Bombings, Mass shootings & Domestic Security Issues in the US

[OPSSG]

During the Boston Marathon on 15 Apr 2013, two homemade pressure cooker bombs detonated 14 seconds and 210 yards (190 m) apart at 2:49 p.m., near the finish line of the race, killing 3 people and injuring hundreds of others, including 17 who lost limbs.

3 days later, the FBI released images of two suspects, who were later identified as brothers Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and Tamerlan Tsarnaev. Following the suspects' identification, they killed an MIT policeman, kidnapped a man in his car, and had a shootout with the police in nearby Watertown, during which two officers were severely injured (one of whom died a year later). Tamerlan was shot several times, and his brother Dzhokhar ran him over while escaping in the stolen car; Tamerlan died soon after.

Both CNN and BBC have reported that 2nd terror suspect (Dzhokhar Tsarnaev) is in custody. Likewise CNBC said: Boston Marathon Suspect Is Captured Alive: Police

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, a college student, had fled on foot following a gun battle that left 200 spent rounds and a car chase in which he and his elder brother (who was killed earlier) hurled explosives at police. The brothers also shot and killed a university policeman and severely wounded another officer late on Thursday.

Just before 9 p.m. ET, Boston Police announced via Twitter that the suspect was in custody. "CAPTURED!!! The hunt is over. The search is done. The terror is over. And justice has won. Suspect in custody," the Boston Police Department said in a tweet.

 

[gf0012-aust]

Both CNN and BBC have reported that 2nd terror suspect (Dzhokhar Tsarnaev) is in custody. Likewise CNBC said: Boston Marathon Suspect Is Captured Alive: Police

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, a college student, had fled on foot following a gun battle that left 200 spent rounds and a car chase in which he and his elder brother (who was killed earlier) hurled explosives at police. The brothers also shot and killed a university policeman and severely wounded another officer late on Thursday.

Just before 9 p.m. ET, Boston Police announced via Twitter that the suspect was in custody. "CAPTURED!!! The hunt is over. The search is done. The terror is over. And justice has won. Suspect in custody," the Boston Police Department said in a tweet.

yep

was getting feeds from an colelague ex US LEO



@2041:

"Suspect in custody, still a hot scene. No one allowed in perimeter."

"Medic, medic."



@2050:

"All outside agency SWAT teams are released. Thank you."



@2055: broadcast announcement to all officers:

"We have the second Boston Marathon suspect in custody. The time is 2050."



@2055-2057: Various CP and supervisor radio statements of congratulations.



@2100: Commissioner Boston Police Dept. offered his congratulations, saying it was a proud day to be a Boston Police officer.

 

[OPSSG]

Link to FBI criminal complaint dated 15 April 2013 (including Affidavit of Special Agent) filed with the District Court against Dzhokhar Tsarnaev for the use of a weapon of mass destruction and malicious destruction of property resulting in death.

19 April 2013 -- FBI press release on the 2011 Request for Information on Tamerlan Tsarnaev from Foreign Government.

CNN: Boston Bombing Suspects' uncle tells of familial break

 

[OPSSG]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1342608732551835651

On 25 Dec 2020, at approximately 5:30 a.m. Central Time, a large explosion occurred on 2nd Ave N near a downtown Nashville, Tennessee, business. The explosion has been linked to a recreational vehicle (RV). The FBI, the Metro Nashville Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are currently looking for information concerning the operator or owner of this RV, which arrived in the area at approximately 1:22 a.m. Central Time. In particular, individuals are being sought who were in the area of downtown Nashville around 1:00 a.m. Central Time.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1343177242516451328

FBI's Quantico, Virginia-based Behavioral Analysis Unit was helping determine the motivation of the person responsible.

While this X’mas day explosion is smaller than the April 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing (OC Bombing) of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, it’s likely to be the second largest successful domestic terror plot.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1342596486823956480

The April 1995 OC Bombing was perpetrated by Americans Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols. The bombing happened at 9:02 am and killed at least 168 people, including many children, injured more than 680 others, and destroyed more than one third of the building. McVeigh, a veteran of Gulf War I; and a sympathizer with the U.S. militia movement, detonated a Ryder rental truck full of explosives he parked in front of the building. Nichols had assisted with the bomb's preparation. Motivated by his dislike for the U.S. federal government and unhappy about its handling of the Ruby Ridge incident in 1992 and the Waco siege in 1993, McVeigh timed his attack to coincide with the second anniversary of the fire that ended the siege at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas.

