Marathon Bombing Survivors Relieved After Death Penalty Verdict
BOSTON (CBS) - Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was sentenced to death Friday afternoon.
Survivors of the April 15, 2013 attacks expressed relief after the verdict was read.
"My heart is with our entire survivor community," Adrianne Haslet-Davis tweeted. "I am thrilled with the verdict!"
Rebekah Gregory said she was "completely numb" and said her heart was her "Boylston Street family."
"I know that there is still a long road ahead," said Karen Brassard. "There is going to be many, many, many more days ahead, but right now it feels like we can take a breath and kind of actually breathe again."
"I don't think there are any winners today," said Liz Norden, whose son's were seriously injured in the bombings. "But there is justice."
"This is nothing to celebrate, this is a matter of justice," said Michael Ward, a firefighter who was off-duty when the bombs went off. "No one is here celebrating and if you ask ten people you'll get ten different answers."
"Ultimately justice has prevailed today," Ward continued. "His premeditated act to stand behind children, wait four and a half minutes with a fully loaded bomb and then to call his brother and tell him when to explode his bomb moments earlier. He wanted to get to hell and he is going to get there early."
"We are glad it's over and we can continue with our healing," said Celeste Corcoran.
"My mother and I think that NOW he will go away and we will be able to move on," Sydney Corcoran said. "Justice. In his own words, "an eye for an eye."
Heather Abbott released a statement on her Facebook page: "Today, my thoughts are with the other bombing survivors and the jury who made what was likely among the most difficult decisions of their lives. The verdict, regardless of which one it turned out to be, doesn't bring me peace. It brings sadness and cause to reflect, again, on just how senseless all of the deaths and injuries that resulting from this situation are."
"Some of us we was waiting for this, some other people were waiting for the opposite," said Carlos Arredondo, who helped save Jeff Bauman's life. "So it's just a lot of feelings through all of this, it's really hard to digest everything that's been happening."
"This seems like another burden that will drag on," Melida Arredondo said of the verdict. "Having talked to some people who are not here, they were looking for some closure today."
"I wanted it to be death, so I am happy there," O'Hara said. "My message is we that got to speed that appeal process. I don't think should be many appeals at all. He admitted that he had done it, or at least his attorneys admitted that, so I don't know what there is to appeal."
Watch: Reaction From Shane O'Hara
Sgt. Dic Donohue, who was injured in the Watertown shootout, was promoted on Friday. "Just over two years after the events that impacted us as a community and a nation, we can finally close this chapter in our lives," Donohue said. "The verdict, undoubtedly a difficult decision for the jury, gives me relief and closure as well as the ability to keep moving forward."
Andrew Collier, the brother of MIT Police Officer Sean Collier released a statement: "In my personal opinion, though I am against the death penalty justice was served today.
"For or against death, a jury of 12 men and women, who have seen and heard more evidence and testimony than anyone outside that courtroom, got together and all agreed with this verdict. These men and women deserve praise along with the judge, prosecutors, defense and court staff. They made our system work. The system Sean set out to protect and honor and that makes me proud.
"My heart continues to go out to all the victims, their family and friends and all that hold them up like my siblings, parents and wife do for me.
"It is National Peace Officers day. Thank a cop. Buy him or her dinner. Tell them to be safe. Let it keep things in perspective for you. I do that today in Sean's honor. Sean I love and miss you every day."
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Bernice Corpuz reports
