Terror suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was charged on Monday with two federal counts of using a weapon of mass destruction to kill, injure and cause widespread damage at the Boston Marathon a week ago. If convicted, the 19-year-old could face the death penalty.
Three people were killed and more than 200 others wounded when two powerful homemade bombs exploded near the race’s finish line.
The bed-ridden Tsarnaev was informed of the charges and read his rights in his hospital room Monday morning. The college student is in serious condition at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where he is under heavy police guard.
Tsarnaev, who is sedated an unable to speak, suffered apparent gunshot wounds to the head, neck, hand and legs during firefights with police before his capture Friday night, authorities said. His older brother Tamerlan Tsanraev, who investigators say was part of the terror attack, died in a firefight with police during their escape attempt.
In a 10-page criminal complaint against Dzhokhar, an FBI agent says investigators have overwhelming photographic evidence showing the brothers placing two backpack bombs among the crowd at the race finish.
A large pyrotechnic and clothing Dzhokhar wore during the terror attack was later found in his dorm room at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, according to the charges.
Investigators allege the Tsanraev brothers began preparing for an apparent escape attempt just hours after the FBI sought the public’s help by releasing photos of them at bombing scene.
Shortly before midnight Thursday one of the brothers carjacked a man at gunpoint, according to the criminal complaint.
“Did you hear about the Boston explosion?” the complaint alleges the carjacker said. “I did that.”
Tsarnaev remains in serious condition at hospital, FBI says.
The complaint goes on to allege that the brothers threw improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at patrol officers who spotted them in the stolen car and gave chase. Bomb-making materials similar to what was recovered in the marathon aftermath were later found inside the abandoned getaway car, according to the charges.
