The film concludes with the successful manhunt and capture of the second perpetrator, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. After being discovered hiding in a dry-docked boat in a Watertown backyard by a local resident, he is surrounded by law enforcement. A tense standoff, involving the use of thermal imaging and flash-bang grenades, results in his surrender after he is wounded.
This final sequence of events is depicted after the death of his older brother, Tamerlan, during a violent shootout with police several hours earlier. The city-wide lockdown, or "shelter-in-place" order, is lifted just before a resident notices a strap on his boat's shrink-wrap cover has been cut. Upon investigation, he sees blood and the suspect inside, prompting him to call 911. The film details the tactical police operation, using advanced technology to confirm the suspect's location before moving in to secure his apprehension without further loss of life.
Following the dramatic capture, the film transitions to a documentary-style epilogue. This concluding segment features real-life footage and interviews with the actual survivors, first responders, and investigators whose stories were portrayed. It highlights their recovery, pays tribute to the victims who lost their lives, and underscores the theme of community resilience embodied by the "Boston Strong" movement, ending on a note of remembrance and civic unity.
