FBI: Three Classmates Destroyed Bombing Evidence to Help Friend
Federal law officials believe three classmates of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev destroyed evidence in Darmouth while the suspected bombing brothers fought police in a gunfight in Watertown. In a complaint filed in federal court Wednesday, special agent Scott Cieplik claims suspect Dias Kadyrbayev and Azamat Tazhayakov destroyed or concealed a laptop and backpack filled with fireworks. Third suspect Robel Phillipos, meanwhile, is being charged with lying to federal officials. According to the complaint, the April 18 night started when Kadyrbayev texted Tsarnaev, needling his friend about his resemblance to the FBI photos released earlier that day. Tsarnaev wrote back “LOL” and then said Kadyrbayev could go get anything they needed from Tsarnaev’s UMass Dartmouth dorm room. According to Cieplik, Kadyrbayev, Tazhayakov and Phillipos went to Tsarnaev’s dorm room to watch a movie. While there, Kadyrbayev noticed a backpack with fireworks. The powder was removed from inside the fireworks, which made Kadyrbayev believe that Tsarnaev really was the person in the FBI photos. According to the complaint, he then grabbed the bag and Tsarnaev’s laptop and, along with Tazhayakov and Phillipos, went back to his own apartment The three decided to throw the bag and fireworks away because they didn’t want Tsarnaev to get into trouble. Kadyrbayev alone tossed the emptied firework husks and backpack into a trash bag and dropped it in a dumpster near the apartment, but with Tazhayakov’s and Phillipos’s knowledge. When interviewed later, Tazhayakov largely corroborated Kadyrbayev’s story, mentioning the group also took a jar of Vaseline, which Tazhayakov thought Tsarnaev may have used to make the bombs. Tazhayakov said he knew Kadyrbayev was going to throw the backpack and fireworks into a dumpster. Phillipos, meanwhile, initially denied going to Tsarnaev’s room with the others, saying instead he watched television at Tazhayakov’s apartment until about 4 a.m. Friday morning. In a second interview, Phillipos said he didn’t remember going to Tsarnaev’s room. When pressed, he then said he did, in fact, remember going to the room to see if the photos on television were actually of Tsarnaev, but that the door was locked when they arrived. According to the affidavit, Phillipos came clean during a fourth interview on April 26, admitting he had lied in earlier talks with officials, and then signed a statement read to him. That statement corroborated the stories told by the other two suspects. Phillipos said the trio “started to freak out” when they realized their friend Tsarnaev was one of the marathon bombers and discussed throwing out the backpack and fireworks. Also on April 26, agents searching a nearby landfill found the backpack, emptied fireworks and a homework sheet for one of Tsarnaev’s classes. South End Patch
Boston Police: Three New Bombing Suspects in Custody
Boston Police announced a major new development in the Boston Marathon bombing case Wednesday morning. According to the department, there are three new suspects in custody. Boston Police tweeted the news just after 11 a.m. Wednesday. There were no further details, though the police said they would offer more information soon. There is no additional information being released at the moment. BPD said additional details will be provided when they become available. Police stressed there was no immediate threat to the public. UPDATES BELOW 12:25 p.m. Governor Deval Patrick told Boston Globe reporter Michael Levinson that the three suspects did not participate in the bombing, but may have committed crimes after the fact. ***** 12:09 p.m. There is a heavy security presence around the Moakley Federal Courthouse right now amid reports the three suspects are being transfered there to appear in connection with the Boston Marathon bombings. ***** 12 p.m. WCVB is reporting that the complaint against the three is sealed, but the three allegedly helped bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarneav remove items from his dorm room at UMass Dartmouth. ABC News’ Brian Ross said he spoke with a lawyer connected to the case. According to Ross, the three removed a backpack filled with fireworks from Tsarneav’s dorm room at the suspect’s request sometime after the bombing. South End Patch
Dic Donohue Continues Recovery After Firefight with Bombing Suspects
