Tsarnaev
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, suspect No. 2 in the Boston Marathon explosion, is pictured in this undated FBI handout photo. Reuters/FBI

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev will appear in a Boston Federal Court Wednesday to be arraigned on 30 federal criminal charges, including use of a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death and bombing of a place of public use resulting in death.

The FBI labeled Tsarnaev as "suspect No. 2" in the April 15 bombings and also accused him of killing an MIT police officer.

The 19-year-old U.S. national of Chechen origin and his older brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, were hunted by authorities after the pressure cooker explosions killed three people and wounded more than 260 near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

Wednesday's arraignment is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. EDT.

Prosecutors said they expect a packed courtroom at U.S. District Court on Wednesday afternoon, and an overflow room will be set up for people, including victims, to watch the proceedings on closed-circuit television.

Ortiz
U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz announces federal indictments against accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in Boston June 27. Reuters/Brian Snyder

According to court papers, Tsarnaev inscribed his motives on the inside of the boat that he hid in during the manhunt. He is alleged to have written, "The U.S. government is killing our innocent civilians, we Muslims are one body, you hurt one you hurt us all. Now I don't like killing innocent people, it is forbidden in Islam, but due to said it is allowed [sic]."

The other charges against Tsarnaev carry the possibility of life in prison. Federal prosecutors said during a June 27 press conference additional federal charges include malicious destruction of property resulting in death and conspiring to do those crimes, as well as use of a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime and carjacking resulting in serious injury.

Although 17 of the charges carry the possibility of the death penalty, executions haven't happened in Massachusetts in 66 years and have been banned for state cases since 1984. But because Tsarnaev is charged under federal law, he could face death for his alleged crimes if Attorney General Eric Holder seeks it.

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