Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the accused Boston Marathon bomber, was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury on 30 counts, 17 of which call for the death penalty.
Four people died as a result of Tsarnaev’s alleged actions: three who were killed by the bombs at the marathon finish line and an MIT police officer who was shot and killed three days after the marathon. Scores of other people were maimed or wounded by Tsarnaev, said U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz.
Tsarnaev is also charged with using a weapon of mass destruction, carjacking, participating in a shootout with police, and severely wounding a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority officer.
Within the indictment was a confession Tsarnaev allegedly made while he hid in a boat four days after the bombings. According to the court documents, he stated, “I don’t like killing innocent people… [but] US Government is killing our innocent civilians. I can’t stand to see such evil go unpunished. We Muslims are one body, you hurt one, you hurt us all. Stop killing our innocent people, we will stop.”
The indictment, which is 56 pages long, states that the Tsarnaev brothers were preparing for the attack more than two months before the marathon by buying weapons and explosives while frequenting shooting ranges.
The indictment also claims Tsarnaev was visiting extremist jihad sites such as Defense of the Muslim Lands, the First Obligation After Imam and downloading information from them. Defense of the Muslim Lands was created by Abdullah Azzam, AKA “The Father of Global Jihad.” The indictment writes, “This publication advocates violence designed to terrorize the perceived enemies of Islam.”
The 30 charges are as follows:
1. Conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death
2. Use of a weapon of Mass destruction resulting in death; aiding and abetting: For the death of Krystle Campbell from the first bomb
3. Posession and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence resulting in death; aiding and abetting: For the death of Krystle Campbell
4. Use of a weapon of Mass destruction resulting in death; aiding and abetting: For the death of Krystle Campbell: For the deaths of Lingzi Lu and Martin Richard from the second bomb
5. Posession and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence resulting in death; aiding and abetting: For the deaths of Lingzi Lu and Martin Richard
6. Conspiracy to bomb a place of public use resulting in death
7. Bombing of a place of public use resulting in death; aiding and abetting: For the death of Krystle Campbell
8. Possession and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence resulting in death; aiding and abetting: For the death of Krystle Campbell
9. Bombing of a place of public use resulting in death; aiding and abetting: For the deaths of Lingzi Lu and Martin Richard
10. Possession and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence resulting in death; aiding and abetting: For the deaths of Lingzi Lu and Martin Richard
11. Conspiracy to maliciously destroy property resulting in personal injury and death: Offense resulted in injuries to ‘many persons who were participating in, viewing, and passing by the Boston Marathon’ as well as the four victims who died
12. Malicious destruction of property resulting in personal injury and death; aiding and abetting: For the death of Krystle Campbell
13. Possession and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence resulting in death; aiding and abetting: For the death of Krystle Campbell
14. Malicious destruction of property resulting in personal injury and death; aiding and abetting: For the deaths of Lingzi Lu and Martin Richard
15. Possession and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence resulting in death; aiding and abetting: For the deaths of Lingzi Lu and Martin Richard
16 – 18. Possession and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence resulting in death; aiding and abetting: For the death of Officer Sean Collier
19. Carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury; aiding and abetting: Injuries to Officer Richard Donohue
20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30. Possession and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence: For when the brothers allegedly brandished firearms in shootout
21. Interference with commerce by threats and violence; aiding and abetting: When the brothers allegedly made a hostage give them $800
23, 25, 27, 29. Use of a weapon of mass destruction; aiding and abetting: When brothers allegedly let off bombs in front of officers
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