Mother’s Day Shooting vs. Boston Marathon Bombing: Fraternal Analysis

May 12, 2013 – During the Mother’s Day parade in New Orleans, two brothers, Akein and Shawn Scott, age 19 and 24, started shooting abruptly into the crowd.  Nineteen people were injured including two 10-year-olds.  The brothers were involved in a local gang, the Frenchmen and Derbigny Boys, also known as the F and D gang, in the 7^th Ward of New Orleans.

Last month, April 15, 2013 – The Boston Marathon was bombed by two brothers, Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, age 19 and 26.  Three people died and over 200 were wounded.

Analysis

In both cases, the suspects were recorded on surveillance cameras and later identified.  Coincidentally, the younger brothers were the ones first recognized on the tapes.  Both duos were minorities in the same age groups committing murderous crimes in large cities.  Both events took place in crowded streets during annual events.  Both deadly duos were brothers.

Contrasting the tragedies needs to be split into two sections, since there are so many differences.  In spite of the contrasting nature of these scenarios, there are parallels, leaving room for analysis.  The first section concerns tragedies and law enforcement, and the second section regards the perpetrators.  Each section is divided into six topics.

Section 1:  The Tragic Events and Police Reactions

Media Coverage

The Boston attacks undoubtedly received more coverage than the Mother’s Day shooting.  The Tsarnaevs’ faces were all over the television, the parents were interviewed, and all forms of media were covered for weeks.  The Mother’s Day shooting received very little runtime on the news, and even news websites only covered the Scott brothers for only a few days. 

Damage

The Tsarnaev brothers killed three people and wounded over 200 people with their firecracker powered bombs sending nails flying.  People fell to the ground, immediately amputated from the shrapnel.

The Scott brothers wounded 19 people, and none of them died as a result of the bullet wounds.  If people died, maybe this story would have gotten more attention.  One video showed a young girl whose pant legs were soaked in bright, red blood.  Who knows if she will walk again. 

Crime Rates

For New Orleans, the Mother’s Day shooting was the third shooting for 2013, and it is only May.  New Orleans is known for having higher crime rates than Boston.  On January 21, there was a shooting after the Martin Luther King Day parade; rendering five people wounded.  In February, there was a shooting during Mardi Gras, which injured four people.

Due to the high crime rates in New Orleans, it is easier to be able to plan a large scale crime.  Law enforcement is so diverted by enough violent incidents that gangs can conspire to execute more deadly acts, because the cops can not watch everyone.  Boston is not as overwhelmed with violence that when a disaster occurs, they can respond with more dedication.

Police Reactions

New Orleans responded with the SWAT team.  So did Boston, in addition to involving the FBI, the city police, canines, helicopters, and bomb specialists.  Boston had the whole city in lockdown.  The entrances and exits were blocked, people stayed in their houses for days, businesses shut their doors, and all roads were closed.  The police conducted a manhunt just for one remaining perpetrator.  New Orleans had to find two, but they did not take extreme measures.  It is possible that they did not need to do everything Boston did in order to safely apprehend the fugitives.

Older Brother

Tamerlan Tsarnaev died in a shootout with police after hijacking a car in attempts to flee the city.  Shawn Scott was simply arrested hours after the incident, hardly causing a scene.  Shawn is still alive, and Tamerlan died by deadly force.  Though The Tsarnaev brothers exchanged gunfire with police instead of surrendering like the Scotts did.

Hiding

Both younger brothers hid in order to evade authorities.  Dzhokhar Tsarnaev had to hide on his own, whereas Akein Scott had plenty of help.  Tsarnaev eluded the police for four days.  Scott hid for only three days.  Both attempts were futile. 

Akein Scott had four friends try to hide him from the police.  They were Bionca Hickerson, Brandy George, Justin Alexander, and Nekia Youngblood.  They were arrested along with Scott.

Unlike Scott, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was entirely on his own; a rodent in a maze with no way out.  Boston was in lockdown.  Without the getaway car and just having lost his brother, Tsarnaev fled on foot.  If anyone saw him, he would get reported.  He was alone and injured.  He chose to hide in a boat covered with a white tarp, hoping to stay there until the lockdown ended, and people would think he already left the city somehow. 

