What Went Down?
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, an American terrorist of Chechen and Avar descent, was apprehended following the April 15, 2013, Boston Marathon bombing, an attack that killed three people and injured 264 others. Alongside his older brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, Dzhokhar planted pressure cooker bombs near the marathon’s finish line, leading to one of the most devastating terrorist attacks in modern U.S. history.
Following the bombing, the Tsarnaev brothers were identified as suspects by the FBI, which released their images to the public. During their attempt to flee, they killed MIT Police Officer Sean Collier and engaged in a violent shootout with law enforcement. Tamerlan was killed in the shootout, while Dzhokhar was injured but escaped. After a daylong manhunt, Dzhokhar was discovered hiding in a boat in Watertown, Massachusetts, and was taken into custody.
Dzhokhar confessed that he and his brother had additional plans to bomb Times Square in New York City. His radicalization and actions were influenced by extremist propaganda, including materials from Anwar al-Awlaki.
He was tried and convicted on 30 counts related to the bombing, the murder of Officer Collier, and other crimes. Initially sentenced to death, his sentence was vacated on appeal in 2020, but reinstated by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022. As of 2024, Tsarnaev remains on death row at the ADX Florence supermax prison in Colorado.
This case remains a stark reminder of the devastating effects of radicalization and domestic terrorism.
Details
- Mugshot Lookup: Dzhokhar “Jahar” Tsarnaev
- Date: April 19, 2013
- Location: Federal Bureau of Investigation custody
- Reason for Arrest: Boston Marathon bombing and related crimes
