Third Boston bomb victim identified as Chinese Student Lü Lingzi

The third person killed in the Boston Marathon bombings is a 23-year-old Chinese graduate student at Boston University who came to the U.S. because it was her 'dream to get a better education.'

Identified by her father in China as Lü Lingzi, the tragic student was pursuing a graduate degree in Mathematics and Statistics.

Lingzi was attending the Boston marathon with her friend Zhou Danling, a student of actuarial science at BU, who was originally said to be in a coma at Boston Medical Center but showing signs of improvement after suffering serious injuries in the blast.

The other two fatalities in the bombing have been identified as 8-year-old Martin Richard, the son of a Dorchester community activist, and 29-year-old restaurant manager Krystle Campbell.

The latest official tally has 183 people injured in Monday's terror attacks and hundreds of people gathered to hold candlelit vigils in tribute to the victims.

The third victim of the Boston marathon has been identified as Lü Lingzi, pictured, from Beijing, who was pursuing a graduate degree at BU in Mathematics and Statistics. It was her dream to study in America 'to get a better education'

Vigils were held across the city as FBI investigators admitted their range of suspects remain 'wide open.'

At a press conference yesterday afteoon, the FBI agent in charge, Rick DesLauriers, said they had received more than 2,000 tips and detectives were working round the clock as forensic specialists examined evidence from the scene.

Meanwhile, Lü's friends spoke of their shock at hearing of her death.

Speaking to the MailOnline before Lü's death was officially confirmed, her best friend Li Luquan, 23, said, 'Lingzi went to the marathon with two friends, one of whom was Zhou Danling and another girl who came home safe.

'Lingzi did not come home on Monday night and I called the police and notified the Chinese consulate.

'She's my best friend, I miss her so much. We were roommates for two years at university in China. All her friends here miss her very much.

'Nobody knows where she is.'

The Shenyang Evening News reported Wednesday on its official Twitter-like microblog account that the victim is named Lü Lingzi. An editor at the newspaper says that Lü's father confirmed his daughter's death

One of the vigils was held at Garvey Park, near the home of the youngest victim, eight-year-old Martin Richard, who died while watching runners cross the finish line with his family

On Tuesday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry and Consulate General in New York said they were not releasing the victim's name at the request of the family.

But later, Boston media quoted a Chinese Consulate General official as saying Chinese national Lü Lingzi was missing in the wake of the bombings that killed three and wounded more than 180 people.

Li Luquan, who is an operations research student at New Jersey State University said that Lü was studying hard at BU and enjoyed cooking, going to the gym and to play the piano.

Zhou Danling is in a coma after she was injured by the explosion at the marathon

'She came the the U.S. last August and studied at Boston University because she wanted a better education. America has a better education system and better research opportunities,' Luquan told MailOnline.

'Coming to America to study was her dream. She was living her dream.

'In the future she might stay in the U.S. or go back to China. She said she might work for a big company in America.

'She has an aunt who lives elsewhere in the U.S. and I think she has come to Boston to find her.'

Earlier on Tuesday, Colin Riley, a BU spokesman had declined to release the student's name pending a discussion with her family.

On Wednesday however, The Shenyang Evening News reported her name on its official Twitter-like microblog account.

The Associated Press reported that an editor at the newspaper said that Lingzi's father confirmed his daughter's death when reporters visited the family home.

According to the Boston Globe on Tuesday, BU did confirm that three of their students had attended the marathon and that one was sadly deceased, one was injured and another escaped unharmed.

Danling Zhou, who was reported to have fallen into a coma, was now doing well and was conscious.

'She has her friends around her, and she will soon have family around her,' said Riley.

The Chinese Consulate in New York had earlier confirmed that Zhou Danling was injured and a survivor of the attacks which killed two others and left 183 others injured.

'She cannot talk now but can communicate with pen and paper,' the consulate said in an e-mailed statement previously on Tuesday.

In that earlier statement, the consulate said another Chinese student, identified by the consulate as Lü Lingzi, was still missing.

'We are following the case closely and are trying to reach our colleagues in Boston. I believe they will release further information on site if anything comes up,' the consulate said, adding 'Our hearts goes out to all the families who had been affected.'

Victims of terrorism: Krystle Campbell, 29, left, and eight-year-old Martin Richard, right, also died in Monday's bomb explosions at the Boston Marathon finishing line

The second explosion goes off near the finish line of the 117th Boston Marathon on Monday seconds after the first initial blast, leaving three people dead and 183 injured

Robert Hill, dean of Marsh Chapel, said he had visited Zhou Danling twice and said she underwent surgery on Monday and on Tuesday, according to Boston University Today.

'She is doing well,' says Hill. 'She has her friends around her, and she will soon have family around her.'

Zhou is reportedly a graduate of Wuhan University in central China, and currently a student at Boston University in actuarial science, according to a Xinhua report.

Boston is filled with colleges and there are a handful of students among the 183 injured.

Three Tufts University students, seven Emerson College students, three Northeaste University students, two Boston College students, and one Berklee College of Music student, according to the schools.

Boston College identified its two injured students as M.B.A. candidate Liza Cheey and law student Brittany Loring, according to Boston.com.

'The two spectators were hospitalized with injuries resulting from the explosions near the Marathon finish line,' the school said.

Last night, the Massachusetts Bay Transport authority (MBTA) announced that commuters would be subjected to random searches as authorities helped the FBI in its bid to track down those responsible for the blasts and prevent further attacks.

Joe Pesaturo, MBTA communications director, said: 'Transit Police, with strong support from federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel, are performing random baggage checks throughout the transit system.

'Customers have been very cooperative, and we greatly appreciate their patience and understanding.'