Section 2:  The Perpetrators – A Fraternal Analysis.

Race, National Origin, and Religion

Both brotherly duos were minorities.  The Tsarnaevs’ originated from Chechnya, Russia, and they were Muslim.  They had just become naturalized US citizens.  The Scott brothers are African American, and they were born and raised in the United States.  Their religion was unreported.

Since America is still living down its history of slavery, drawing too much attention to dark skinned criminals could draw accusations of racism.  However, once the word, Muslim, is thrown into the scenario, all fear of racism disappears!  The media immediately speculates ties to terrorist organizations.  Every news agency wants to cover terrorism stories, especially if Islam is involved.  The Scotts’ religion was not disclosed.  If they are Christian, then there is bias for disclosing one person’s religion and not the other.  How many crimes are committed by Christians?  That number is probably higher than crimes committed by religious minorities.  If you committed a crime and your religion was a part of the report, how would you feel?

In both cases, all criminals who were captured alive were given the right to due process.  Since the Scott brothers were US born citizens, there was no question in how they were to be treated.  The Tsarnaevs just became naturalized US citizens; Dzhokhar became a naturalized US citizen on September 11, 2012, and conservatives wanted to treat him as an enemy combatant.  Authorities read Dzhokhar's Miranda Rights late, after interrogators retrieved information from him.  It is unknown if the Scotts had their rights read to them.

Criminal Records

Dzhokhar had no criminal record.  Tamerlan had a history of being investigated by the FBI and the Russian FSB for his possible terroristic inclinations.  Regardless of government suspicious, the brothers hid the production of their bombs and all intentions to commit the notorious attack.  Dzhokhar concealed his character best by asserting his “normal guy” side on the internet and socialized in college.

Both Scott brothers had criminal records, but Akein’s was more scrutinized by the media.  His history included two accounts of illegal weapon possession; on account of possessing heroin.  He once resisted arrest, committed assault, underage possession of alcohol, and contraband in jail.  This all occurred within two years.  Akein was not too keen on concealing his crimes.  For instance, police caught him smoking marijuana in public.  The Scotts both belonged to the Frenchmen and Derbigny gang, which sold drugs.  The gang was named after the streets where they were headquartered. 

Motives

Dzhokhar wrote on the inner walls of the boat, expressing the reasons for the Boston bombing.  The note said it was to avenge the US for its attacks on Muslims, and the American-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Scotts’ motive was gang related.  They were targeting one person, Leonard Epps, age 35.  They shot him several times in the chest.  Epps was taken to the hospital in serious condition.

If the Scotts only intended on killing Epps, why did they shoot 18 other people, including two children?  Did they want to conceal the fact that they were targeting a particular person?  As if Epps’s possible death would look like a coincidence?  They did not attempt to conceal their own identities first.  They did not cover their faces.  Their cause was personal, immaturely affecting innocent bystanders at a parade that honors mothers.  Though, if they truly wanted to kill the other victims, they would not have run away immediately.  They would have continued to fire, murdering the ones already injured.

The Tsarnaevs intended to kill multitudes of people, not just three.  They had no care if anyone survived.  The higher the death toll, the more attention would be drawn to their cause.  Their cause was that America has unfairly slaughtered Muslims. 

The Tsarnaevs’ cause was bigger, but they were more brutal by criminal intent.  The Scotts’ motive involved only one person, which was linked to gang conflict.  Involving other people was unnecessary in completing their cause.

Planning

The Boston bombing took more planning than the Mother’s Day shooting.  The Tsarnaev brothers had to prepare bombs and select clothing to make them blend with the crowd.  They had a poor exit strategy; no getaway car, no false passports, etc.

The Scott brothers’ plan was very simplistic – show up with a gun and shoot.  Akein had friends to hide them later, which was a better tactic than hiding in a boat.  However, New Orleans authorities captured them without a city lockdown in a shorter amount of time than Boston.

Afterthoughts

The Tsarnaev brothers placed their bombs and calmly walked away.  Even as the billows of smoke arose, they quietly blend in with the crowd on the sidewalk, walking away.