Also on 9 Aug 2020, 21 people were shot at a cookout in Washington, DC. Christopher Brown, a 17-year-old, was killed. Three weeks earlier, 9 people were shot in front of a restaurant in the capital. In July 2020, there were four shootings in Detroit in which at least 4 people were killed or wounded. In Chicago, 14 people were shot outside a funeral home in late July 2020. Mass shootings are so common place, it is no longer news.

As Americans locked down and classrooms and public places emptied this spring, there was speculation that one silver lining of the pandemic would be fewer large-scale shootings. But that has not happened. The Gun Violence Archive has recorded 262 shootings with four or more injuries that have occurred across the country since April. In May 2020, there were 59 such shootings, more than any month since the archive began collecting data in 2013. That was quickly topped by June 2020 (95) and July 2020 (87).

Following the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, in Aug 2019, former President Barack Obama called for action to stop gun violence Monday and urged law enforcement and Silicon Valley to act to combat the “dangerous trend” of white nationalism.

“No other nation on Earth comes close to experiencing the frequency of mass shootings that we see in the United States,” Obama wrote. “The evidence shows that they can stop some killings. They can save some families from heartbreak. We are not helpless here. And until all of us stand up and insist on holding public officials accountable for changing our gun laws, these tragedies will keep happening.”

 

[OPSSG]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1342586610743914496

The vehicle was parked outside an AT&T Inc office, and the blast caused widespread telephone, Internet and TV service outages in central Tennessee and parts of several neighbouring states, including Mississippi, Kentucky, Alabama and Georgia.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1343040852315271169

Anthony Quinn Warner, 63, is the person of interest in the Nashville Christmas Day explosion. At least 2 tips were called in to @FBI about Warner, prior to the explosion. Quinn is a Nashville area resident.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1342882780364103680

Police say there was a recorded announcement playing from the RV saying a bomb would go off in 15mins. 1st responders rushed in, risking their own lives knowing that announcement was playing. BZ to these 6 police men and women.

 

[ngatimozart]

There's been a shooting at a bowling alley in Illinois with 3 dead and 3 wounded. The police have taken the gunman into custody. No details have been released as to the reasoning for the attack.

This just illustrates the absolute stupidy and criminality of US gun legislation.

Shooting at Illinois bowling alley leaves 3 dead, 3 injured
Shooting at Illinois bowling alley leaves 3 dead, 3 injured - NZ Herald

 

[John Fedup]

Sad situation and with literally more guns of all types in access of the number of citizens, no easy fix. Frankly, with all the whack jobs south of the border, if I was a citizen down there I would probably want a gun in my home given the massive proliferation of guns.

 

[Todjaeger]

There's been a shooting at a bowling alley in Illinois with 3 dead and 3 wounded. The police have taken the gunman into custody. No details have been released as to the reasoning for the attack.

This just illustrates the absolute stupidy and criminality of US gun legislation.

Shooting at Illinois bowling alley leaves 3 dead, 3 injured
Shooting at Illinois bowling alley leaves 3 dead, 3 injured - NZ Herald

There has been a little more which has come out about this, though at present I am uncertain whether US firearms laws would have made any difference.

At present, the information available seems to suggest it was a random attack. A 37 y/o suspect from Florida serving in the military has been taken into custody at this point.

As a side note, the shooting referenced earlier by @OPSSG, which occurred at a funeral home in Chicago back in July is IMO much more a gang problem and less a gun/gun law problem. Chicago itself already has some of the strictest gun laws on the books, to the point where licensed carrying of pistols/revolvers is both very limited and hard to acquire. Basically the legal carrying of handguns is done by LEO's, some federal authorities and military/naval forces (both usually involving some sort of law enforcement/security function), licensed private detectives and bodyguards. Since the dark days of the violence during Prohibition involving rival organized crime gangs competing for territories, facilities and routes to distribute alcohol and other contraband, there has been strict control over legal access to and ownership of firearms, especially handguns and other easily portable and concealable weaponry, in Chicago.

To put things in a bit more current prospective of the situation in Chicago, I have linked to the following ABC (that is the American Broadcasting Channel) 7 news station in Chicago here. IMO the key extract from the article is the following, quoting Chicago Police Department Superintendent David Brown;

"In any day of the week, any hour of the day, there are several hundred gang conflicts related to that 117,000 gang members," he said.

and further, the city has 117,000 gang members, 55 major gangs, 747 smaller factions and 2,500 subsets of those factions.

