Police describe battling bombers in escape try

Associated Press

BOSTON

Three police officers Monday described an onslaught of gunfire and bombs thrown during a violent confrontation with the Boston Marathon bombers days after the deadly attack and one suspect’s furious escape in a stolen car that ended with him dragging his brother’s body through the street.

The testimony by Watertown officers came hours after jurors in the federal death-penalty trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev went to see the bullet-ridden boat he was found hiding in the evening of April 19, 2013.

Earlier that day, shortly after midnight, one officer spotted a carjacked Mercedes SUV on a quiet residential street. That set off a frenzied clash in which Dzhokhar and his older brother, Tamerlan, hurled explosives at police, including two pipe bombs and one pressure-cooker bomb similar to those used near the marathon finish line that killed three people and injured more than 260 others, the officers testified.

Joseph Reynolds, the first officer at the scene, said he “locked eyes” with the SUV driver, who later was identified as Tamerlan Tsarnaev. Reynolds said Tamerlan got out of the car and began firing at him.

The shots continued as other officers began to arrive, Reynolds said.

He saw a wick and a lighter and then watched as an object flew through the air, landed in the street and exploded, he said, shaking him to his knees.

Sgt. Jeffrey Pugliese said he cut through backyards to get closer to the bombers, and he eventually could see their feet illuminated by car headlights. He said he aimed at the ground near their feet in the hope that the bullets would ricochet into their ankles.

But Tamerlan saw him and came charging up the street, firing at him, said Pugliese, who fired back.

But Tamerlan had a problem with his pistol, the officer said.

Pugliese said Tamerlan began to run away, but he tackled him. That’s when they saw the stolen car speeding toward them with Dzhokhar behind the wheel, Pugliese said.

Dzhokhar ran over his brother and dragged his body 25 to 30 feet, Pugliese said.

After a massive manhunt and door-to-door search, Dzhokhar was found hiding in a boat in a backyard.