Violent Tsarnev friend killed by FBI after blaming Tamerlan for unsolved murders

According to the FBI, Tamerlan Tsarnaev was a killer, long before he bombed the Boston Marathon. The revelation came after the FBI questioned, and killed, an alleged associate and fellow Chechen, Ibragim Todashev.

BOSTON, MA (Catholic Online) - Authorities seeking to learn if Tamerlan Tsarnaev was a "lone wolf" or part of a larger network of terrorists, learned something new as they questioned one of his former Chechen associates. They learned he participated in the killing of three men in 2011.

The FBI went to question Ibragim Todashev, who was known to associate closely with Tamerlan and Dzhokar Tsarnaev. Phone records indicate the men talked regularly. Todashev was granted political asylum in the United States from Chechnya in 2008, although they say he lived in the United States for some time previously.

According to the FBI, Todashev was preparing to make his way back to Chechnya via New York when FBI agents found him at his home and told him not to take the flight. They then began questioning him. 

During the questioning, Todashev admitted his role in the triple homicide of three men who he said were killed by himself and Tamerlan.

Until now, the murders were unsolved. In 2011, three men were found, throats deeply and fatally slashed from ear to ear. Their bodies were sprinkled with marijuana and thousands of dollars in cash were left lying about.

Investegators had no leads until they learned that one of the victims was a former sparring partner with Tsarnev. The investigation reopened, they discovered the link between Todashev and Tsarnev and moved in for questioning on Wednesday.

Todashev told investigators they had killed the men in the course of a drug theft because they did not want to be identified by the victims to authorities.

Todashev confessed to authorities while he was being questioned in the kitchen of his own home. Following his confession, Todashev brandished a kitchen knife and assaulted the agents.

Authorities say Todashev was a former mixed martial arts competitor with a history of brutality towards others. A month prior he had been arrested for assaulting a man and his son during an altercation over a parking spot at a local mall.

During the assault, Todashev managed to injure one of the agents, although not critically. Another agent shot Tadashev, who subsequently died. The FBI has launched a standard investigation into the shooting.

It remains unknown if Todashev had any knowledge or role in the Boston terror bombings.

Prior to his final encounter with the FBI, Todashev was told the authorities wanted to question him in his home. A friend, Khasuen Taramov told local media that Todashev had been contacted and watched since the bombings. Taramov said that Todashev was nervous and that FBI agents had asked him if he knew about the bombings and his views on various issues. Todashev was afraid he was going to be set up, according to Taramov.

Enjoy Daily Readings? Pay it Forward

---

'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'