Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the 20-year Boston Marathon bombing suspect, suffered severe facial gunshot wounds prior to his capture on April 19th, according to newly released court documents cited by multiple sources.
Stephen Ray Odom, a trauma surgeon at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center who treated Tsarnaev, said, during testimony given April 22, the most serious injury sustained by the suspect was a gunshot that appeared to enter through the left inside of his mouth and exited through the lower left side of his face, according to a report by CNN.
“This was a high-powered injury that has resulted in a skull-base fracture, with injuries to the middle ear, the skull base, the lateral portion of his C1 vertebrae, with a significant soft-tissue injury, as well as injury to the pharynx, the mouth, and a small vascular injury that’s been treated,” said Odom.
The entry and exit points of Tsarnaev’s facial wounds suggest that the suspected bomber may have tried to commit suicide. Odom’s testimony, however, did not reveal if the wound was self-inflicted, according to CNN.
On April 24, the Washington Post, citing unnamed federal law enforcement officials, reported that Tsarnaev was unarmed when police fired on the boat where he was hiding.
Odom also revealed that Tsarnaev sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his lower extremities and left hand, NBC reports.
The transcript of Odom’s testimony, unsealed Monday, indicated that the surgeon was Tsarnaev’s attending physician in the days immediately after. Despite the extent of Tsarnaev’s injuries, Odom said the suspect was able to respond vocally to questions at the time of the April 22 hearing, according to NBC.
Tsarnaev is currently awaiting trial after pleading not guilty to 30 federal charges in July. If convicted, Tsarnaev faces the possibility of life in prison or the death penalty, according to CNN.
Dzhokhar and his brother Tarmelan Tsarnaev, who was killed in a shootout with police in Watertown, are accused to killing three and injuring more than 260 at the Boston Marathon. The brothers also allegedly shot and Killed MIT police Officer Sean Collier, according to the Boston Globe.
Photo via CNN report
