Boston Marathon Bombing (Constitutional Issues)

On April 23rd, 2014, Boston had a terrorist attack during the Boston Marathon. This resulted in 3 deaths and numerous casualties. The bomb was set off my suspects Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and his older brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev. Tamerlan was killed during the time by police and his younger brother Dzhokhar was caught in a boat and arrested. Below are the 5 Constitutional issues that were brought up due to this tragedy.


Miranda Warnings

Dzhokhar taken into custody

The custody of Dzhokhar was taken into place when police forces discovered him in a boat of a nearby backyard. He suffered from severe wounds and was taken to a nearby hospital. There's a debate about the Miranda Rights of Dzhokhar and a trial for him will be in the near future.







Death Penalty

Remains of pressure cooker used as a bomb

A pressure cooker was used as a bomb during the Boston Marathon bombing along with other explosive material. After Dzhokhar was caught, police determined whether or not that he should receive the death penalty as a punishment. The bombs he used were considered as "weapons of mass destruction" and was charged for that matter. Since the bombing took place in the state of Massachusetts, no death penalty can be given unless Federal prosecutors decided to look further more into Dzhokhar's case. Due to investigation still taken action into the whole story, a trial for Dzhokhar will be a while from now.





Guns

Shootout in Watertown moments after the bombing

A shootout occurred several moments after the Tsarnaevs escaped in a getaway car from the bomb scene. This happened in Watertown and Tamerlan ended up being killed by police during the shooting. Due to the brothers firing a ton of bullets at the police troopers, it has been concluded that Tamerlan and Dzhokhar had a ton of ammunition. Shortly before the shootout, the Tsarnaevs shot and killed an MIT officer before escaping in the getaway car. The guns that they were using were unregistered according to police.

Immigration

Tamerlan boxing

Dzhokhar wrestling

The Tsarnaev brother were Russian and immigrated over to the US. While in the states many months before the bombing, they would practice after school sports like boxing and wrestling. To many people, the brothers seemed like good friends. There hasn't been any arrest records of the Tsarnaev's in the past before the bombing incident.

Privacy

Footage of a security camera showing the Tsarnaevs before the bombing

Thermal photo of Dzhokhar hiding in a boat

Security footage was used to determine the suspects of the Boston Marathon Bombing. Above shows both Tamerlan and Dzhokhar walking before the bomb was set off. There were also shown in security cameras next to where the bomb was set of and when the it exploded. The description of the backpack used to hide the explosives matched with one of the Tsarnaev's backpack. The other picture above shows a thermal photo of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in a boat on someone's backyard in Watertown. Police used thermal footage to easily see him in the boat since it was dark out. Thermal devices are used mainly for that reason and also for searching for drugs but this was awared to be violating the Fourth Amendment. This amendment is stated for citizens' houses to not be searched using thermal imaging devices without search warrant.