The deranged driver who killed two people when he plowed his SUV into a crowd in Rochester on New Year’s Day meticulously planned the deadly assault for days, authorities revealed Tuesday.
Michael Avery, the 35-year-old suspect from Syracuse who died in the massacre, had rented a Ford Expedition and then spent December 30 driving to different locations in Monroe and Ontario counties to buy about a dozen cans of gasoline to fuel their deadly plan, officials said.
Chilling video footage captured the dead driver shopping for some of his supplies, authorities said.
But officials acknowledged that while they have since searched Avery’s hotel room at WoodSpring Suites Rochester Greece, where he stayed before the horror, as well as his car, which he left at the Rochester airport, they are no closer to discovering his reason.
Rochester Police Chief David Smith only revealed during a news conference that Avery was likely suffering from “possible undiagnosed mental health issues” when he launched his attack, which also injured nine people.
“Investigators are still reviewing the evidence recovered from his vehicle, but so far nothing has been recovered that would provide additional information as to why this occurred,” Smith said, before asking the public to call the police’s major crimes unit. city police if they had any information. .
The chief said police have not found any leads to suggest anyone else was involved or that Avery was part of a larger plot.
Michael Avery purchased gas cans and gasoline at several different locations in Monroe and Ontario counties before driving his gas-filled rental car into a Rochester crowd early on New Year’s Day. Rochester Police
He reiterated that Avery did not appear motivated by any particular political or social ideology, which an FBI agent further reinforced in a brief statement from the podium.
“So far, we have uncovered no evidence of an ideology or any nexus to terrorism, whether international or domestic,” said Jeremy Bell, the special agent in charge of the FBI field office.
But a litany of questions remain.
Smith said Avery did not leave any suicide note or diary. And police don’t know why she chose to attack Rochester or the Kodak Center in particular.
Rochester Police Chief David Smith said Avery likely suffered from an undiagnosed mental illness. But police aren’t sure why she targeted the city or the concert hall.
Around 12:50 a.m. Monday, he darted into the crowd leaving the Kodak Center after a show by moe., a Grateful Dead tribute band from Buffalo.
Two Rochester police officers were helping pedestrians cross the street when Avery accelerated toward them, crossed into the oncoming lane and crashed into an Uber pulling out of a nearby parking lot, Smith said.
The couple in the back of the rideshare died and the Uber driver was rushed to the hospital, but was not seriously injured.
Avery left no suicide note or diary, Smith said, leaving police to try to piece together his mental state. Rochester Police
Nine other people were injured after the cars crashed into the crowd and burst into flames following the collision.
One person suffered “life-changing injuries,” although the rest should make a full recovery, the chief said.
Avery was taken to the hospital and died from his injuries around 8 p.m. Monday, law enforcement sources told The Post.
Avery had driven to Rochester in his personal car on Dec. 27, Smith said.
He rented the Expedition two days later from an agency at the Rochester airport and then dropped off his own car, Smith added.
Police are still speaking with Avery’s family, the chief said.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn