Kids laugh as they walk down Laurel Street. From a distance, everything looks normal in this Watertown neighborhood. It’s not until you get close up that you see the houses are still riddled with bullet holes – dozens of them - a visual reminder that this neighborhood has been scarred by violence.
It’s been 48 days since the Boston area was terrorized by the Tsarnaev brothers, accused of planting the marathon bombs that killed three and injured more than 250. A Watertown neighborhood, about two miles wide, witnessed not only a fatal shootout between the brothers and police, but also a massive manhunt that ended in the capture of the second suspect.
Gawkers still drive by to take pictures, even though it’s been seven weeks since the shootout between the Tsarnaev brothers and Watertown Police.
Andrew Kitzenberg lives on Laurel Street. He took pictures from his window that have now been seen around the world. He’ll never forget what he saw that night.
"The gunfire was terrifying, but when the bombs went off, it brought it to a whole different level," Kitzenberg said.
Now back at work, and finally sleeping through the night, he’s confident his pictures will help the case against the brothers.
"I submitted the pictures to police," Kitzenberg said. "They’re using them as evidence."
For police, it’s also been a time for reflection.
"How my officers responded will be taught across the country and around the world, because this is the first time officers were shot at with explosions thrown at them at the same time," said Watertown Police Chief Ed Deveau.
Meanwhile, townspeople are showing their appreciation and pride for their police and firefighters by hanging banners around the city and raising money for the cause.
Anne-Marie Aigner, who also lives in the neighborhood, still hears the gunshots in her mind. She’s produced "Watertown strong" t-shirts – which have already brought in more than $70,000.
"Donations should go to victims, because they have a lifetime ahead of them of challenges," Aigner said.
Now you think about it, it's scary. What else is out there. It almost brings us back to 9/11, when you didn't trust anyone or were cautious.
Michael Caira's business is in the neighborhood, and he’s selling the shirts. Vividly he remembers what police found behind his store: apparent leftovers from the Tsarnaevs' homemade bombs.
"Just cardboard canisters, inside another bag – couple of plastic bags," Caira said. "Now you think about it, it’s scary. What else is out there. It almost brings us back to 9/11, when you didn’t trust anyone or were cautious."
Laurel Street will forever be remembered as the “last stand” for the Tsarnaev brothers and eight minutes that changed a neighborhood.
"They talk about a tight fabric here," Deveau said. "The terrorists thought they could put fear in this community. They thought they could ambush one of my officers, and it didn’t happen, this community is stronger, boston is stronger. I think the whole country is."
Watch Gail Huff tell Emily Rooney about her day in Watertown on Greater Boston:
