Federal prosecutors said Thursday that they will seek the death penalty for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the man accused of the Boston Marathon bombings in April 2013. Now survivors and Tsarnaev’s great-uncle are reacting to the news.
Tsarnaev, 20, is facing 30 federal charges in connection with the bombings, which left three dead and over 260 injured. U.S. Attorney Eric Holder said Thursday that federal prosecutors will seek the death penalty. “The nature of the conduct at issue and the resultant harm compel this decision,” Holder said.
As the New York Daily News, several who sustained injuries spoke with local Boston media outlets about their feelings that Tsarnaev could be put to death.
“I prefer people know that if you terrorize our country, you're going to be put to death,” Marc Fucarile, who lost part of his right leg, told WCVB. He later added, “I think what he did to a lot of people that day, especially the ones that he killed, I think he deserves it.”
“Today is step number one I really think this is an important step,” Liz Norden, whose sons lost legs, told WHDH.
Meanwhile, Dzhamal Tsarnaev, Tsarnaev’s great uncle, spoke with The Boston Globe, saying that Tsarnaev is innocent.
“There is no real evidence against Dzhokhar. The whole world knows that he is innocent,” he said, adding that his parents are in “complete disbelief.”
image: FBI.gov