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| Martin Richard's father: 'pray for my family' after Boston marathon bombing | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The eight-year-old boy who was killed in the Boston Marathon bombings has been identified as Martin Richard. | The eight-year-old boy who was killed in the Boston Marathon bombings has been identified as Martin Richard. |
| A US congressman who is also a family friend said Martin was killed by the second bomb when the family were attempting to flee the first explosion. His mother and sister were also injured. | A US congressman who is also a family friend said Martin was killed by the second bomb when the family were attempting to flee the first explosion. His mother and sister were also injured. |
| His father, Bill Richard, who was not injured, released a statement on Tuesday. It read: | |
| My dear son Martin has died from injuries sustained in the attack on Boston. My wife and daughter are both recovering from serious injuries. We thank our family and friends, those we know and those we have never met, for their thoughts and prayers. I ask that you continue to pray for my family as we remember Martin. We also ask for your patience and for your privacy as we work to simultaneously grieve and recover. Thank you. | My dear son Martin has died from injuries sustained in the attack on Boston. My wife and daughter are both recovering from serious injuries. We thank our family and friends, those we know and those we have never met, for their thoughts and prayers. I ask that you continue to pray for my family as we remember Martin. We also ask for your patience and for your privacy as we work to simultaneously grieve and recover. Thank you. |
| The family live in Dorchester, a suburb around seven miles south of downtown Boston. | The family live in Dorchester, a suburb around seven miles south of downtown Boston. |
| Staff at Martin's former kindergarten described him as a "loving, caring" child on Tuesday. | Staff at Martin's former kindergarten described him as a "loving, caring" child on Tuesday. |
| Russ Wilson, regional director at the Pope John Paul II Catholic Academy in Dorchester, told the Guardian that Martin attended the school for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten. | Russ Wilson, regional director at the Pope John Paul II Catholic Academy in Dorchester, told the Guardian that Martin attended the school for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten. |
| "He was just a great little kid," Wilson said. "Always a smile, loving, caring, great enthusiasm for school, for learning, a very thoughtful little boy." | "He was just a great little kid," Wilson said. "Always a smile, loving, caring, great enthusiasm for school, for learning, a very thoughtful little boy." |
| Martin attended the school between the ages of four and five and left in June 2010. His older brother Henry also went to Pope John Paul II. "It's a tragedy. An absolute tragedy," Wilson said. | Martin attended the school between the ages of four and five and left in June 2010. His older brother Henry also went to Pope John Paul II. "It's a tragedy. An absolute tragedy," Wilson said. |
| US Representative Stephen Lynch, a friend of the family for 25 years, told the Associated Press that they were attempting to get over the race barriers and into the street when the second blast occurred, killing Martin. The boy's mother, Denise, and six-year-old sister, Jane, were badly injured. | US Representative Stephen Lynch, a friend of the family for 25 years, told the Associated Press that they were attempting to get over the race barriers and into the street when the second blast occurred, killing Martin. The boy's mother, Denise, and six-year-old sister, Jane, were badly injured. |
| Martin's father, Bill and older brother, Henry were not seriously injured. Lynch said doctors removed ball bearings from Bill Richard's leg. "Ball bearings are meant as anti-personnel munitions," he said. "They were trying to cause carnage here." | Martin's father, Bill and older brother, Henry were not seriously injured. Lynch said doctors removed ball bearings from Bill Richard's leg. "Ball bearings are meant as anti-personnel munitions," he said. "They were trying to cause carnage here." |
| On Tuesday morning, candles burned on the stoop of the family's single-family home in the city's Dorchester section, and "peace" was written in chalk on the front walkway. A child's bicycle helmet lay overturned on the front lawn. | On Tuesday morning, candles burned on the stoop of the family's single-family home in the city's Dorchester section, and "peace" was written in chalk on the front walkway. A child's bicycle helmet lay overturned on the front lawn. |
| The family worshiped at St Ann's church in the area. Jay Richards and his daughter Christina (who are not related to the Richard family) walked up to the church hand-in-hand on Tuesday. Christina had taken her first holy communion with Martin at the church last year. | The family worshiped at St Ann's church in the area. Jay Richards and his daughter Christina (who are not related to the Richard family) walked up to the church hand-in-hand on Tuesday. Christina had taken her first holy communion with Martin at the church last year. |
| "It's very sad. You never know how these things are going to affect you. This is certainly affecting us today," Jay Richards said. | "It's very sad. You never know how these things are going to affect you. This is certainly affecting us today," Jay Richards said. |
| Christina took religious education classes at the church with Martin each week, Richards said. He said the Richard family were "nice people, just like anyone else in the community". | Christina took religious education classes at the church with Martin each week, Richards said. He said the Richard family were "nice people, just like anyone else in the community". |
| The Richards sat for a while beside a statue next to the church before walking away. | The Richards sat for a while beside a statue next to the church before walking away. |
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