How Digital Media Can Help with the Boston Marathon Blasts

What was supposed to be a peaceful event and celebration held last Monday in the city of Boston turned out to be a scene of bloody chaos and destruction.  Two bombs went off near the marathon’s finish line, injuring many and killing at least three. Over 40 people are reported to being, still, in critical condition.

Massachusetts Representative Bill Keating, a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, said in an interview with CNN that the bombing was a “sophisticated, coordinated, planned attack”. CNN also reported that federal authorities have already classified the blasts as terrorist attacks, although origins of the perpetrators remain unknown.

Nevertheless, President Obama issued a statement after the blasts occurred. The president assured the public that the government will do everything to get to the bottom of it. The president also declared that “any responsible individuals, any responsible groups will feel the full weight of justice”.

Boston Police Asking for More Blast Videos

As part of the on-going investigation, the Boston Police Department, via its official Twitter account, is asking the public for videos taken from the finish line right after the explosions. Numerous photos and videos of the blasts have already surfaced online. But despite the possible confusion these digital media can create, the Boston Police is asking for more.

It seems that the police are trying to piece together what exactly happened by looking at photos and videos taken by those at the scene. In other words, the police are seeking justice by using different digital media captured by different mobile devices like cameras and business phones (read more) from different vantage points. By employing such investigative means, the police may be able to find out who’s actually responsible for the blasts that rocked not just the city of Boston but also the entire nation.

Digital Media as Incriminating Evidence

It’s no secret that digital media have played a major role in solving crimes. In fact, a video could be the most incriminating piece of evidence in any investigation or trial. There’s no way a suspect can deny any allegations of crime if everything’s been caught on tape. That’s why a lot of home, shop, and business owners are installing closed circuit TVs and security cameras in and around premises.

The public has seen how felons have been found guilty and punished by the law due to incriminating videos and photos. Probably one of the most shocking cases is the Florida woman who allegedly hired a hitman to kill her husband. 30-year old Dalia Dippolito is currently facing charges of solicitation to first degree murder after a sting operation showed Dalia trying to hire a hitman to kill her husband. The hitman was apparently an undercover cop who’s part of the operation.

Then there’s the case of the two young football stars from Steubenville, Ohio. Ma’lik Richmond, 16 and Trent Mays, 17, who were found guilty of rape after incriminating photos and videos of the two together with their rape victim were posted in the social media. Hacktivist group Anonymous got as much online information as it could, which proved to be easy since both Richmond and Mays, including their high school friends, voluntarily posted and even bragged about it in their social media accounts. With Anonymous publicizing the events online, the rapists were eventually tracked down. A trail soon followed and a conviction was finally made.

The Boston Police, like the US government, are determined to look for whoever is behind the senseless attacks and bring them to justice. And the answers may be somewhere in the videos or photos.