NEW YORK
A federal jury in the trial of Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev found him guilty Wednesday of all 30 charges against him, 17 of which may carry the death penalty.
After two days of deliberations the jury in Boston decided that the 21-year-old was behind the April 2013 attack that killed three people and injured more than 260 victims.
The charges include plotting to use a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death and bombing a public place, among others.
The jury will now begin hearing evidence to decide whether to sentence Tsarnaev to death or a life sentence.
The trial's next phase could start as early as Monday.
The attack, which was conducted with a pair of homemade bombs using pressure cookers, took place a short distance from the finish line of the Boston Marathon, one of the world’s most prestigious road races.
It was the deadliest act of terrorism on U.S. soil since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
"In today’s verdict, we hope to turn another page in the recovery and healing of our community," Massachusetts State Police Col.Timothy P. Alben said in a statement on Facebook. "We are hopeful that in justice, those that have been injured may find some sense of peace."
Tsarnaev's lawyers admitted he played a role in the bombings, but said his older brother, Tamerlan, masterminded the attack.
The defendant was also found responsible for the death of a police officer who was fatally shot following the attack while the brothers were trying to escape.
Tamerlan was killed during a shootout with police April 19.
The brothers, ethnic Chechens, migrated to the U.S. from Russia more than a decade ago.
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