Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Suspect Indicted For Boston Marathon Bombing: "I Don't Like Killing Innocent People"
By
John Del Signore
Published Jun 27, 2013
Modified Jun 27, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Jun 27, 2013
Modified Jun 27, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A Federal grand jury has indicted surviving Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev. A press conference is scheduled for 3 p.m. in Boston to discuss the indictment, which charges Tsarnaev on 30 counts, including use of a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death, bombing of a place of public use resulting in death, malicious destruction of property resulting in death, and conspiracy. Seventeen of the charges are punishable by death.
The 74-page indictment contains additional details about the bombing plot and its aftermath. In it, Tsarnaev is accused of learning how to make the pressure cooker bombs used in the bombings from an Al-Qaeda magazine called “Inspire.’’ Tsarnaev and his brother Tamerlan, who died during a shootout with police days after the bombing, obtained materials to make the bombs from a fireworks store in New Hampshire, where Tamerlan Tsarnaev purchased 48 mortars. Their two bombs killed three and injured more than 260.
The indictment alleges that Dzhokhar left a confession in the boat where he was captured in a Watertown back yard after a harrowing manhunt. In it, he allegedly wrote, "I don’t like killing innocent people... The 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."
And the indictment also confirms speculation that Dzhokhar was at least partly responsible for his brother's death:
On April 19, 2013, at approximately 12:50 a.m., after attempting to shoot, bomb, and kill or disable the law enforcement officers who were trying to apprehend them, Tamerlan Tsarnaev was tackled by three Watertown police officers — Sergeant Jeffrey Pugliese, Sergeant John MacLellan, and Officer John Reynolds — and struggled with them as they tried to handcuff him. DZHOKHAR A. TSARNAEV reentered the Mercedes and drove it directly at the three police officers.
When DZHOKHAR A. TSARNAEV drove the Mercedes at the three police officers, he barely missed Sergeant Jeffrey Pugliese, who was attempting to drag Tamerlan Tsarnaev to safety. Then DZHOKHAR A. TSARNAEV ran over Tamerlan Tsarnaev, seriously injuring him and contributing to his death.
You can read a full copy of the indictment and the criminal complaint here. The indictment hearing is expected to start at 3 p.m.; you can watch the livestream here.
Tagged
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev
boston marathon
terrorism
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Man shot and killed on Midtown subway platform Saturday afternoon, NYPD says
Police said they're searching for a person of interest.
By
Ryan Kost
and
Elizabeth Kim
Published Oct 17, 2026 at 1:16 p.m. ET
Modified Oct 17, 2026 at 4:10 p.m. ET
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
News
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans, but we could get used to this.
By
Catalina Gonella
Tompkins Square Park is getting a makeover. Some say it's too much.
By
Willow Higgins
Deer are all over New Jersey roads looking for sex, state officials warn
By
Rosemary Misdary
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .