Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev: The Boston Bombing Brothers

Dzhokhar Anzorovich “Jahar” Tsarnaev was born July 22, 1993. His older brother, Tamerlan Anzorivich Tsarnaev came into this world October 21, 1986. On April 19, 2013; Dzhokhar witnessed his brother’s death when bullets riddled his body.
Four days before, the Tsarnaev brothers were suspected in the Boston Marathon Bombings which killed 3 people and injured as many as 264 others, according to Wikipedia. Within days, the FBI had released images of these brothers. Hours later, Dzhokhar and Tamerlan allegedly killed a police officer at MIT, stole a vehicle, and took part in a shootout in Watertown (where Tamerlan’s life came to an end). Dzhokhar escaped, with injury, but was found hiding inside a boat in the backyard of a home after a 20-block manhunt ensued. On April 22, 2013; Dzhokhar was charged with conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death and malicious destruction of property resulting in death. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.

The brothers were born in different republics of the Soviet Union. Their father was Chechen and their mother Avar. Born into a Muslim family, their father did not believe in religious extremism. Despite this factor, Tamerlan is believed to have been a follower of radical Islam. Dzhokhar reportedly made statements that radicalization had occurred when the brothers began following Anwar al-Awlaki lectures. The supposed reason for the bombing was due to the brothers’ self-proclaimed status as jihadists who acted in defense of Islam.

Allegations have been made since the bombings that Tamerlan was involved in a triple homicide in 2011. In May of 2013, forensic evidence is said to have placed both of the brothers at the scene where three Jewish men (Brendan Mess, Erik Weismann and Raphael Teken) were killed. Cell phone records for the brothers have also placed them in the area. Each of the victim’s throat was slit nearly to the point of decapitation. Since money and drugs were found at the scene of the crime, authorities believed from the beginning that the murderer and at least one of the victims were familiar with each other.