The MBTA officer seriously hurt in a gunfight with the Boston Marathon bombing suspects continues to recover from life-threatening injuries. Richard “Dic” Donohue, 33, was hit in the leg April 19 in Watertown, Mass., authorities said. Donohue is a police officer with the Massachusetts Bay Tranportation Authority. His wife, Kim, is from Exeter and graduated from Exeter High School in 2000. “Right now Dic is making amazing strides,” Kim wrote in a post on a Facebook page that Donohue’s family is using to give updates on his recovery. Authorities said Donohue lost a massive amount of blood. At one point, he went into cardiac arrest, according to Dr. Russell Nauta, a doctor at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Mass. where Donohue is being treated. A pair of Watertown firefighters were instrumental in getting Donohue to a hospital after he was shot. The MBTA Transit Police Benevolent Fund Inc. created a website to collect donations for Donohue’s recovery. Donohue is a 1998 Winchester High School graduate. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 2002. Prior to joining the MBTA police force, he served as an officer for the U.S. Navy. He has a young son. The bombing suspects, Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, allegedly killed three people and injured more than 200 by detonating bombs near the finish line of the marathon. Tamerlan died during the confrontation with police, while Dzhokhar was captured in Watertown and will be tried in federal court. The brothers are also accused of killing MIT Officer Sean Collier prior to the Watertown shoot-out with Donohue and other officers. South End Patch
Massachusetts Congress Introduces Resolution Honoring Bombing Victims
Submitted by the office of Sen. Elizabeth Warren The Massachusetts Congressional Delegation on Tuesday introduced a resolution commending the heroism, courage and sacrifice of the victims of last week’s attacks in Boston. The delegation includes Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. William “Mo” Cowan, Rep. Ed Markey, Rep. Richard Neal, Rep. Jim McGovern, Rep. John Tierney, Rep. Michael Capuano, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Rep. Bill Keating, Rep. Joe Kennedy and Rep. Niki Tsongas. The resolution honors the memories of those lost, and expresses thanks to the men and women of law enforcement in the United States for their unwavering determination, courage, and resolve to bring to justice the people responsible for the bombings that occurred during the running of the 117th Boston Marathon. The full text of the resolution is below, and the online resolution can be found here. RESOLUTION Commending the heroism, courage, and sacrifice of Sean Collier, an officer in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Police Department, Martin Richard, an 8-yearold resident of Dorchester, Massachusetts, Krystle Campbell, a native of Medford, Massachusetts, Lu Lingzi, a student at Boston University, and all the victims who are recovering from injuries caused by the attacks in Boston, Massachusetts, including Richard Donohue, Jr., an officer in the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Transit Police Department. Whereas, in the aftermath of the deadly bombings that occurred on Patriots’ Day, April 15, 2013, during the running of the 117th Boston Marathon, the residents of Massachusetts and the people of the United States witnessed the incredible bravery, dedication, and sacrifice of law enforcement officers, first responders, and citizen heroes; Whereas Sean Collier of Wilmington, Massachusetts, an officer in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (referred to in this preamble as ‘‘MIT”) Police Department, gave his life in the line of duty, the ultimate sacrifice; Whereas Officer Sean Collier was protecting the students of MIT when he was killed as he sat in his police cruiser; Whereas Officer Sean Collier was known by his family, friends, and co-workers as a generous, kind, friendly, and devoted individual and officer; Whereas the people of the United States join with the family of Officer Sean Collier, the MIT community, and the residents of Massachusetts in mourning the loss of Officer Sean Collier, a dedicated, hardworking, and respected young police officer; Whereas the people of the United States remember Martin Richard, an 8-year-old boy from Dorchester, Massachusetts; Whereas Martin Richard loved to play sports and draw pictures, and was dearly loved by his family, friends, classmates, and community; Whereas the people of the United States will always remember and strive to live the poignant and powerful message from Martin Richard: ‘‘No more hurting people. Peace.”; Whereas the people of the United […]
Categories: Arrests Tags: Bombing, Congress, Honoring, Introduces, massachusetts, Resolution, Victims
Marathon Bombing: What is a Public Safety Exception?
