News outlets, beginning with the New York Times, have extensively covered reports from the past week regarding suspect Dhokhar Tsarnaev’s visit to an acquaintance’s residence in Admiral’s Hill approximately one month before the Marathon Bombing. The visit allegedly concluded with a fireworks display on the hills of the quiet waterfront development.
Junes Umanov, who lives in Admiral’s Hill and has maintained a long friendship with the Tsarnaev family, has spoken to numerous media outlets in recent days about the March 15th visit from Dhokhar.
According to Umanov, Tsarnaev—whom he has known since 2004—arrived on March 15th accompanied by a friend.
The three young men went to Five Guys restaurant located in the Mystic Mall, where they engaged in casual conversation about college while consuming burgers.
Once they finished eating, Tsarnaev brought out fireworks and suggested setting them off on Admiral’s Hill.
Umanov noted that they ignited pinwheels, Roman candles and other typical July 4th fireworks.
When the fireworks ran out, Tsarnaev and his companion departed.
The significance of Umanov’s account lies in investigators’ discovery that Tamarlan, Tsarnaev’s older brother, purchased fireworks in New Hampshire around the same period and may have attempted to extract powder from them to construct an explosive device.
Chelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes stated that his department received no complaints about fireworks being discharged during that time on Admiral’s Hill.