Jury Sentences Dzohkzar Tsarnaev to Death for Boston Marathon Bombing

Updated at 4:02 p.m., May 15, 2015

Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was sentenced to death for the 2013 bombings that killed three people and injured 250 more. He also killed a police officer in the ensuing manhunt.

The jury’s decision was unanimous. Jurors deliberated for about 14 hours.

Tsarnaev, 21, and his brother, Tamerlan, planted homemade explosives at the finish line of the marathon on April 15, 2013. The blasts killed Martin Richard, 8, of Dorchester; Lingzi Lu, 23, of Boston; and Krystle Campbell, 29, of Medford. The Tsarnaev brothers also killed MIT police officer Sean Collier, 27, in the ensuing manhunt.

Attorney General Loretta Lynch released this statement after the verdict:

“We know all too well that no verdict can heal the souls of those who lost loved ones, nor the minds and bodies of those who suffered life-changing injuries from this cowardly attack. But the ultimate penalty is a fitting punishment for this horrific crime and we hope that the completion of this prosecution will bring some measure of closure to the victims and their families. We thank the jurors for their service, the people of Boston for their vigilance, resilience and support and the law enforcement community in Boston and throughout the country for their important work.”

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh thanked the jurors and hoped that the verdict provided “a small amount of closure to the survivors, families, and all impacted by the violent and tragic events,” according to a statement.

“We will forever remember and honor those who lost their lives and were affected by those senseless acts of violence on our city,” he said. “Today, more than ever, we know that Boston is a city of hope, strength and resilience, that can overcome any challenge.”

Tsarnaev’s lawyers admitted he took part in the bombings but said he should be spared the death penalty because he was under the spell of his brother.

A recent Patch poll found 54 percent of respondents said Tsarnaev deserved the death penalty.

This is a developing story. Refresh the page for updates as they come in.

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