The second of two suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing attack is still on the lam. His brother is dead, apparently in what looks like a “suicide by cop” fire fight with police.

Is the younger brother coming in alive? My guess is that he’s going to die, probably quite soon.

Some of my friends and acquaintances don’t want to spend taxpayer money to hold the guy, try him, convict him and then carry out whatever sentence is handed down. I disagree with that strongly.

The authorities need to keep this guy alive to (1) determine whether he actually did the deed, which now appears likely he did, (2) determine whether he had help from other sources not yet known and (3) why in the world would someone described as a “sweetheart,” an honor student and all-round good guy would commit such a heinous act.

Police are combing the area in and around Boston as I write these words. I pray that someone gets to the young man and persuades him to surrender.

My fear, though, is that he’ll act the way almost all madmen do and that police will carry him out feet first from his final hiding place.