When you have that many people involved in illicit activities and gray or black market goods and trade, particularly high value items like drugs, then not only will there be interest in obtaining weapons to in attacks upon rival gangs, or defend against the same, there will be resources available to obtain said weapons.

 

[John Fedup]

There has been a little more which has come out about this, though at present I am uncertain whether US firearms laws would have made any difference.

At present, the information available seems to suggest it was a random attack. A 37 y/o suspect from Florida serving in the military has been taken into custody at this point.

As a side note, the shooting referenced earlier by @OPSSG, which occurred at a funeral home in Chicago back in July is IMO much more a gang problem and less a gun/gun law problem. Chicago itself already has some of the strictest gun laws on the books, to the point where licensed carrying of pistols/revolvers is both very limited and hard to acquire. Basically the legal carrying of handguns is done by LEO's, some federal authorities and military/naval forces (both usually involving some sort of law enforcement/security function), licensed private detectives and bodyguards. Since the dark days of the violence during Prohibition involving rival organized crime gangs competing for territories, facilities and routes to distribute alcohol and other contraband, there has been strict control over legal access to and ownership of firearms, especially handguns and other easily portable and concealable weaponry, in Chicago.

To put things in a bit more current prospective of the situation in Chicago, I have linked to the following ABC (that is the American Broadcasting Channel) 7 news station in Chicago here. IMO the key extract from the article is the following, quoting Chicago Police Department Superintendent David Brown;

and further, the city has 117,000 gang members, 55 major gangs, 747 smaller factions and 2,500 subsets of those factions.

When you have that many people involved in illicit activities and gray or black market goods and trade, particularly high value items like drugs, then not only will there be interest in obtaining weapons to in attacks upon rival gangs, or defend against the same, there will be resources available to obtain said weapons.

All good points wrt gun acquisition in Chicago and why gangs want them. That being said, with all the numerous gun rule differences between states and cities together with no border inspections (virtually impossible and not legal AFAIK) guns are easily accessible regardless of rules for the criminal element. It is why Canada has a handgun problem, useless border enforcement and next to zero consequences for smuggling. Guns seem to have an easier access than COVID these days.

 

[Todjaeger]

All good points wrt gun acquisition in Chicago and why gangs want them. That being said, with all the numerous gun rule differences between states and cities together with no border inspections (virtually impossible and not legal AFAIK) guns are easily accessible regardless of rules for the criminal element. It is why Canada has a handgun problem, useless border enforcement and next to zero consequences for smuggling. Guns seem to have an easier access than COVID these days.

My take on the issue is that in some regards, it really need to be approached like how the "War on Drugs" should be approached. Unfortunately it seems as though the gun issue is in many cases instead being approached the same way the drug problem is approached in the US. In a nutshell the supply-side is being attacked, but little to nothing done to address the demand-side of the equation.

For those not familiar with some of the issues with US policies regarding illicit drugs, I have seen estimates where US authorities could seize & destroy ~90% of the drug product, and the sale of illegal drugs would still be a profitable business.

 

[JohnWolf]

This bombing seems to indicate a new kind of animal entering the game; one that broadcasts a warning for people to stay away before the blast?
Doesn't make them any less crazy, probably the opposite, but still something very new & unusual.

And as far as Defense issues go, an armed populace is a tremendous boon for the USA. It makes invasion & successful occupation of American territory an impossibility for an enemy power. "A gun behind every blade of grass", as some have noted, is a factual reality, and by comparison would make the Middle East seem like a vacation spot for an army of occupation.

And lastly; I thought that 5G was a dead issue.... ?

 

[Redlands18]

This bombing seems to indicate a new kind of animal entering the game; one that broadcasts a warning for people to stay away before the blast?
Doesn't make them any less crazy, probably the opposite, but still something very new & unusual.

And as far as Defense issues go, an armed populace is a tremendous boon for the USA. It makes invasion & successful occupation of American territory an impossibility for an enemy power. "A gun behind every blade of grass", as some have noted, is a factual reality, and by comparison would make the Middle East seem like a vacation spot for an army of occupation.

And lastly; I thought that 5G was a dead issue.... ?

