Explosions at Boston Marathon

Oh damn, the guy in the brown jacket and hat wearing a backpack in the picture I just posted. Got a black backpack and a hat to conceal his identity. He's not even wearing running shoes and he's at a marathon, that's suspicious.


Guy in the green hat. IRA???
 
Well, the end for this thread is clearly near. Sucks too, because there has been mostly some good discussion.
 
"Don't look like a marathon runner" will not be however.

Yes, when you have little to get started on you look for things that don't belong.

Investigative_Profiling

Investigators looking at photos are not focusing on individuals who were running. Is it possible? Sure, at this point anything is possible. But initially the first thing you look at in photos is things that don't belong and piece together from there.
 
Yes, when you have little to get started on you look for things that don't belong.

Investigative_Profiling

Investigators looking at photos are not focusing on individuals who were running. Is it possible? Sure, at this point anything is possible. But initially the first thing you look at in photos is things that don't belong and piece together from there.
Why would you have to look like a marathon runner to not be out of place in the crowd at a marathon!?!?!
 
Well, the end for this thread is clearly near. Sucks too, because there has been mostly some good discussion.

True, good discussion followed by one poster who has to fill the "internet tough guy" role for some reason and poo poo on other posters.
 
here's another one. Someone on 4chan claims to have tied the backpack that the bomb was in to a person in the crowd, using pictures taken of the scene. Purely speculative. Guy just could have had a similar backpack.

LvoCC5T.jpg

I find this dude interesting not because of the back pack or neck beard or just overall homeless look, but because he's wearing a damn bath robe in public. What a weirdo.
 
"Don't look like a marathon runner" will not be however.

Investigating the guy because he is shown holding a backpack that appears to be similar is fine.

Profiling him as someone who "doesnt look like a marathon runner or someone supporting a marathon runner" is dumb.

I can only imagine the number of leads they investigators are following is staggering.
 
Investigating the guy because he is shown holding a backpack that appears to be similar is fine.

Profiling him as someone who "doesnt look like a marathon runner or someone supporting a marathon runner" is dumb.

I can only imagine the number of leads they investigators are following is staggering.
This is correct.
 
here's another one. Someone on 4chan claims to have tied the backpack that the bomb was in to a person in the crowd, using pictures taken of the scene. Purely speculative. Guy just could have had a similar backpack.

LvoCC5T.jpg
Straps below the guys elbow look gray (i.e., the ones that connect the shoulder strap to the bottom of the backpack). The strap in the blown up one look black (i.e., the one that is furthest upper-left). Just my opinion.
 
Why would you have to look like a marathon runner to not be out of place in the crowd at a marathon!?!?!

You don't, but when you are profiling and looking for clues this is what you do.

"Hmm, well I'm investigating a bombing at a running event, I'm probably not going to focus on people who in the crowd that are

1. Runners that just finished the race.
2. People that look like running enthusiasts. (yes, spectators will tend to dress in a certain way for certain events).

Oh wait, there is a guy, unkept beard, sloppy clothes, overweight holding a backpack that matches colorwise the one we know was used. He's also carrying it in a way that isn't typical and suggests he's looking to set it down quickly and easily".

One single feature to focus on? no. Enough clues that this person is very likely a person of interest, yes.

Could he be a random homeless guy or someone that had no interest in marathon? Absolutely.

Do we know for sure either way? No.

Is this exactly the type of thing the FBI is asking for (Hunt for suspects, motives in Boston bombing is 'wide open,' authorities say | Fox News) in help from the public? Absolutely yes.
 
I find it hard to believe that the bomber would be as stupid as to not take into account the amount of cameras/cellphones around and not at least wear a hat.
 
Investigating the guy because he is shown holding a backpack that appears to be similar is fine.

Profiling him as someone who "doesnt look like a marathon runner or someone supporting a marathon runner" is dumb.


I can only imagine the number of leads they investigators are following is staggering.

Why? It's one of many tactics used by law enforcement and investigators. Yes, not the ONLY one but one of many.
 
I find it hard to believe that the bomber would be as stupid as to not take into account the amount of cameras/cellphones around and not at least wear a hat.

Take in to account that this person is capable of committing such an act then you throw rationale thought out the window.
 
Crime shows on TV make it all look so easy, the cameras on every corner, DNA results in about 10 minutes, immediate facial recognition hits, and that cool really big computer table thing on Hawaii Five-O. Real life takes a while. If the CF crack forensics team solves this though, maybe we'll get our own show.