When a suspect has been arrested, they are informed they have the right to silence and an attorney under the constitution—these are the Miranda rights. U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz said Friday that Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was not read his Miranda rights when taken into custody because of a public safety exception in cases of national security and acts of terrorism, but he has since had the Miranda rights read. At Tsarnaev’s bedside hearing, a federal magistrate read him the Miranda rights on Monday. See the full transcript of the bedside hearing on the New York Times website (the reading of Miranda rights begins on Page 4). The exception stems from a 1984 case, New York V. Quarles, in which police were apprehending a rape suspect. He was wearing an empty shoulder holster, which police believed meant there was a gun nearby. The arresting officer asked if there was a gun nearby, and the suspect nodded in the direction of the gun and answered. The question was later ruled admissable by the Supreme Court, according to the FBI. From a 2011 FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin: When police officers are confronted by a concern for public safety, Miranda warnings need not be provided prior to asking questions directed at neutralizing an imminent threat, and voluntary statements made in response to such narrowly tailored questions can be admitted at trial. Once the questions turn from those designed to resolve the concern for safety to questions designed solely to elicit incriminating statements, the questioning falls outside the scope of the exception and within the traditional rules of Miranda. The Public Safety Exception allows for limited questioning before Miranda rights and has been used in a couple of other recent notable cases, including the so-called “underwear bomber” in 2009 and the Times Square bomber in 2010, according to the Huffington Post. On Friday, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) expressed concern over Tsarnaev’s arrest without a reading of the Miranda rights. According to the AP, via Huffington Post, ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero said the Public Safety Exception cannot apply when there is no continued threat to public safety and is “not an open-ended exception” to the Miranda rule. South End Patch
Boston Bombing Suspect Bought Fireworks on NH Seacoast
One of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects reportedly bought fireworks at a Seabrook, N.H. store back in February, according to the Boston Globe. The newspaper says that Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the older of the two suspects, bought two mortar kits from Phantom Fireworks on Route 1 in February. Store records show he purchased the two kits for $ 200 in cash as part of a two-for-one promotion. The store’s vice president said Tsarnaev may have used powder from the mortar kit shells to build the bombs that killed three and injured more than 200 on April 15. Phantom Fireworks is one of many stores along the Massachusetts border that sell fireworks. It also has stores in Londonderry and Scarborough, Maine. South End Patch
Martin Richard, 8-Year-Old Killed in Marathon Bombing, Laid to Rest
Martin Richard, the youngest of the victims killed in the Boston Marathon bombings April 15, has been laid to rest. NECN.com reports parents Denise and Bill Richard had a private burial service and funeral for the boy Tuesday morning, and thanked the public for its support. “The outpouring of love and support over the last week has been tremendous. This has been the most difficult week of our lives and we appreciate that our friends and family have given us space to grieve and heal,” the parents said in a statement on NECN.com. The Richard family, from Dorchester, plan to have a public memorial service in the coming weeks, according to the site. South End Patch
Remaining Marathon Bombing Patients Are Expected to Survive, Doctors Say
The dozens of seriously or critically injured Boston Marathon bombing victims, who remain in area hospitals, are all likely to survive, according to doctors. The quick work of those at the Boston Marathon bombing scene as well as the medical care received at the hospitals will likely mean no more loss of life, reported the AP. “All I feel is joy,” said Dr. George Velmahos, chief of trauma surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, referring to his hospital’s 31 blast patients. “Whoever came in alive, stayed alive.” The AP reported that 51 people remain hospitalized, three of them still in critical condition and five listed as serious. “At least 14 people lost all or part of a limb; three of them lost more than one,” reported the AP. Read the full article here. Here are the latest links to stories from other media outlets: Officers Who Apprehended Bombing Suspect Speak Out Audio of Capture and Arrest of Suspect 2 Released Police Probe Possible Link Between Marathon Bomber and Unsolved Triple Homicide in Waltham Islam Radicals Motivated Bomb Suspects, Officials Say Area Behind Cambridge Business Searched in Connection with Marathon Bombing South End Patch
VIDEO: One Week Later, Crowd Returns to Boylston Street to Honor Boston Bombing Victims
