The grim events at the Boston Marathon was cast an even darker shadow when it was revealed that one of the victims that died at the annual event was an 8-year-old, Martin Richard.

Richard was identified as the youngest of the three victims who died when two bombs exploded 12 seconds apart at the Patriots Day event on Monday. The first occurred near the finish line at approximately 2:50 p.m. Richard died when he stepped off the sidewalk to greet his father Bill Richard - a marathon runner and local community leader - as he was heading toward the finish line, according to a report.

Richard's mother, Denise Richard, and 6-year-old sister were critically injured in the blast. Denise underwent surgery for an injury to her brain and Martin's younger sister lost a leg, according to TV station WHDH. Martin was a third-grader who lived with his family in Dorchester, Boston's largest area. Bill is a respected community leader in the Ashmont section of Dorchester.

"They are beloved by this community," said City Councilor at Large Ayanna Pressley told Boston Globe. "They contribute in many ways. That's why you see this outpouring. It's surreal, it's tragic.''

Two bombs placed inside of garbage cans went off at the 117th annual Boston Marathon on April 15. The first went off near the finish line 4 hours and 10 minutes into the race, and the second blasted 12 seconds later, 550 feet apart. So far, over 140 people are confirmed injured and were rushed to area hospitals and treated at makeshift medical centers at the race, according to reports. Some of the runners lost their limbs and had to be amputated, including a 5-year-old girl who lost both of her legs, ABC News reported. One marathon runner lost both of his legs and was wheeled away calmly as his family surrounded him and were crying, according to New York Daily News.

President Obama addressed the nation during a live televised press conference at 6:10 p.m. on Monday.

"We will find out who did this; we'll find out why they did this," said the president from the White House. "Any responsible individuals, any respon­sible groups will feel the full weight of justice."

Several arrests were made as a federal investigation went underway in the wake of what the FBI has deemed a "an act of terrorism" but no suspects have been named. On Tuesday, an apartment was searched and possible evidence was taken away by federal and local investigators, according to Boston's CBS News.

"Any event with multiple explo­sive devices, as this ­appears to be, is clearly an act of terror, and will be ­approached as an act of terror," a White House official said. "We don't yet know who carried out this attack, and a thorough inves­tigation will have to determine whether it was planned and carried out by a terrorist group, foreign or domestic."

The Boston Marathon bombing is even more disheartening because this year's fete was dedicated to the victims of the Sandy Hook school shooting. Several family members of the victims in the shooting were sitting in the VIP section near the finish line where the first explosion went off, according to reports.

Watch the news report om Martin Richard here: WHDH-TV 7News Boston

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Boston Marathon Bombing