Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was "a beautiful boy" according to a local Boston host radio who knew the marathon bombing suspect, while his father told AP he was a "true angel".
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is still being sought by police after his brother Tamerlan, 26, was killed in a police shoot-out earlier on Friday.
Father Anzor Tsarnaev spoke with The Associated Press by telephone from Makhachkala, Dagestan.
"My son is a true angel," he said.
"Dzhokhar is a second-year medical student in the US He is such an intelligent boy. We expected him to come on holidays here."
Ruslan Tsarni, the uncle of the two suspects, told a local television station that the suspects "do not deserve to live on this earth."
Ruslan Tsarni, the uncle of the Boston Marathon bombing suspect, speaks with the media outside his home in Montgomery Village
Speaking to WBZ-TV in Boston he said of elder suspect Tamerlan: “He deserved his. He absolutely deserved his. They do not deserve to live on this earth.”
His uncle said Tamarlen rang him uncle and said: "Forgive me {for not talking to you for so long], we will be together from now on."
Tsarni told CBS he'd lived with suspects Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev in Cambridge for about 10 years. In an emotional interview, he said he realized that his nephews may be responsible after reading a report on AOL.com.
Tsarni was also shocked but "not sympathetic" to learn that 26-year-old Tamerlan had been killed.
"Unbelievable -- he absolutely deserved this," Tsarni said between heavy breaths. "I always told those two, Islam has always been there, just do your business. Work, go to school, be useful. Know why you came to America ... I am not sympathizing with them."
He also described Tamerlan as a “loser.”
In an emotional press statement, he told assembled reporters later on Friday that Dzokhar should "turn himself in and ask forgiveness from the families and victims," saying he had brought shame on Chechnya.
"My brother [the boys’ father] has spent his life trying to help his children," he said.
Robin Young, host of PRI's public radio show 'Here and Now' said her nephew had known Dzhokhar, who is 19, and they had attended prom together.
Dzohkhar attended Cambridge Ringe & Latin School, whose alumni include Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
He is now a first year student at UMass Dartmouth.
Bunker Hill Community College officials say that 26-year-old Tamerlan was a student there for three semesters: fall 2006, spring 2007 and fall 2008.
Spokeswoman Patricia Brady said Friday they had little information on Tamerlan other than that he studied accounting at the Boston school, according to AP.
"We believe this man to be a terrorist," said Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis told the press earlier. "We believe this to be a man who's come here to kill people."
During a shoot-out with officers in the early hours of Friday morning, Dzhokhar is alleged to have run over his elder brother Tamerlan as he fled the scene.
Police said they had found a Grey Honda, thought to be connected with the suspect, which was found in Boston unoccupied.
All public transport has been shut down in Boston and the surrounding areas, with vehicles being prevented from entering or leaving Watertown.
SEE ALSO
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