The Scott brothers run away after shooting numerous bullets into the crowd.  They made themselves stand out at the perpetrators, and conspicuously fled the crime scene.

When Apprehended

Akein Scott was “serene” when he was taken into custody.  Both Scott brothers were arrested with ease compared to the Tsarnaevs.

When the police, bomb specialists, hounds, and helicopters surrounded Dzhokhar’s landlocked boat in a resident’s backyard, the young terrorist exchanged gunfire with police.  They had to force Tsarnaev’s injured body out of the boat; he was probably very nervous, telling by the picture of his apprehension.

©2013 Caroline Friehs

Originally posted:  May 29, 2013

References

Associated Press (2013 May 14).  New Orleans Mother’s Day Shooting:  Akein Scott named as suspect.  The Guardian.  Retrieved from: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/14/mothers-day-shooting-akein-scott

Associated Press (2013 May 16).  Akein Scott, Suspect In Shooting, At Mother’s Day Parade, Arrested.  Huff Post – Crime.  Retrieved from:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/15/akein-scott-new-orleans-mothers-day-parade-shooting_n_3283574.html

Associated Press (2013 May 16).  Boston bombings suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev left note in boat he hid in, sources say.  CBS News.com.  Retrieved from:  http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57584771/boston-bombings-suspect-dzhokhar-tsarnaev-left-note-in-boat-he-hid-in-sources-say/

BBC News (2013 Apr. 21).  Boston bombs:  Officials wait to question Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.  BBC News – US & Canada.  Retrieved from:  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-22232196   

BBC News (2013 Apr. 22).  Profile: Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tzarnaev.  BBC News US & Canada. Retrieved from:  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-22219116

McGill, K (2013 May 16).  Police:  Suspect arrested in La. parade shooting.  Yahoo News.  Retrieved from:  http://news.yahoo.com/police-suspect-arrested-la-parade-shooting-040846143.html

Mungin, L & Martinez, M (2013 May 16).  2nd arrest in New Orleans shooting; $10m bail for 1st suspect.  CNN Justice.  Retrieved from:  http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/16/justice/louisiana-shooting

Shuster, S (2013 Apr. 19).  The Brothers Tsarnaev: Clues to the Motives of the Alleged Boston Bombers.  Yahoo News.  Retrieved from:  http://news.yahoo.com/brothers-tsarnaev-clues-motives-alleged-boston-bombers-162101446.html

Vargas, R. A., Freund, H., Martin, N (2013 May 16).  Mother’s Day shooting suspects have ties to 7^th Ward Gang.  Nola.com.  Retrieved from:  http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2013/05/mothers_day_shooting_suspects_2.html

Vargas, R. A. & Simerman, J (2013 May 17).  Low risk rank for Akein Scott, Mother’s Day shooting suspect, called into question.  Nola.com.  Retrieved from:  http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2013/05/mothers_day_shooting_suspect_w_1.html

YouTube (2013 Apr. 20).  “They Were Framed.”  Parents of Boston Bombers Speak Out 2013.  [video]  Courtesy of username:  ADGUKNEWS.  News Network:  CNN.  Retrieved from:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWiOCrVietY

Grieving Tsarnaev parents believe their sons were framed. – Arguments for and against framing.

In an NBC interview, Zubeidat Tsarnaeva, wearing a yellow hijab, spoke in a depressed tone, denying her sons involvement in the Boston Marathon attacks.  She stated that she did not condone the bombing and she felt sorry for the victims.  Repeatedly she said that she did not want to believe her sons had any part in the tragedy.  When she viewed the video, she expressed that she wanted to believe it was all fake, and that the blood was really red paint.

In another more massively reported interview with Anzor Tsarnaev present, Zubeidat expressed regret for ever coming to America.  She believed that the US was going to protect her family.  Instead, “America took my kids away.”  She wished to live in a village far away from people and to have her family all together in peace.

Both parents according to CNN, believe their sons were framed.  Zubeidat said her sons would never kill anyone or keep secrets from her.  She also added that the FBI was trailing Tamerlan for years.  Anzor was interviewed in his home.  Anzor did not believe his sons had access to guns and that the cops were cowardly to kill his elder son, Tamerlan.  His last conversation with Tamerlan involved making sure Dzhokhar studies more and graduates. 

