The 8-year-old Boston boy killed in the blasts near the Boston Marathon finish line had cheered on his marathon-running dad just moments before the euphoric scene plunged into tragedy as two explosions killed at least three and injured about 150.
Now, his father, William, is asking supporters to pray for the family.
“My wife and daughter are both recovering from serious injuries,” William Richard said. “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 privacy as we work to simultaneously grieve and recover. Thank you,” he added in a statement obtained by the Associated Press.
Martin Richard, of the Boston neighborhood of Dorchester, was killed Monday on the sidewalks of Boylston Street near Copley Square. His mother, Denise, and 6-year-old sister, Jane, suffered serious injuries, according to the Boston Globe.
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In the seconds before the blast, Martin exchanged a hug with his dad, William, as the father approached the finish line of the 26.2 mile race.
Dorchester residents gathered at a neighborhood restaurant Monday night in an outpouring of grief.
“They are beloved by this community,” City Councilor at Large Ayanna Pressley told the newspaper. “They contribute in many ways. That’s why you see this outpouring. It’s surreal, it’s tragic.”
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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