THE ARCHIVE: The Boston Marathon Bombing

Remembering. Reflecting. Recovering.

This blog was only a few months old when terrorists set off two homemade bombs at the 2013 Boston Marathon. Though it was never our intention to cover breaking news, RONTHINK became a temporary clearing house for the latest developments almost immediately after we heard about the explosions from friends who were on-site at the event. We spent days separating fact from fiction; squashing rumors and false leads that were widely reported in major news outlets. With a huge assist from our amazing Twitter followers and Facebook friends, RONTHINK became a small part of a much bigger narrative; one that rose from the depths of fear and soared to become Boston Strong.

As jury selection gets underway here in Boston for the trial of surviving bombing suspect Dzhokar Tsarnaev, we can think of no better time to remember the lives lost and those saved by first responders and everyday heroes. Scroll down the page and join us for a journey of reflection and recovery with a visit to the RONTHINK Archives and a look back at all of our Boston Marathon Bombing coverage.

The Archive: Boston Marathon Bombing

NOTE: We cannot be responsible for the state of links to outside media resources, including websites, document embeds, video clips and interviews. We apologize for any inactive resource links but it is our intention to preserve these selections from our archive in their original state as a digital time capsule.

CLICK HERE for our main news coverage page. This was our “living, breathing” base of operations. It launched in the immediate aftermath of the attack and ran 24/7 as local, state and Federal authorities pursued the bombing suspects. Includes extensive links to additional news coverage and a large photo gallery.

CLICK HERE for a first person account of the bombing and reflection on the aftermath from RONTHINK correspondent Pete Hogan. Pete was tapped to cover video games for us but found himself thrust into a nightmare. His wife, Jennifer, was running the Boston Marathon for the first time. She crossed the finish line nine minutes before the first explosion.

CLICK HERE for our report on the first hearing of United States of America v. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, held bedside by Judge Marianne B. Bowler in Tsarnaev’s hospital room. Includes links to additional news reports.

CLICK HERE to read the full criminal complaint against Tsarnaev.

CLICK HERE to listen to the chilling first-person account of gravely injured bombing victim Jeff Bauman. Bauman, who lost both legs as a result of the attack, is pictured above in an iconic image from that day.

CLICK HERE for a full account of the charges that were leveled against friends of Tsarnaev. Includes the full criminal complaint.

BREAKING: 3 MORE CHARGED IN BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING CASE

IN TWEET: THREE FRIENDS OF DZHOKAR TSARNAEV CHARGED IN THE ONGOING BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING CASE. READ THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT HERE.

NOTE: YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO VIEW THIS VIDEO FROM ANY DESKTOP OR LAPTOP BROWSER. SOME MOBILE BROWSERS, HOWEVER, DO NOT SUPPORT VIDEO PLUG-INS. IF THAT IS THE CASE, CLICK HERE FOR A LINK TO THE VIDEO HOST SITE.

Embedded below is a PDF of the criminal complaint filed today in Boston in the cases of United States of America v. Dias Kadyrbayev and Azamat Tazhayakov and United States of America v. Robel Phillipos. Phillipos has additional charges filed against him because, according to the complaint, he willfully lied to investigators on several different occasions. 

At this point, the three friends of Dzhokar Tsarnaev are not being charged in connection with the bombing itself. There is no evidence presented in the criminal complaint documentation that they had any knowledge of or involvement in the bombing prior to or during the terrorist act. Rather, they are an accessory after the fact.

This is an ongoing Federal criminal investigation and new charges could be filed should evidence warrant. You can can read the full criminal complaint documentation below.

CLICK HERE for coverage of the story from NBC News.

CLICK HERE for an overview of the charges from Slate.

You may also be interested in past RONTHINK coverage of the Boston Marathon bombing investigation:

CLICK HERE to read the PDF of the criminal complaint against Tsarnaev, filed on 4/21/13.