Tremendous Boon?
why don’t you try explaining that one to the Parents of
Virginia Tech
Sandy Hook
Stoneman Douglas
Columbine
And a Dozen or so more Schools.
Having a very heavily armed Populace in a Country that has virtually zero chance of being invaded anyway, considering the size and power of the US Military and the sheer Geographical difficulty in such an undertaking, is no excuse for allowing easy access to Assault Riffles for murderous Psychopaths.

 

[JohnWolf]

Tremendous Boon?
why don’t you try explaining that one to the Parents of
...

Nope, not going there.

Having a very heavily armed Populace in a Country that has virtually zero chance of being invaded anyway, considering the size and power of the US Military and the sheer Geographical difficulty in such an undertaking, is no excuse for allowing easy access to Assault Riffles for murderous Psychopaths.

No chance, 50 years from now? 100?
Try telling the PLA that the US is inviolable, they will take it as a personal insult.
And to clarify actual firepower; there is no easy access to Assault Rifles that can fire fully automatic. That kind of weapon costs tens of thousands of dollars with liscensing and fees and taxes and limited availability comes into it. Criminals don't go that route. In fact, Police use their weapons to commit crimes at triple the rate that Concealed Carry Permit holders do.
From a National Defense point of view, the real value of armed citizens is the sniper that can threaten a man-sized target from up to a Kilometer away, the urban ambushers, and the easy-looking victim that can turn the tables on an attacker in a heartbeat.
As things stand, even if the USA collapses into Civil War {an actual topic of discussion in some areas.... but the idiots indulging in that always fade away when I ask what they think a Civil War in a country with over 3,300 nuclear warheads would look like} there is still no chance of an enemy power taking a slice of America for themselves.
And that's all I have to say about it.

 

[John Fedup]

My take on the issue is that in some regards, it really need to be approached like how the "War on Drugs" should be approached. Unfortunately it seems as though the gun issue is in many cases instead being approached the same way the drug problem is approached in the US. In a nutshell the supply-side is being attacked, but little to nothing done to address the demand-side of the equation.

For those not familiar with some of the issues with US policies regarding illicit drugs, I have seen estimates where US authorities could seize & destroy ~90% of the drug product, and the sale of illegal drugs would still be a profitable business.

My understanding on the war on drugs is it is a hopeless failure. As long as immense profits can be had and the demand continues, total C-F is the result. Legalize and distribute via the health care system and at least eliminate the profit motive for the criminal element.

 

[Redlands18]

Nope, not going there.

No chance, 50 years from now? 100?
Try telling the PLA that the US is inviolable, they will take it as a personal insult.
And to clarify actual firepower; there is no easy access to Assault Rifles that can fire fully automatic. That kind of weapon costs tens of thousands of dollars with liscensing and fees and taxes and limited availability comes into it. Criminals don't go that route. In fact, Police use their weapons to commit crimes at triple the rate that Concealed Carry Permit holders do.
From a National Defense point of view, the real value of armed citizens is the sniper that can threaten a man-sized target from up to a Kilometer away, the urban ambushers, and the easy-looking victim that can turn the tables on an attacker in a heartbeat.
As things stand, even if the USA collapses into Civil War {an actual topic of discussion in some areas.... but the idiots indulging in that always fade away when I ask what they think a Civil War in a country with over 3,300 nuclear warheads would look like} there is still no chance of an enemy power taking a slice of America for themselves.
And that's all I have to say about it.

Unfortunately if the gunning down of 20 Children aged 5-6 at School cant change attitudes, nothing ever will.

 

[John Fedup]

Unfortunately if the gunning down of 20 Children aged 5-6 at School cant change attitudes, nothing ever will.

That is so true!!!

 

[OPSSG]

Nashville Bombing Update

1. One of the consequences of the Nashville Bombing is to see a real world scenario where someone has managed to take down phone and internet communications for millions of Americans in the region; and the resilience of the telecommunications system. The speed of restoration during a pandemic could also be meaningfully observed. AT&T CEO Jeff McElfresh said in a statement that 96% of its wireless service has been restored, along with 60% of AT&T’s business services and 86% of the company’s consumer broadband and entertainment services. He says the company’s goal is to restore all service by late Sunday.

