Boston Bombing Suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Makes First Public Appearance, Pleads 'Not Guilty'
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the 19-year-old accused of killing three and injuring over 260 at the Boston Marathon bombings in April, made his first public appearance in federal court on Wednesday when he pleaded "not guilty" to all charges against him.
Although Tsarnaev's arraignment only last seven minutes, the courtroom was full with victims and families who had lost loved ones in the bombings. Many others attended the hearing by gathering outside the court house hoping to get a glimpse at Tsarnaev.
All of those in attendance at Wednesday's court proceedings, including police officers, the public, victims, families of the deceased, and the media were strictly warned by a federal marshal regarding any potential outbursts.
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The most serious of Tsarnaev's charges include using a weapon of mass destruction, as well as crimes he committed when fleeing police with his deceased brother, Tamerlan, including the death of MIT police officer Sean Collier, who was shot by the brothers.
Tsarnaev pleaded "not guilty" to all charges in today's court proceedings. He is charged with 30 counts of using a weapon of mass destruction in the two 15 April blasts that killed three, including an eight-year-old boy. Prosecutors could press for the death penalty for 17 counts.
"Overall sense I'm left with was of a fidgety young man who, to my eye, almost appeared medicated. He looked drowsy," Jim Armstrong from Boston's WBZ TV tweeted.
Armstrong also reported that Tsarnaev had a cast on his left arm which seemed to also cover his wrist, and his face appeared to have an injury to it, although Armstrong could not get close enough to discern what the injury was.
According to The Associated Press, Tsarnaev's two sisters were in attendance at Wednesday's hearing, and the 19-year-old suspect, wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, reportedly blew a kiss to his family members as he left the court room.
One of the family members sobbed audibly while the other held a baby as they watched proceedings.
Tsarnaev is being accused of setting off pressure cooker bombs near the finish line of the April 15 Boston Marathon in Boston, Mass. that resulted in dozens of victims, including marathon runners and spectators, with many losing their legs, as well as the death of Martin Richard, 8; Krystle Marie Campbell, 29; and Lingzi Lu, 23.
Tsarnaev and his brother then went on the run, but as police closed in they engaged in a violent gun battle that resulted in the death of Tamerlan.
The younger Tsarnaev brother managed to escape that incident, but was found later that night hiding in a boat in the yard of a suburban Massachusetts home.