CLICK HERE to read the PDF transcript of Tsarnaev's first hearing, held bedside in his hospital room on 4/22/13.

CLICK HERE to visit the news archive of RONTHINK coverage of the bombing and subsequent manhunt.

NOTE: Use the scroll bar on the RIGHT side of the PDF viewer to navigate up/down through the document. Use the scroll bar at the BOTTOM of the PDF viewer to center the document. If the thumbnail preview pane on the LEFT side of the window is open, close it by clicking on the small arrow at the TOP LEFT corner of the PDF viewer. This will give you a full left/right view of each page. If you are on a mobile device or have trouble viewing the PDF in this post, CLICK HERE to view the document on the web.

THE QUICKIE: FACE TO FACE WITH TERROR

IN TWEET: HE LOST BOTH LEGS IN THE BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING. NOW JEFF BAUMAN TELLS OF HIS FACE TO FACE ENCOUNTER WITH DECEASED SUSPECT TAMERLAN TSARNAEV.

The image is already iconic: a gravely wounded Jeff Bauman is wheeled away from the scene of the Boston Marathon bombing by paramedics and everyman hero Carlos Arredondo.

Bauman lost both legs in the attack but only now do we know about his face to face encounter with terror: he stood right next to deceased suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev just before one of the two bombs was detonated. Jeff Bauman’s eyewitness testimony was a key factor in the success of the FBI investigation into the terrorist attack.

On Friday April 26, 2013 Bauman gave an interview to Boston area radio station WEEI FM. Here is the audio of his gripping interview on the DENNIS AND CALLAHAN MORNING SHOW.

NOTE: YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS THIS AUDIO CLIP FROM ANY DESKTOP OR LAPTOP BROWSER. SOME MOBILE BROWSERS, HOWEVER, DO NOT SUPPORT AUDIO PLUG-INS. IF THAT IS THE CASE, CLICK HERE FOR A LINK TO THE ORIGINAL INTERVIEW HOST SITE.

CLICK HERE to read the PDF of the criminal complaint against Tsarnaev, filed on 4/21/13.

CLICK HERE to read the PDF transcript of Tsarnaev's first hearing, held bedside in his hospital room on 4/22/13.

CLICK HERE to visit the news archive of RONTHINK coverage of the bombing and subsequent manhunt.

iCANDY: BOSTON MAGAZINE MAY COVER

IN TWEET: BOSTON MAGAZINE CREATES A STUNNING MAY COVER THAT TURNS “BOSTON STRONG” INTO A POWERFUL VISUAL. CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO LEARN MORE.

BREAKING: BOSTON BEDSIDE JUSTICE!

IN TWEET: DESPITE GOP WHINING, BOSTON BOMBING SUSPECT DZHOKHAR TSARNAEV WILL BE TRIED IN FEDERAL COURT. THE FIRST ROUND OF JUSTICE WAS SERVED BEDSIDE. READ THE TRANSCRIPT BELOW.

It seems perfectly fitting that surviving Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev received his first criminal hearing on the one week anniversary of the crime he is accused of committing.  Like so much of what has transpired in and around Boston this past week, the hearing itself was rather extraordinary. Still hospitalized and barely able to speak, justice came to Tsarnaev…literally.

Judge Marianne B. Bowler held the first hearing of United States of America v. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in his hospital room at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, barely two miles from the site of the bombings. The hearing included a formal reading of the suspect’s Miranda rights and assignment of a Federal public defender.Despite a round of shameless political demagoguery by the likes of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-KY), Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), the Obama Administration said “thanks, but no thanks” to calls for Tsarnaev to be classified as an enemy combatant. The terrible track record of military commission hearings aside, it is unconstitutional for a citizen of the United States to be deprived of their right to a fair trial. Tsarnaev is a naturalized U.S. citizen.

CLICK HERE for an excellent overview of the case against Tsarnaev by Jeffrey Toobin, from The New Yorker.

