I hadn't seen this pic before (suspects Pre-Bombing)

[Lucinda]

From Boston.com - The tag says this was taken 10-20 minutes before the bombs went off. The look on the younger mans face caught my attention...

[womanofthehills]

1. from Huff post about photographer

"Bob Leonard and his family were Boston Marathon veterans and he preferred a spot not too far from the finish line to photograph runners as they concluded their 26.2-mile run. The area was less congested and over the years he learned that the men and women in the lead there usually went on to win.

With his Nikon, Leonard snapped about 10 to 20 photos a minute Monday, capturing group after group of finishing runners and the crowds lining the route.

Three days later, when the FBI released images of the suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing, Leonard used the time stamp shown on them to narrow his search of the hundreds of photos he had taken that day. He realized that he, too, had photos of the faces of the two men authorities were searching for."

[Lucinda]

2. Thanks for adding this info

[City Lights]

6. Thanks for the information!

Last edited Sat Apr 20, 2013, 09:21 PM - Edit history (1)

I wonder when and where (in relation to bomb site #1 and #2) this was taken.

On edit - I did some digging - it looks like it was in front of 867 Boylston (Vinny T's of Boston?), between Gloucester and Fairfield.

[Control-Z]

3. Wow!

This pic is as clear as any I've seen from that day. I wonder why it wasn't one of the pictures released by he FBI.

[gateley]

5. Yeah, much better than those they initially released. Maybe they didn't have this then?

EDIT: Probably wouldn't have known who to look for before the FBI released photos -- THEN discovered he had these two?

[Control-Z]

33. Yes. This was probably turned

over after they had already been ID'd. I can't help but wonder if things would have gone down differently if they had been able to ID them - before the MIT officer was shot and killed.

We'll never know.

[morningfog]

10. I think the feds have many more pictures of these two, including much more incriminating video.

They released enough to get help in id-ing them.

[fleur-de-lisa]

21. ^^^ this. - n/t

[Control-Z]

28. With (not that well) enhanced photos

that would be recognizable only to someone who actually knew them? Perhaps. I'm not sure why they wouldn't want people to actually see their faces so clearly. But it worked, so I'm not complaining. Just curious.

[JaneyVee]

4. Yikes.

[gateley]

7. I don't know. I just feel he's doing this at his brother's behest, but we'll see.

The Feds said that what initially alerted them to these guys was their non-response to the explosions, and how cool and calm they appeared afterward.

[Lucinda]

11. I heard that...and that they also saw one of them place the bag

when going over video...

[Honeycombe8]

12. You've got to be kidding. The kid brother is the follower, for sure.

But so what? Would YOU go along with hours of planning, learning how to make an IED, packing your backpack, running through a dry run, then going down there and planting a bomb, knowing that children might be blown up...and then show a smug grin after the bombing? Only at your big bro's behest? Only if you sorta like the idea yourself.

But sounds like that might be the tack they'll take. Since the big bro's dead and all. He's the only one left to tell the tale.

[gateley]

17. I was reading his tweets, and although I there were a few cryptic posts,

the majority was just "normal' 19-year old stuff. Sounded like he was immersed in our culture -- not being a tight-ass zealot.

And I agree to a certain extent -- so what. He did what he did. I just think there was pressure from his brother and maybe would never have gone down this path without his "encouragement".

But we'll see. I was wrong that I thought this was more a Columbine-type thing with no political/religious aspect, so my "gut feelings" aren't that reliable.

[Drale]

20. I've been saying that since I first heard the story as well

and the look on his face in that picture furthers that idea. He was able to escape and he was running because he was wounded and because he was scared. I really don't think he knew what to do that's why he was still in the city.

[Cali_Democrat]

46. My exact thoughts. Older brother looks somewhat enthusiastic

The younger one not so much.

[cyberswede]

8. I think he looks sad.

I wonder what his brother is saying?

[Lucinda]

9. My thoughts exactly. n/t

[Honeycombe8]

13. It looks to me like he's just looking off to the side while he tries to appear nonchalant...

as he's listening to his brother, who is trying not to appear obvious that he's talking to the kid brother. They're trying to look like they're not together, maybe?

[Honeycombe8]

14. Something funny, apparently. Here he is in the same approximate shot, looks like.

[riderinthestorm]

16. Almost a smug smirk there. Something's caught both of their attentions and they both look disdainful

[riderinthestorm]

22. I don't. I think he looks contemplative but not sad. nt

[JI7]

45. he looks bored more than sad to me

[Honeycombe8]

15. This is the same approximate shot, looks like, but a sec before or aft.

Notice the same people in this pic. The man with the glasses to the right, and the man to the left.

[Lucinda]

18. Definitely the same location - but it's hard to tell about the time

The woman below them is in a different position and there is no officer present in the top pic.

