Scene from Watertown
Credit: Getty Images
State and Federal authorities revealed new details about the events leading up to the capture of Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev, 19, of Cambridge, the second suspect wanted for Monday’s Boston Marathon bombings.
Boston Police Commisioner Ed Davis confirmed that a homeowner in Watertown called police after spotting a trail of blood in his yard, and then lifting a tarp and spotting the suspect in a boat in storage in the yard.
Davis said Tsarnaev did not have explosives on him at the time of his arrest but that based on events leading up to the arrest, authorities proceeded under the belief that he did.
Davis said more than 2,000 rounds were fired and the suspects threw improvised explosive devices and homemade hand grenades at police during a shootout Thursday night.
“This is the stuff that’s almost unheard of,” Davis said.
Other officials weighed in on the intense investigation that took place over the past four days.
“We’re exhausted folks, but we have victory here tonight,” said Colonel Timothy Alben of the Massachusetts State Police. “But let’s not forget those people along the way.”
Mayor Thomas Menino said “the people of Greater Boston will be able to sleep tonight.”
Gov. Deval Patrick echoed Menino in saying that Boston can now “rest easy.”
Crows applaude the law enforcement officials after the suspect was taken into custody.
Credit: Nicolaus Czarnecki/Metro
President Barack Obama addressed the nation following the attack, crediting the people of Boston for helping to capture the suspects. [embedgallery id=137975]
“Our nation is in debt to the people of Boston,” he said. “Bostonians responded with resolve and determination. The Boston Police Department and state and local police responded with professionalism and bravery over five long days.”
Obama promised the nation would get answers to the many questions associated with the bombings.
“Obviously tonight there are still many unanswered questions, among them why did a young man who grew up and studied here … resort to such violence,” he said. “The family of those killed deserve answers, the wouned, some who have to learn how to stand up and walk again, deserve answers.”
Obama also recognized the roller coaster ride that the City of Boston has undergone in the past five days.
“All in all this has been a tough week but we’ve seen the character of our country once more.”