CLICK HERE to visit the news archive of RONTHINK coverage of the bombing and subsequent manhunt.

CLICK HERE to read the PDF of the criminal complaint against Tsarnaev, filed on 4/21/13.

NOTE: Use the scroll bar on the RIGHT side of the PDF viewer to navigate up/down through the document. Use the scroll bar at the BOTTOM of the PDF viewer to center the document. If the thumbnail preview pane on the LEFT side of the window is open, close it by clicking on the small arrow at the TOP LEFT corner of the PDF viewer. This will give you a full left/right view of each page. If you are on a mobile device or have trouble viewing the PDF in this post, CLICK HERE to view the document on the web.

BREAKING: TSARNAEV CRIMINAL COMPLAINT

IN TWEET: A PDF EMBED OF THE FULL CRIMINAL COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING SUSPECT DZHOKAR TSARNAEV.

This is a PDF of the criminal complaint filed on April 21, 2013 against surviving Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokar Tsarnaev. It contains a sometimes chilling account of the events leading up the attack and running through the eventual capture and arrest of Tsarnaev.

He is being charged with using and conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction, resulting in death. A second charge accuses him of malicious destruction of property by means of an explosive device, resulting in death. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.

As of this writing, initial statements from Tsarnaev claim he and his brother (the second bombing suspect, now deceased) acted alone and are not tied to any terrorist organization. The investigation continues.

CLICK HERE for an excellent overview of the case against Tsarnaev by Jeffrey Toobin, from The New Yorker.

CLICK HERE to visit the news archive of RONTHINK coverage of the bombing and subsequent manhunt.

CLICK HERE to read the PDF transcript of Tsarnaev's first hearing, held bedside in his hospital room on 4/22/13.

NOTE: Use the scroll bar on the RIGHT side of the PDF viewer to navigate up/down through the document. Use the scroll bar at the BOTTOM of the PDF viewer to center the document. If the thumbnail preview pane on the LEFT side of the window is open, close it by clicking on the small arrow at the TOP LEFT corner of the PDF viewer. This will give you a full left/right view of each page. If you are on a mobile device or have trouble viewing the PDF in this post, CLICK HERE to view the document on the web.

NEWS FINAL: BOSTON MARATHON ATTACK

UPDATED AT 6:00 AM ON TUESDAY APRIL 23, 2013

BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING SUSPECT DZHOKHAR A. TSARNAEV, 19, HAS BEEN ARRESTED!

NOTE: THE INFORMATION ABOVE IS CURRENT AND WILL BE THE FINAL UPDATE FOR THIS BLOG POST. EVERYTHING BELOW IS BEING PRESERVED IN IT’S FINAL STATE TO SERVE AS A NEWS ARCHIVE AND RECORD OF EVENTS DURING THE PAST WEEK.

THESE UNPRECIDENTED EVENTS, WHICH STARTED WITH AN ACT OF TERROR AND COWARDICE, HAVE FOREVER CHANGED THE HISTORY OF BOSTON BUT THEY HAVE NOT BROKEN OUR SPIRIT, RESOLVE OR LOVE FOR THE CITY AND STATE WE CALL HOME.

CLICK HERE to read the PDF document of the charges filed against Tsarnaev on 4/21/13.

CLICK HERE to read the PDF transcript of Tsarnaev’s 4/22/13 bedside hearing.

 

NEWS ARCHIVE FROM THIS POINT ON. INFORMATION BELOW NOT CURRENT.

BOMBING SUSPECT #2 IS STILL AT LARGE AND ARMED/DANGEROUS! THE ENTIRE MBTA SYSTEM (BUSES AND SUBWAYS) IS SHUT DOWN. BOSTON POLICE (BPD) ASKING PEOPLE TO NOT GO TO T STATIONS OR BUS STOPS. STAY HOME! BPD WARNS RESIDENTS OF WATERTOWN, NEWTON, WALTHAM, BELMONT, CAMBRIDGE AND BOSTON CITYWIDE TO STAY INDOORS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. BPD ALSO ASKS BUSINESSES IN WATERTOWN, NEWTON, WALTHAM, BELMONT, CAMBRIDGE, ALSTON/BRIGHTON TO STAY CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. THIS SUSPECT IS ARMED AND DANGEROUS.

