In a shocking turn of events, authorities in upstate New York are holding a news conference today regarding a deadly crash that is now being investigated as an act of domestic terrorism. Leading the investigation is the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force. Though the investigation is still in its early stages and ongoing, authorities have released some preliminary information.
All signs currently point to the suspect being a 35-year-old individual named Michael Avery from the Syracuse New York area. Unfortunately, Avery passed away last night. Scientific identification is still pending, but authorities are actively working to confirm his identity and have been in contact with his family.
According to the gathered information, Avery arrived in Rochester, New York, on approximately December 27th, traveling in his personal vehicle and checking into the Wood Spring Suites in the town of Greece. On December 29th, around 2:45 p.m., Avery rented a Ford Expedition from a car rental agency at the Rochester Airport.
In a concerning development, it has been discovered that between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on December 30th, Avery made several purchases of gasoline in different locations across Monroe County and Ontario County. These purchases were accompanied by a number of gas containers. It appears that Avery was acting alone during these transactions.
The tragic incident occurred on January 1st around 12:52 a.m. Avery was driving the rented Ford Expedition eastbound on Westridge Road when he suddenly accelerated and crossed into oncoming traffic. Witnesses reported that Avery seemed to intentionally target a pedestrian crossing. At the same time, a rideshare vehicle, with two passengers in the back seat, was exiting the theater parking lot and collided with Avery's vehicle. This chaotic chain of events resulted in the deaths of the two passengers and injuries to at least nine pedestrians. The number of injured individuals continues to change as people come forward to report their injuries.
Yesterday, law enforcement executed a search warrant on the hotel room rented by Michael Avery. No suicide note was recovered during the search. Furthermore, an additional search warrant was executed on Avery's personal vehicle, which was located at the airport parking garage. Investigators are currently analyzing the evidence found in the vehicle but have not uncovered any information that sheds light on the motive behind this horrific act.
While the motive remains unknown, ongoing conversations with Avery's family indicate that he may have been suffering from undiagnosed mental health issues. At this stage, no evidence has been found to suggest the involvement of anyone else or the existence of a larger plot. Moreover, there is no indication that the actions of Michael Avery on New Year's Eve were motivated by any form of political or social biases.
Authorities emphasize that this is an active investigation and more information may surface as it progresses. In an effort to gather additional information about this tragedy and the suspect's motivations, law enforcement will be sharing Avery's photo today and requesting that anyone with pertinent information contact the RPD Major Crimes Unit.
As the investigation continues, the community is left grappling with the devastating consequences of this apparent act of domestic terrorism. Only time will reveal the true motivations behind this senseless act, providing some semblance of closure for the victims and their loved ones.