According to a 2011 wiretap in Russia, Zubeidat and Tamerlan briefly spoke about jihad.  Though jihad does not necessarily mean the extremist interpretation of going to war in the name of God.  It can also mean dealing with one’s internal personal struggle in life.

My Take on the Parents’ Reactions

It is completely normal for the parents to be grieving.  Zubeidat is in denial, and refuses to believe her sons would harm anyone.  Denial is the first of Kubler-Ross’s five stages of grief.  Moreover she specified that she did not want to believe they were involved.  What mother would want her children to commit a crime of this scale?  Even if the mother secretly knew her sons did it, what mother would want to admit it?  It is a shock because she did not know they were going to do this; there was no warning.  They did not tell her.  She said her sons never keep secrets, which made it easier for them to keep one this time.

Saying that she wanted to move to a secluded village with all her family together meant two things.  She wants to escape society, and her trust has been reduced.  Secondly, she wishes to keep her family intact; a sense of unity.

When she says “America took my kids away,” she is still under the impression that her children were innocent and thus the pursuit was unwarranted.  In this state of mind, her maternal instinct in threatened.  To her, they will always be “kids,” and they were taken from her.  She came to America to flee one war, and her family is now enduring an internal battle with US authorities.  She cried, “Why did I ever come to America?”

The father, Anzor, was all the way in Dagestan.  He could not get in contact with any of his US relatives, and he wanted more information.  He seemed very angry in his interview.  He denounced the bombing, and that “whoever did it was a bastard.”  His sons definitely had guns, and the idea that Anzor denies that they had access shows that he did not know everything about his sons. 

Let’s say they were framed.

Instead of isolating our perspective to what the media feeds us, why not look at this whole scenario in another way, even if it is an unpopular view.  What if they were framed?  The purpose is to entertain the idea and see if it still makes sense.

Before Dzhokhar was read his Miranda Rights, he admitted that he and his brother acted alone, his brother was the “driving force,” and that the bombs were detonated by toy remote control car parts.  Maybe that was all contrived by the media to make him look guilty.

They say bombs were strapped to Tamerlan’s body when he was shot dead by the cops.  What if there were no bombs strapped to his chest and the media was lying?  This would further convince the populace of his guilt.

The hostage in the Mercedes SUV coincidentally did not know much English.  The little English he could make out was that they were bragging that they committed the Boston Marathon bombings, and that they wanted to go to Manhattan.  Why would anyone brag about committing a large scale crime if they were running away?  Why would they want the hostage to know they were the culprits?  If they knew their faces were all over the news, they would not need to inform anyone that they did it.  Moreover, the media could be taking advantage of the hostage’s lack of English fluency.  Hearsay testimony could easily be falsified by the media, which is monopolized by Rupert Murdoch.

When they were picked out from the Boston Marathon crowd, there were other people with bookbags.  What if the bombs were set up by someone else, and they were wrongfully suspected?

Arguments Against Conspiracy – Not Framed

What if the bombs were set up by someone else or the government?  If the bombs were planted by the government, our own government would be killing our own civilians plus wasting money in the process.  All for what, to frame two suspicious people?

In order for the government to frame the two suspects, they would have to know ahead of time that they were going to be present at the Boston Marathon.  There was no information available indicating that the brothers were going to attend the annual marathon.  Planning a bombing and coordinating it with them being near any crowd would take a long time.  At one point Dzhokhar went to NYC, according to his Twitter, and the government did not follow him into the crowded city and commit a bombing there to frame him.  That information was online and easily available to the government.  There was no evidence that the brothers were intending on going to the Boston Marathon, which would indicate they intended others not to know.

If they were innocent, why did they run?  Why would they not just confront the authorities, claiming their innocence?  They had every chance to do so.  The media publicized this event so widely.  They could have just yelled out in public that they were innocent, that they did not do it, and they just did not want to get shot.  Why did Dzhokhar hide in the boat if he had nothing to hide?  He was injured and he needed medical attention, and he was still willing to evade the police.

