CNN just interviewed a neighbor who was also a teacher at the High School and

[gateley]

photographed the sports teams, so got to know #2 pretty well. Said there was NOTHING about this kid that would indicate this behavior, was sweet, kind, giving and so grateful to be in America.

Interviewed someone else who knew him in high school who described him as an "angel" -- which is the word his father in Russia used.

Just so puzzling.

[Animal Chin]

1. Maybe we can never really know someone? n/t

[cali]

2. I've heard the same thing from others they've interviewed

perhaps he was influenced by his brother?

Just listening to a former classmate of his saying essentially the same thing as the teacher but she did note that at one time he posted a strange facebook entry ranting about how female teachers shouldn't be allowed to teach him.

[gateley]

4. Ah, some extremist Muslim beliefs? That COULD explain it.

[G_j]

3. NPR just spoke w a man

I think who works for the Globe. Said he was a very good friend in HS, and was a sweet, generous person.

[gateley]

6. No "he was kind of odd, a loner" type reports like we often hear about someone who

does something like this. Interesting.

[G_j]

35. not sure we are talking about the same

interview, I don't remember hearing that.

[gateley]

38. I didn't word that very well. What I was trying to indicate is that often we hear "he was

always a loner, always kind of odd, always a little different" type descriptions of many who do things like this. With this kid, we haven't heard anything along those lines, and instead everyone who knows him comments on what a good kid he is.

[G_j]

40. It is very strange

his friend seemed to be be incredulous that this person could have done such a thing.

[a kennedy]

15. I heard that interview also...and who indicated that one of the brothers was a golden gloves boxer?

Both, it sounded were good in sports.

[Princess Turandot]

20. He represented New England in the 2010 Golden Gloves..

Tamerlin Tsarnaev of Team Lowell decisioned Southern New England's Brian Daniels in the heavyweight title bout. Tsarnaev also received the prestigious Rocky Marciano Trophy given to the New England heavyweight champ.

Read more: http://www.lowellsun.com/ci_14425157?source=rss#ixzz2Qv5q5YA5

Bizarre.

[SoCalDem]

5. Kids grow up and their views can change

especially when they find a "mentor"....or live with one..

[gateley]

7. Yes, you're right. It's just sad, I guess, when it appears someone is kind

and apparently shows promise.

[Gin]

13. I agree he seems kind.....But...only a cold, dead heart would plant that bomb

And then hang around to watch his handiwork......

[kentuck]

8. Maybe he was influenced by his older brother?

Who was a few years older when he moved to the US. He would have been about 12-13 years old when he came to America, the age where it is most difficult to move and where there is resentment for your new home.

[gateley]

10. Sure is a possibility, and we know how rough kids can be to someone who is "different".

[SoCalDem]

11. If they came in 2002, the older one wpuld have been 16..younger one 9

Once the younger one hit puberty, he would have especially looked up to the older one...looked to him for advice about growing up

[femmedem]

27. And they would have come as refugees at the height of American anti-Muslim sentiment. n/t

[SoCalDem]

29. Very true

The Bush Gang fomented hate...and vigilantism prevailed...and then we invaded Iraq..

[Yo_Mama]

32. They were not abused in America

They have no reason to hate the country.

[gateley]

34. How can you be sure of that? Boston isn't the most welcoming of towns, and

too often ANYWHERE "foreigners" are outcasts.

[smirkymonkey]

42. Not really, I live here and it is a pretty multi-cultural city.

Not as much as New York and we do have our fair share of racists, but overall I think it is pretty much a very welcoming city these days. It is not like it was back in the old days.

[gateley]

44. That's good to hear.

[Fumesucker]

36. How do you know that?

We really have no idea what happened to these men as children.

[adigal]

41. I work in a high school, and kids are horrible

We had one boy with a Muslim last name, and for the rest of his time here after 9/11, he was called the "terrorist." Horrible teasing and blaming, even by the adults in the building, who referred to him as XXXXX abu abu abu.

