal and carry on with their lives.

: the manhunt is over (none / 0) (#18)
by Jeralyn on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 08:58:42 PM EST

which is the topic of the thread.

Lets really hope he stays alive (none / 0) (#20)
by Jack203 on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 09:37:29 PM EST

And faces his crimes.

Otherwise the conspiracy theories are going to go in hyperdrive. Not that they won't be bad either way of course.

I think you mean (5.00 / 1) (#22)
by Jeralyn on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 09:43:02 PM EST

he should face his charges, not his crimes. (We shouldn't declare him guilty of any crimes yet.)


: Innocent until proven guilty? (none / 0) (#23)
by ExcitableBoy on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 09:53:09 PM EST

That's just crazy talk :-)

Not a conspiracy theorist nor a Beck fan, (none / 0) (#29)
by Tamta on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 11:39:24 PM EST

however suspects identified by the FBI were known to them.

Aaaaaaannd ??? ... (none / 0) (#43)
by Yman on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 07:39:36 AM EST

The fact that the FBI questioned the older brother a couple years ago at the request of another government means ...?


It appears to have been more contact (none / 0) (#48)
by Tamta on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 09:10:10 AM EST

other than just questioning.


: Seriously? (none / 0) (#51)
by Yman on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 09:59:32 AM EST

It "appears" that way because their mother says they were innocent and claims the FBI had them under constant surveillance for years and was "controlling their every step"?
Uh-huh ...

Given the extent of this government's (none / 0) (#65)
by Anne on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 03:36:32 PM EST

surveillance and data collection operations, we're all probably known to the FBI...


FBI (none / 0) (#30)
by Tamta on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 11:48:16 PM EST

admits contacting elder brother after allegedly denying it initially.

Let the CYA begin... (5.00 / 1) (#31)
by Mr Natural on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 11:51:49 PM EST

his mother gave an interview to CNN (none / 0) (#34)
by Jeralyn on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 03:57:39 AM EST

Zubeidat Tsarnaeva told CNN:

"And my son Tamerlan really got involved in the religion, you know, religious politics five years ago, so he... never, never told me that he would be like on the side of jihad," Tsarnaeva continued. "He was counseled by FBI for three, five years. They knew what my son was doing. They knew what actions and what sites on the Internet he was going. How could this happen? How could they -- they were following every step of him and they're telling today this is a terrorist act."

Is that "a" on the end... (none / 0) (#38)
by unitron on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 04:24:27 AM EST

...of her last name supposed to be there?


Yes, women's surnames (none / 0) (#39)
by observed on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 05:07:14 AM EST

take the feminine ending.


".....take the feminine ending. " (5.00 / 1) (#79)
by NYShooter on Sun Apr 21, 2013 at 05:42:42 PM EST

As my late, beautiful, sainted mother, Ilona Kandaurova would attest.


Thanks (none / 0) (#41)
by unitron on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 06:47:11 AM EST

I wonder if that's connected in any way to the Russian matronymic used in girls' names.


You're over there in that region still? (none / 0) (#47)
by Mr Natural on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 09:02:25 AM EST

: yes (none / 0) (#54)
by observed on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 10:52:20 AM EST

If the mother is correct (none / 0) (#50)
by jimakaPPJ on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 09:56:51 AM EST

it is plain that the FBI failed.


The mother also said her son has been framed (5.00 / 2) (#52)
by CoralGables on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 10:02:11 AM EST

it's always easier to blame others when your child screws up.


True (none / 0) (#55)
by jimakaPPJ on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 10:59:53 AM EST

And IF the FBI had been advised by a foreign government of a possible problem then why did this fall through the cracks??


Because this isn't a police state Jim (5.00 / 5) (#56)
by Militarytracy on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 11:08:24 AM EST

Even if it was, how did Nidal Hasan fall through that crevasse? If anyone has more control over those under them than the military I don't who it is, yet the military has a rape epidemic going on and soldiers murder soldiers all the time with stacks of previous existing intent carefully written up and filed away.