SUSPECT #2 (AKA “WHITE HAT”) IS AT LARGE. ARMED/DANGEROUS. DO NOT APPROACH/ENGAGE!

IF YOU SEE THIS MAN CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY!

ANY OTHER TIPS ON THE INVESTIGATION CAN BE CALLED IN TO 1-800-CALL-FBI

ADDITIONAL NEWS AND INFORMATION

  CLICK HERE for the official release of the photos and video of the suspects, from the FBI.

  CLICK HERE for a summary of the chase and gun battle in Watertown, from SLATE.

  CLICK HERE for MEMA Ping4alerts app. Provides zip-specific emergency messages. Android and iPhone.   

  CLICK HERE for an in-progress Google map of key events in chase and gun battle with bombing suspects.    

  CLICK HERE for coverage, from NBC News.

  CLICK HERE for The One Fund, the official donation site set up by Gov. Patrick and Mayor Menino.   

  CLICK HERE for perspective from Pete Hogan, a RONTHINK writer who was at the marathon.

  CLICK HERE for President Obama’s speech at the interfaith memorial mass, from NBC News.   

  CLICK HERE for information on bombing victim Lingzi Lu.   

  CLICK HERE for information on bombing victims Krystle Campbell and Martin Richard, from CBS.

  CLICK HERE for an updated on how the explosive devices were made, from NBC News.

  CLICK HERE for insight from Amby Burfoot, a past winner of the Boston Marathon. Must read!   

  CLICK HERE to read about Carlos Arredondo, the hero in the cowboy hat, from NBC News.  

  CLICK HERE for the story of 8-year-old victim Martin Richard, from WCVB Boston (ABC)

  CLICK HERE for an uplifting story of the outpouring of kindness following the attack, from USA Today.

  CLICK HERE for more stories of kindness, from The Atlantic.

  CLICK HERE for streaming video and real-time blog updates, from WCVB Boston (ABC).

  CLICK HERE for a regularly updated fact-checker on the attacks, from Mother Jones.

  CLICK HERE to visit the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) site.

  CLICK HERE to read President Obama’s remarks on the attack, from NBC News.

  CLICK HERE for a rogue’s gallery of the worst social media commentary immediately following the tragedy.

  CLICK HERE for a photo gallery of the Boston Marathon attack from the Atlantic.

  CLICK HERE for a story on the Newtown, CT runners in the marathon, from MSNBC.

We will continue to release substantiated information as it is made available via our Facebook page, Google+ and Twitter but recommend you keep abreast of the situation using the links above.

RONTHINK is based in the Boston area, a city we know and love deeply. Out of respect, we will suspend all posts unrelated to the Boston Marathon explosions until Wednesday, April 17.

Despite some of the chatter from bottom feeders out there, we should give thanks to those who shined in the face of terror today. Watching video of police, marathon volunteers, emergency workers, medics, bystanders and military personal leaping into action to pull down barricades so they could get to victims, was awe inspiring. It's even more amazing when you consider they had no idea if there were more explosive devices in the vicinity.

THAT'S the take away from this cowardly attack. I won't engage in any baseless speculation but I can say this with certainty: when push comes to shove, most people do the right thing and ordinary people become heroes. No act of terrorism or intimidation will ever change that. NOT in NYC, NOT in the skies over Lockerbie, NOT in the London subways, NOT in India, NOT in the open markets of Tel Aviv, NOT in Oklahoma City, NOT in Atlanta and certainly NOT in Boston. Nowhere...never!