What you’re about to see is real life. These aren’t stills from a movie set, or shots from an action film.
DETAILS: Boston Bombing Suspect, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, Charged!
Instead, these insane photographs, captured by Andrew Kitzenberg, a resident in Watertown, show the last moments of the incredible standoff between the Boston bombing brothers and law enforcement officers.
The photographer, who lived on a third-floor apartment overlooking the gunfight, watched the unbelievable scene play out right in front of his own eyes.
“I was in my living room working on my computer when I heard multiple ‘pops’ coming from outside,” he recalled. “At that point, I had no idea that I was about to become an eye witness to the biggest news story in the country,” said Andrew Kitzenberg.
“When I looked outside my window, I could clearly see two people (the Tsarnaev brothers) taking cover behind an SUV and engaging in gunfire.”
To shield himself from the bullets, he ran to the third floor of the home to seek shelter.
“As I ran into my room, overwhelmed by shock, adrenaline, and curiosity, I jumped onto my bed to stay below the windows but also have a clear view at the shooters and photograph the event,” he said.
What he saw would be integral in the case against Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
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Bombs. Gunfire. Smoke. The scene was bananas.
1. In this first photo that Kitzenberg captured, the Tsarnaev Brothers take cover behind the black Mercedes SUV they carjacked. At this point, they are shooting towards Watertown Police officers. (Taken at 12:46:11AM)
2. In this photograph, a red circle highlights the pressure cooker bomb that was used to distract officers.
3. Once it was detonated, Tamerlan raced towards the officers, while still shooting. The officers took him down. It is unclear if they shot or tackled him.
4. Kitzenberg also photographed Dzhokhar as he got in the vehicle and sped off towards the officers. (Taken 12:50:57AM)
5. Black circles mark the exact spots where the pressure cooker bombs detonated. Police secure and investigate the scene at about 2:14 AM.
6. In the end, there were no other bombs found. But Kitzenberg’s car took some hits (the bullets knocked out his windshield)
7. and his desk chair even suffered some (a bullet went straight through his home).
We’re just glad he’s OK!
For a more in depth look at Kitzenberg’s harrowing experience, check out his blog where he details every moment.
