Crime & Safety

Runners, Bystanders Express Shock at Marathon Bombing

At this time, it doesn't appear any Peabody locals are among the casualties.

Three people were killed and another 140 bystanders were injured in Monday's bombing at the Boston Marathon. At this time, it doesn't appear that any Peabody locals were among the casualties.

Katrina Gravel, who was actually the first Peabody finisher of the race well before the first explosion occurred at 2:50 p.m., expressed her shock at the turn of events. "Praying for anyone that was in the vicinity of the blasts at the marathon. Cannot believe this," she wrote via Twitter.

Her parents, David and Cathy Gravel, tell the Salem News they were actually sitting in the bleachers to watch their daughter cross the line and left before the explosions.

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“I can’t believe it... We were sitting right there,” David Gravel told the paper.

Peabody resident Lisa Rizzo also told the Salem News she was in the bleachers when the first bomb exploded as she waited for her husband, Jerry, to finish the race -- he was still a half-mile away. She said it “sounded like a cannon went off.”

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Gino Fodero told Peabody Patch: "My family was there; I was leaving the Sox game when I found out -- scary."

Some local churches are holding special services in the wake of the tragedy. Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church in Danvers will hold a prayer service Tuesday at 7 p.m.

If you know of any other local services or events being held to support the victims in the bombing, share the details below in the comments section.


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