Hasan didn't fall through the cracks (1.00 / 3) (#69)
by jimakaPPJ on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 06:23:01 PM EST

He was ignored because to have done otherwise would have been politically incorrect.


Why would anyone believe that? (5.00 / 3) (#71)
by Yman on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 09:21:17 PM EST

No evidence at all - just some $hit that popped into Jim's brain.


He wasn't "ignored" (5.00 / 1) (#75)
by Yman on Sun Apr 21, 2013 at 02:49:29 PM EST

Sorry to interrupt your baseless fairy tale, but even the Republican chair of House Intelligence Committee acknowledged that "did their due diligence and did a very thorough job" of investigating Tamerlan Tsarnaev. He also praised the FBI's handing of Tamerlan Tsarnaev as "very prudent and very thorough". This would be someone who's actually in a position to know what the FBI did re: Tsarnaev, ...

... as opposed to just making $hit up.


: Link (none / 0) (#76)
by Yman on Sun Apr 21, 2013 at 02:50:10 PM EST

Such bull (none / 0) (#74)
by Militarytracy on Sun Apr 21, 2013 at 01:14:23 PM EST

But hey, it's your story. The military selectively ignores specific things all the time just like all institutions. Politics can hold some sway, command environment, recent JAG influence and case rulings, Hasan was ignored by command because he owed them for his education. No free rides. With Hasan though there was nothing PC about it, Muslims are not coddled in any way and many serve. His mental health issues were being ignored because he owed the military for a very pricey education and historically speaking at this point, that is a primary concern when the military pays for a PhD. They are going to collect or else. In the Hasan case they got the or else pay off.


What should they have done? (5.00 / 1) (#60)
by Yman on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 12:22:13 PM EST

Once the FBI learned the identities of the two brothers today, the FBI reviewed its records and determined that in early 2011, a foreign government asked the FBI for information about Tamerlan Tsarnaev. The request stated that it was based on information that he was a follower of radical Islam and a strong believer, and that he had changed drastically since 2010 as he prepared to leave the United States for travel to the country's region to join unspecified underground groups.
In response to this 2011 request, the FBI checked U.S. government databases and other information to look for such things as derogatory telephone communications, possible use of online sites associated with the promotion of radical activity, associations with other persons of interest, travel history and plans, and education history. The FBI also interviewed Tamerlan Tsarnaev and family members. The FBI did not find any terrorism activity, domestic or foreign, and those results were provided to the foreign government in the summer of 2011. The FBI requested but did not receive more specific or additional information from the foreign government.

What exactly should the FBI have done? They received a request from a foreign government to check him out which (to the best of anyone's knowledge) they did. Is there any evidence they missed something they should have caught, or done something they didn't?


YMan, (none / 0) (#64)
by Tamta on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 03:34:51 PM EST

Links to information already have been posted:

The FBI may have had more extensive contact with, and more knowledge of, the older suspect than its statement represents.
The FBI amended it's position on whether or not the older suspect was already known to them.

Neither of those have been cited in order to insinuate that the FBI is guilty of wrongdoing or incompetence in this case. However there are questions as to if this is an incident of criminal mass murder or one of national security.


: Yes, I know (5.00 / 1) (#67)
by Yman on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 04:58:18 PM EST

Their mother is claiming that they are innocent and the FBI "controlled their every step". there is absolutely no evidence to back up her claims.
The FBI initially said they didn't know his name because he didn't turn up in a search of their terrorist suspect database. They revised their statement after a subsequent, more thorough search revealed the foreign (presumably Russian) inquiry, and the fact that they had checked him out. That's it.
No doubt there are some who want to weave that into a conspiracy theory, but as of yet, they're still many yards short of a bolt ...

Those sons of b!tches (none / 0) (#33)
by sj on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 11:59:17 PM EST

will hound that poor boy until he's driven from the country. It's not enough that he's injured and still referred to as a "witness" rather than a victim.

Full disclosure, I didn't listen to Glen Beck, just scanned some of the comments.

very, very closeted (none / 0) (#57)
by sj on Sat Apr 20, 2013 at 11:13:50 AM EST

But my closet is small so it's hard to hide in there when I accidentally hear his voice.