Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Chechen, alleged perpetrator of the terrorist attack at the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013. Date of Birth: 22.07.1993 Country: USA

Biography of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, a Chechen, is the suspected perpetrator of the terrorist attack at the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013. It has been almost two years since the horrific bombing took place, and the fate of the only surviving suspect is still being determined. Tsarnaev could potentially face the death penalty for his alleged involvement in the attack, although his exact role in the incident is still unclear. He was born in Kyrgyzstan and later moved to Russia before ultimately settling in the United States with his family. The Tsarnaevs became permanent residents of the US in March 2007. Tsarnaev became a naturalized citizen on September 11, 2012, while he was a college student. Interestingly, his brother Tamerlan was unable to obtain citizenship due to an ongoing investigation.

In school, Tsarnaev was involved in wrestling and even led his high school wrestling team. It is also known that he worked as a lifeguard at Harvard University. He graduated from high school in 2011 and was awarded a scholarship of $2,500 by the city. Shortly after, he enrolled at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where he specialized in marine biology with plans to become a dentist in the future. Other students described Tsarnaev as a normal and popular guy who did not discuss politics with friends.

In 2012, the police investigated Tsarnaev's car in relation to a complaint about underage drinking, but this was the extent of his encounters with the authorities. At the time of the marathon bombing, Tsarnaev was still a university student living in a dormitory. It is not yet clear what he was doing on the day of the attack. However, it is known that he returned to the university on April 15 and continued his daily routine until his photographs were published on April 18. Friends did not notice anything unusual in his behavior during those three days. It is believed that on April 18, Tsarnaev and his brother killed MIT police officer Sean Collier on campus before fleeing to the Boston suburb of Allston, where they carjacked a vehicle. Thankfully, the owner managed to escape at a gas station and called the police. The car was then tracked using the owner's cell phone and anti-theft device. The Tsarnaev brothers were arrested on April 19. According to police testimony, Tsarnaev attempted to escape in the stolen car, running over his own brother in the process. He abandoned the vehicle half a mile away from the confrontation and continued to flee on foot. Tsarnaev attempted to hide in a boat in a stranger's backyard, but the boat's owner noticed him and called the police. Tsarnaev sustained various injuries during his escape, including a head injury and multiple gunshot wounds. On April 26, he was transferred to a specialized prison for male inmates in need of serious medical assistance.

On April 22, 2013, Tsarnaev was charged with "using a weapon of mass destruction, resulting in death" and "malicious destruction of property, resulting in death." These were just a fraction of the 30 charges he faced. Due to the total number of charges, Tsarnaev could potentially be sentenced to death. According to authorities, the religious motive behind the attack was evident, although they were unable to link the Tsarnaev brothers to any specific Islamic extremist organizations. Additionally, during initial interrogations, Tsarnaev confessed to organizing the bombings and cited his extremist Islamic views and dissatisfaction with US actions in Iraq and Afghanistan as his main motivations. It was reported that the next target for the Tsarnaev brothers was planned to be Times Square in New York City.

To this day, there is no concrete evidence linking Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to jihadist sympathizers. There are reasons to believe that, unlike his brother, he was never a true radical. Psychologically, Tsarnaev resembles more of a common criminal than a committed terrorist. He appeared in court for the first time on July 10, 2013, and pleaded not guilty to all 30 charges.

In August 2013, the magazine Rolling Stone published an article about Tsarnaev, and he even appeared on the magazine cover. The magazine faced significant backlash for this publication, with critics accusing them of glorifying the terrorist and potentially inspiring others to commit similar acts. Some newsstands refused to carry the magazine as a result. In December 2013, the controversial cover was recognized by AdWeek, which doubled the sales of the issue.

On January 30, 2014, Attorney General Eric Holder announced the federal government's intention to seek the death penalty for Tsarnaev, but the defense rejected any deals with the prosecution.

On January 5, 2015, the trial began, and Tsarnaev once again pleaded not guilty to all 30 charges. His fate now rests in the hands of the jury. The impression he makes on the jurors could be crucial, as it played a significant role in the case of Erik and Lyle Menendez, who avoided the death penalty by creating a sympathetic image. Tsarnaev's demeanor, such as not making eye contact, may be interpreted negatively by some jurors. Expert analysis suggests that this behavior is due to cultural differences, as direct eye contact is considered disrespectful in some Muslim and African-American communities. Unfortunately, in Tsarnaev's case, these cultural differences may work against him. Whether his lawyers can teach him to behave differently or, even better, to dress in a more favorable manner, such as wearing a white shirt, remains to be seen.