One week after thousands of people gathered on Boylston Street to cheer on runners as they crossed the finish line of the 117th annual Boston Marathon, several hundred people returned to the area to honor those who were killed and injured in the bombings that forever changed a Boston tradition. At 2:50 p.m.—the time when, one week prior, the first explosion went off, followed 10 seconds later by a second—the city of Boston and communities throughout Massachusetts held a moment of silence. With the Copley Square area still cordoned off as a crime scene, hundreds of visitors gathered behind fencing at the corner of Boylston and Berkeley streets where a makeshift memorial sprouted up in the week following the event. The memorial, which features thousands of tributes such as flags, T-shirts, running shoes, posters, cards, teddy bears and flowers, has been moved off the street to the sidewalk outside the Bank of America building, presumably in anticipation of Boylston Street being reopened to the public—though a date for that opening has not yet been announced. The crowd at Boylston and Berkeley offered more than a moment of silence on Monday, standing quietly for several minutes before and after the appropriated time. At around 2:49 p.m., the crowd began softly singing “The Star-Spangled Banner”—just barely heard over the occasional honk and motorized splutter of the busy city. When the anthem concluded, the crowd went silent again for well over a minute. Some people bowed their heads, some cried or wiped away tears, some took photographs and video of the scene and some stared quietly down the deserted part of Boylston Street, perhaps imagining what it looked like on Monday last. As the crowd began to stir, with people beginning to head off to wherever they needed to be, a man waving a Boston hat with one hand and an American flag with the other began singing “God Bless America” and was soon joined by many others in the crowd. As the singing concluded, a loud cheer went up through the crowd, as people turned and waved to police officers on the other side of the barricade. The crowd began to disperse as, in the distance, church bells rang out and played “Amazing Grace.” South End Patch
Read the Criminal Complaint Against Bombing Suspect Tsarnaev
[Editor’s note: The following is the affadavit of Special Agent Daniel R. Genck, submitted as part of the criminal complaint filed against Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. The document was converted from a PDF and edited only to remove formatting errors.] AFFIDAVIT OF SPECIAL AGENT I, Daniel R. Genck, being duly sworn, depose and state: 1. I am a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and have been so employed since 2009. I am currently assigned to one of the Boston Field Office’s Counter-terrorism Squads. Among other things, I am responsible for conducting national security investigations of potential violations of federal criminal laws as a member of the Joint Terrorism Task Force (“JTTF”). During my tenure as an agent, I have participated in numerous national security investigations. I have received extensive training and experience in the conduct of national security investigations, and those matters involving domestic and international terrorism. 2. During my employment with the FBI, I have conducted and participated in many investigations involving violations of United States laws relating to the provision of material support to terrorism. I have participated in the execution of numerous federal search and arrest warrants in such investigations. I have had extensive training in many methods used to commit acts of terrorism contrary to United States law. 3. This affidavit is submitted in support of an application for a complaint charging DZHOKHAR A. TSARNAEV of Cambridge, Massachusetts (“DZHOKHAR TSARNAEV”) with using a weapon of mass destruction against persons and property at the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013, resulting in death. More specifically, I submit this affidavit in support of an application for a complaint charging DZHOKHAR TSARNAEV with (1) unlawfully using and conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction (namely, an improvised explosive device) against persons and property within the United States used in interstate and foreign commerce and in an activity that affects interstate and foreign commerce, which offense and its results affected interstate and foreign commerce (including, but not limited to, the Boston Marathon, private businesses in Eastern Massachusetts, and the City of Boston itself), resulting in death, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2332a; and (2) maliciously damaging and destroying, by means of an explosive, real and personal property used in interstate and foreign commerce and in an activity affecting interstate and foreign commerce, resulting in personal injury and death, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 844(i). 4. This affidavit is based upon my personal involvement in this investigation, my training and experience, my review of relevant evidence, and information supplied to me by other law enforcement officers. It does […]