The police attempted to negotiate with Dzhokhar to come out of the boat, but instead he shot back.  Why?  It was his last desperate attempt to fend off the police.

Why did they shoot the police officer?  Why did they need to hijack a car to escape?  This drew so much attention to them.  If they were innocent, they would not need to shoot any cops.  Why did they exchange gunfire with the police?  They were desperate enough to steal someone’s Mercedes SUV in the attempt to escape the authorities.  If they are contributing this much effort to evade the police, then they are probably guilty.  Then they needed to engage in shooting with the police in order to keep running.  Perhaps they were shooting because they were afraid of getting shot by the police?  Maybe Dzhokhar ran because he was afraid of getting killed too?  However Tamerlan did not need to randomly kill Officer Collier.  Officer Sean Collier was sitting in his police cruiser and did not even provoke Tamerlan.

I just watched The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell on MSNBC.  The hostage was interviewed.  He said that Tamerlan held him at gunpoint, robbing him and hijacking his car.  Tamerlan admitted to committing the Boston bombings and that he just killed an officer in Cambridge.  Tamerlan threatened to kill the hostage if he dared to answer his cellphone in Chinese.  When they stopped at the Shell gas station, and Dzhokhar exited the vehicle, the hostage escaped in a quick motion – one hand unbuckled the seatbelt and the other opened the door.  Tamerlan tried to grab his arm, but he got free.  The hostage’s cellphone was still in the car, and that was used to track down the car.

Why were they running?  If they were innocent, then what were they running from?

©2013 Caroline Friehs

Originally posted: May 2, 2013

References

Associated Press (2013 Apr. 24).  Did Boston bombing suspects plan to party in NYC after attack?  CBS NEWS.  Retrieved from:  http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57581266/did-boston-bombing-suspects-plan-to-party-in-nyc-after-attack/

Ballou, B (2013 Apr. 23).  Police, governor also honor slain MIT officer.  The Boston Globe.  Retrieved from:  http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/04/23/private-funeral-service-underway-for-mit-police-officer-sean-collier-allegedly-murdered-boston-marathon-terrorists/VBfmPStMAETHumnzWDXJxL/story.html

BBC News (2013 Apr. 19)  FBI releases photos of Boston suspects.  BBC News – US & Canada.  Retrieved from:  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-22211190

BBC News (2013 Apr. 20).  Boston marathon bombs suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev captured.  BBC News – US and Canada.  Retrieved from:  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-22228151

BBC News (2013 Apr. 21).  Boston bombs:  Officials wait to question Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.  BBC News – US & Canada.  Retrieved from: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-22232196

BBC News (2013 Apr. 22).  Profile: Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tzarnaev.  BBC News US & Canada.  Retrieved from:  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-22219116

BBC News (2013 Apr. 25).  Boston bombing suspects’ mother regrets emigration to US.  BBC News – US & Canada.  Retrieved from:  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-22296830

CBS (2013 Apr. 29).  Boston investigators attempt to pin down Tsarnaev brothers’ influences.  CBS News.com.  Retrieved by:  http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57581816/boston-investigators-attempt-to-pin-down-tsarnaev-brothers-influences/

McKelvey, T (2013 Apr. 23).  Boston bombings:  How to interrogate a suspected terrorist.  BBC News – News Magazine.  Retrieved by:  http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-22227704

Mong, A & McClam, E (2013 Apr. 25).  ‘America took my kids away’:  Mother of Boston suspects insists sons not responsible.  NBC News.  Retrieved from:  http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/25/17912024-america-took-my-kids-away-mother-of-boston-suspects-insists-sons-not-responsible?lite&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+msn%2Fdlvrit-test-fb-first+%28msnbc.com%3A+Top+msnbc.com+headlines%29

MSNBC (2013 May 2).  Interview with the Hostage, “Danny.”  The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell.  [Viewed on television].

NBC (2013 Apr. 25).  Interview with Zubeidat Tsarnaeva.  [Viewed on television].

YouTube (2013 Apr. 20).  “They Were Framed.”  Parents of Boston Bombers Speak Out 2013.  [video]  Courtesy of username:  ADGUKNEWS.  News Network:  CNN.  Retrieved from:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWiOCrVietY