Thomas Barrett

Thomas Barrett testified for the prosecution on Day 28 about the explosions and his emergency response outside the Forum restaurant. The Boston police patrolman described hearing two explosions about 15 seconds apart and running toward the second blast site, where he encountered smoke, an orange fireball, heat, and a gunpowder-like smell. His testimony concerned the explosions' effects and aid to victims rather than identifying who placed a bomb.

Using video during direct examination, Barrett recounted extinguishing a man's burning clothing with his hands and borrowing a woman's belt to apply a tourniquet to the man's right thigh. He later identified the man as Fucarile but could not say whether the belt stopped the bleeding. Barrett also described carrying three-year-old Leo toward the medical tent, handing him to ambulance paramedics at Boylston and Exeter Street, and returning to help evacuate other victims with backboards and a metal litter. He estimated that 20 to 30 people were injured.

Barrett said the white-hatted figure shown in the video looked no different from others in the crowd, while explaining that his attention had been on the explosion rather than the spectators. He also acknowledged uncertainty about Leo's injuries and qualified his recollection of crowd reactions. Six photographs were admitted subject to the defense's reserved objection. The defense asked no questions.