After deliberating for 11 hours over two day, Boston-area jurors on Wednesday unanimously found Dzhokhar Tsarnaev guilty of all 30 charges stemming from the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.
Tsarnaev faces the death penalty since 17 of the 30 guilty charges are considered capital crimes. The jury - made up of seven women and five men - will decide on a sentence April 13.
The somber courtroom was in stark contrast to sentiment shared by social media users. Some reflected on the last two years while others weighed a proper punishment.
#Tsarnaev Denise Richard wiped at tears after hearing guilty 30x. She was maimed, her little boy killed. her daughter lost leg
— Michele McPhee (@MicheleMcPhee) April 8, 2015
That guilty verdict was for you Sean Collier. I miss you buddy. ♡ #BostonStrong #Tsarnaev #BostonBombing — Alex (@YourYakiri) April 8, 2015
Breaking - As the guilty counts come in, Sugar Heaven on Boylston Street reaffirms we are #bostonstrong. #fox25 pic.twitter.com/p933X24K89
— Joe C (@itsthejoeshow) April 8, 2015
#BostonBombing #BostonStrong It's hard, but we need 2 study #Tsarnaev 2 understand how are terrorists is made. Killing him is 2 easy — Monica (@DrG031) April 8, 2015
#Tsarnaev should get death penalty, there's no point to keep him locked up for the next 50+ years
— James Rowe (@SirStackAlot707) April 8, 2015
@edshow #Tsarnaev .No to execution. We need to join the rest of the civilized world. — Mary Humphrey (@adline353) April 8, 2015
Heather Abbott, one of the victims who lost her below the knee, was among the first to react. "Nothing can ever replace the lives that were lost or changed forever, but at least there is some relief in knowing that justice is served and responsibility will be taken," Abbott said. She thanked supporter for all their encouragement since the April 15, 2013 terrorist attack.
Jeff Bauman, who lost both of his legs in first of two Boylston Street explosions, shared similar sentiment. "Today's verdict will never replace the lives that were lost and so dramatically changed, but it is a relief, and one step closer to closure," Bauman posted on Facebook.
Tsarnaev and his brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev planned a bombing that killed three people and injured 260 others. While on the run, they also murdered MIT police officer Sean Collier. Following the guilty verdicts, Collier's family released a written statement in remembrance of their brother and son.
"While today's verdict can never bring Sean back, we are thankful that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev will be held accountable for the evil that he brought to so many families. The strength and bond that everyone has shown during these last two years proves that if these terrorist thought that they would somehow strike fear in the hearts of people, they monumentally failed."
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