The keyword phrase "Patriots Day Dzhokhar Tsarnaev" primarily functions as a proper noun phrase. Individually, "Patriots Day" is a compound proper noun referring to a specific public holiday, and "Dzhokhar Tsarnaev" is a proper noun identifying an individual. Together, the phrase concisely points to the terrorist attack known as the Boston Marathon bombing, which occurred on Patriots' Day and was perpetrated by Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and his brother.
This phrase directly references the events of April 15, 2013, when two pressure-cooker bombs detonated near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Patriots' Day is a holiday observed in Massachusetts and Maine, commemorating the Battles of Lexington and Concord, significant events in the American Revolutionary War. The Boston Marathon, a major annual event, traditionally takes place on this day. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, along with his older brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev, planted and detonated these improvised explosive devices, resulting in the deaths of three spectators and the injury of hundreds more, including many who suffered life-altering amputations. A subsequent manhunt led to a shootout in Watertown, Massachusetts, where Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed, and Dzhokhar was later apprehended while hiding in a boat. He was subsequently convicted on 30 federal charges, including use of a weapon of mass destruction, and sentenced to death, a sentence that remains under legal review.
Therefore, "Patriots Day Dzhokhar Tsarnaev" encapsulates a pivotal moment of domestic terrorism in the United States, linking the perpetrator directly to the date and context of a tragic event that profoundly affected victims, the city of Boston, and national discourse on security. It serves as a stark historical marker, emphasizing the intersection of a regional civic celebration with an act of violence that garnered international attention and resulted in significant legal and societal repercussions.