[Honeycombe8]

24. They're all in somewhat different positions, looks like. Guess they were all hangin' out

there for a bit, waiting. But probably the same approx. time. I doubt the guys stood in one location for any length of time. They had it timed, probably, and it's dangerous to hang out with a bomb on your back.

[Generic Other]

19. When he could have still walked away

Both of them could have. And that was a costly few minutes they stood there. Cost one his life. The other his freedom. I don't feel sorry for him at all. I feel sorry for everyone else.

[Lucinda]

23. He made his choice. And he is responsible for his actions.

That doesn't mean that I can't feel sorrow that anyone would come to the conclusion that this sort of action was a valid choice.

[tblue]

32. Me too. Sad all around.

19 years old and his life is over. He deserves it, of course. But the whole thing is tragic to me. If only..... Ya know? If only he had backed out or something.

[Lucinda]

36. Exactly.

?

[xiamiam]

25. what other adult guidance or role models did the younger brother have at this point in time?

parents were in Russia, big brother right there influencing him. I know its not an excuse but its probably the way it went down. I saw an interview with a friend of his with Ann Curry. She is an adorable all American young woman who admitted to having a crush on the younger brother and knowing him all thru high school. I think she said they were lifeguards together. None of this makes sense to her or her instincts about him. I feel sorry for all the victims and for him as well. He's a kid..and yes, he definitely screwed up big time, but he's so young and I'll bet, the motives and prompting were planted and encouraged by his big brother.

[Lucinda]

29. Yep. All of his friends who were interviewed seemed shocked.

Most often we hear that there were lots of warning signs, but I haven't in the younger brothers case...

[undeterred]

30. 19 is barely an adult

And its a big emotional difference from 25. 19 is still a teenager. Teenagers don't have enough life experience to comprehend that certain consequences - like drunk driving, like suicide, like other risky behaviors, like planting explosives that kill people - last forever.

And this kid is now waking up to the fact that he is totally alone with the consequences of acts that can never be undone and that he will have to pay for for the rest of his life. I do feel badly for him in the sense that I doubt he really thought this through. He was probably a good person before his brother corrupted him. But I hope he serves as an example to others, so at least something good comes of this.

[LisaL]

37. Seriously?

You included "planting explosive to kill people" as a typical teenage past time? How many teenagers do you know that "planted explosives to kill people?"

[undeterred]

40. No, I don't think any of the things I mentioned are typical teenaged pastimes.

I think that they are all tragic behaviors or crimes that a teen is capable of doing without fully understanding the permanence of the consequences.

[LisaL]

41. So, according to you, a 19 year old

can not comprehend that blowing people up is bad?

[xiamiam]

42. Its not that simplistic

No one is defending what he did. He'll pay for that and then some. His big brother disgusts me.. selfish horrible vengeful man. I just feel that the younger one got caught up idolizing Tamerlan and not able to shift gears in his trust for him after the brother 'changed'. No matter now, he did it and his life will never be the same. I just don't think he even had a reason other than his big brother.

[JI7]

47. if he idolized that thug of a brother it doesn't speak well for his own character

[RedCappedBandit]

44. 19 year olds certainly understand that explosives kill people forever.

[reformist2]

35. Living with that older brother would have been horrible.

[spanone]

26. k&r...

stunning

[OneMoreDemocrat]

27. I've thought how odd it must be for other people around them seeing themselves....

in all of the photos and videos that have been released. Knowing how close they were to the two.

[Lucinda]

31. Yep. Me too.

I expect it runs a wide rage of emotions.

I was walking down the road one day many years ago and crossed paths with a guy that had robbed me at work. I was not in my fast food uniform (I was in street clothes) and he didn't recognize me. My first reaction was happiness that he didn't seem to know who I was. I would have expected it to be fear. You never know how you will react in these sorts of situations.

[reformist2]

34. Enigmatic. Almost Mona Lisa like.

[flamingdem]

38. ** Don't forget that they have lil' bro on video giving a gesture of glee when the bomb

goes off. This kid is tweaked. He placed a bomb near an 8 year old. He's less responsible, but he is an adult.

[Lucinda]

39. I'm not excusing him from his actions.

I had heard about the gesture of glee but haven't seen it. Did they release that?

[flamingdem]

43. Someone said it would be prejudicial to release it to the public

before the trial. I wonder if / when we'll get to see it but it seemed to be the evidence that made them use the term suspect and put their images out in the media.

[onenote]

48. I think its rather pointless to try to read anything into the expression in one photo

That photo represents a fraction of a second. Think of all the photos you've had taken of you that have caught you with an particular expression that you don't even know or think you ever had. Maybe its the moment as your face moves from one expression to another. As you begin to speak or finish speaking. The expression may be utterly unconnected with any particular emotion that someone might attribute to it.

So as far as I'm concerned, the expression on their faces tells me nothing about what they were thinking.