2. Authorities have identified Anthony Quinn Warner as the Nashville bomber after matching his DNA to remains found at the scene of the explosion. Officials said DNA testing of human remains on the scene matched to Warner. They said no other threats were known against the city but wouldn't comment on possible motives for the bombing.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1343327901769367552

3. "We've come to the conclusion that an individual named Anthony Warner is the bomber. He was present when the bomb went off and then he perished," said Don Cochran, US attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.

 

[ngatimozart]

Still no idea of a motive though.

 

[OPSSG]

Mass Shooting Discussion — Part 1

My take on the issue is that in some regards, it really need to be approached like how the "War on Drugs" should be approached. Unfortunately it seems as though the gun issue is in many cases instead being approached the same way the drug problem is approached in the US. In a nutshell the supply-side is being attacked, but little to nothing done to address the demand-side of the equation.

1. I get the issue of the American tradition of multiple mass shootings is broader than a gun problem. Increasingly, the biggest threat to American life, liberty and freedom is another American.

2. At times, mass shootings can be a gang problem, at times, it could be a drug problem, at times, a mental health problem.

(a) Or even a combination of all 3. In the El Paso Walmart gunman case, it is none of the above and can be seen as an attempt to start a race war.​

​

(b) The massing shooting at Walmart in El Paso, Texas on 3 Aug 2019, that had 22 people killed and 24 wounded. It was the deadliest shooting in 2019 and the seventh-deadliest in modern U.S. history.​

3. The depressing thing is that, in a way this mass shooting issue is that it is the new norm. The El Paso Walmart gunman is a 21-year-old white supremacist, named Patrick Crusius; who posted a racist manifesto. In it Crusius allegedly wrote, he expressed support for the Christchurch, New Zealand, shooter and denounced the increasing Hispanic population in Texas. The depressing thing in American mass shootings is that, in a way this is the norm in most cities there. The El Paso Walmart gunman, 21-year-old Patrick Crusius, has posted a racist manifesto. In it Crusius allegedly wrote, he expressed support for the Christchurch, New Zealand, shooter and denounced the increasing Hispanic population in Texas.

4. Prior to he El Paso Walmart shooting, another mass shooting had occurred at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in California, on 28 Jul 2019. The gunman killed three people and wounded 17 others before committing suicide after a shootout with responding police officers. 19 year old Santino William Legan, was identified by authorities as the shooter. Police believe he acted alone.

5. In Florida, yet another white supremacist Richard D. Clayton, threatened a WalMart mass shooting in Aug 2019, shortly after the one in El Paso. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents arrested Clayton, 26, for written threats to kill or do bodily harm after a joint investigation.

 

[OPSSG]

Mass Shooting Discussion — Part 2

For those not familiar with some of the issues with US policies regarding illicit drugs, I have seen estimates where US authorities could seize & destroy ~90% of the drug product, and the sale of illegal drugs would still be a profitable business.

6. Thanks for sharing, I am always learning something from you. Gangs, drugs, mental health systems, easy access to guns and even the rise of white supremacists movements are a toxic brew in Trump’s America. The issue of adequate policing was present prior to Trump and will continue long after he is gone (but it’s just magnified under his polarising approach to race relations). Rather than leading, he is further polarising and empowering nut cases.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1155863775708405761

7. At the Brownsville (Brooklyn) mass shooting, a 20-year-old gang member, Kyle Williams confessed to being one of 2 shooters in a gun battle that killed one person and wounded 11 others after a chance encounter between rival groups during a festival held at a playground, police said.

There's been a shooting at a bowling alley in Illinois with 3 dead and 3 wounded. The police have taken the gunman into custody. No details have been released as to the reasoning for the attack.

This just illustrates the absolute stupidy and criminality of US gun legislation.

Shooting at Illinois bowling alley leaves 3 dead, 3 injured
Shooting at Illinois bowling alley leaves 3 dead, 3 injured - NZ Herald

8. A 37-year-old member of the military from Florida has been charged with the random shooting at an Illinois bowling alley that left three men dead and three people injured.

And as far as Defense issues go, an armed populace is a tremendous boon for the USA. It makes invasion & successful occupation of American territory an impossibility for an enemy power. "A gun behind every blade of grass", as some have noted, is a factual reality, and by comparison would make the Middle East seem like a vacation spot for an army of occupation.

9. Not sure how to react to your approach. With so many guns floating around, the US population is well prepared for a zombie apocalypse . But do we really want America to do better at mass shootings?