So please - don't tell me that there was no abuse of this boy here. We don't know.

[gateley]

37. I hadn't even thought of that. But most people don't automatically associate

people from that area as Muslims (like they automatically do -- especially now -- with people from the ME). I wonder if they were practicing Muslims.

[librechik]

12. +100

[seabeyond]

16. that is what it feels like. i have two sons. the older serious, cant find friends, chip on shoulder

get into extremism in religion (regardless the religion).... create the hate. bring the influenced brother along.

[Xyzse]

9. Makes it hard to believe

These guys are so young and have so much going for them still.
Actions done throughout the night is inexcusable, but it is also the actions of a trapped animal.

I hope they capture the guy alive. Too much information about the "Why" needs answering. I also hope that they got the right guys.

[gateley]

14. I agree -- we need to understand.

I'm getting the sense they essentially freaked out that they were identified (at least by photo) so quickly.

[Xyzse]

17. Yep, that's exactly it

So, I am hoping they have the right guys, rather than people that just freaked out.
Still, the fact that they already killed somebody during their flight makes what they have done inexcusable.

So, I hope they capture the guy alive.

[gateley]

21. They're saying the guy whose car they hijacked (and rode with them for a while before

being released) reported they told him they were the Marathon bombers.

Last night (well, 6am Pacific) when I went to bed, I thought it was two entirely different guys. This morning (well, 4 hours later) I was gobsmacked to see these guys were the ones.

[Xyzse]

25. Thanks... I don't feel too bad now

I am just getting information so far, so that is a load off my mind.

[Brooklyns_Finest]

18. This means

That the teacher didn't know his former student well.

[gateley]

23. Apparently nobody did. Or he truly changed or buried the "good" in himself.

[marions ghost]

19. "angels" can have no conscience

------he was influenced by the brother no doubt, but somewhere along the line he also became a sociopath.

[Cleita]

22. Maybe he was being led and influenced by #1 who had an axe to grind?

It happens.

[gateley]

24. Yeah. Sigh. Wonder how much we will learn.

[Cleita]

26. Probably nothing if they kill him.

This is why we should try to capture these terrorists alive. We could learn a lot from them. I really think it was a mistake killing bin Laden. We stood to learn a lot from him considering he was the head of the terrorist organization. Instead we are picking them off one by one instead of learning from them and the possibility of future attacks that probably could be averted.

[gateley]

28. I agree -- but way too often they end up being killed by the law (as you know). Last night I was

under the impression that Suspect #1 was in custody, and I was actually surprised he was alive. Turned out, of course, he was dead.

[gateley]

31. Don Lemon (CNN good guy) was just saying that when he arrived on the scene this morning

the law enforcement told him to be careful even though they (press) were being kept away from potential action, because "this guy feels like a trapped animal" and "may go out in a blaze of glory".

I don't have high hopes that this kid will live to talk. Either do himself in or leave the police no other choice than to kill him.

[Fumesucker]

39. There was no way bin Laden was ever going to end up on trial

Far too many things would have come out that would make the powers that be look really, really bad.

Bear in mind that there is a long standing relationship between the Bush family and the bin Laden family.

[Cleita]

46. I know. Those are the things I would have liked to have known.

However, fat chance, huh?

[treestar]

45. bin Laden had no intention of ever being taken alive

And would have been glad to take out as many as possible as he went out in a blaze of glory. We had nothing to learn from him. He had nothing to teach anyone, other than hate.

[Yo_Mama]

30. Gacy was reported to be a really nice guy

Some people have kinks in them, you know?

He may have hero worshipped his older brother who got him into this.

[LisaL]

33. Well I guess he wasn't all that gratefull to be in America after all.

[Marr]

43. Well, how many other bombers did these people know?

I always find these statements so odd. 'I don't understand-- he didn't act like ANY of the villains I watch on TV...'