By Holly Yan and Antoinette Radford, CNN
Updated 2:00 PM EST, Tue January 2, 2024
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Video shows fiery crash scene outside concert
00:57 - Source: CNN
What we covered here
- Police said a driver in a vehicle laden with gas canisters appeared to intentionally plow into a crowd outside a New Year’s concert in Rochester, New York, killing two people and injuring nine others when it crashed into another car.
- The 35-year-old male suspect has died and his motive is unknown, according to law enforcement. Officials have not identified a nexus to terrorism, and a suicide note was not found in the suspect’s hotel.
- CNN reported earlier that the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force was investigating the incident as domestic terrorism, according to a source.
Our live coverage has ended. Read more about the crash in the posts below.
11 Posts
What the suspect did in the days leading up to the fatal crash
From CNN's Holly Yan
Members of the Rochester Fire Department work the scene of a crash in Rochester, New York, on Monday.
Rochester Police Chief David Smith detailed suspect Michael Avery’s actions in the days leading up to the fatal car crash that authorities continue to investigate.
The 35-year-old man traveled to the area of Rochester, New York, in his personal vehicle on or about December 27 and checked into a hotel, Smith said.
On Friday afternoon, Averyrented a Ford Expedition from a car rental agency at the Rochester airport, the police chief said.
On Saturday, Avery made multiple purchases of gasoline and gas containers at various locations throughout the day, Smith said. It appears Avery made the purchases alone, he added.
Around 12:52 a.m. ET Monday — New Year’s Day — Avery was driving the rented Ford Expedition near the site of a concert venue. Two Rochester police officers were working traffic after the concert ended, police said.
Michael Avery is seen in a photo released by the Rochester NY Police Department.
“At this time, Avery sped up, crossed into the ongoing lane of traffic, and appears to have intentionally been driving towards the pedestrian crossing,” Smith said Tuesday. At about the same time, a rideshare vehicle with two passengers in the back seat that was leaving the parking lot was struck by Avery’s vehicle.
The two rear passengers of rideshare were killed, and nine pedestirans were injured, the police chief said.
Officials said the suspect in the crash has died and there is no indication of “political or social biases.” Police continue to investigate the incident and a possible motive behind the crime.
No journal or suicide note found in suspect's hotel room, police say
From CNN’s Celina TeborRochester Police Chief David M. Smith said Tuesday that suspect Michael Avery in the deadly Rochester car crash did not leave a suicide note or journal in his hotel room.
When asked what led police to believe the suspect was suffering from mental health issues, Smith said they had reached that conclusion based on conversations with his family.
Rochester mayor thanks off-duty officers for providing assistance
Rochester Mayor Malik Evans speaks during a press conference on Tuesday.
Rochester Mayor Malik Evans said off-duty police officers sprung into action to try and help suspect Michael Avery, and put out a fire caused by the crash.
“Even in the midst of thisdespicable tragedy, there is areminder that there is stillgoodness in this world of theindividuals that sprang intoaction without thinking abouttheir own safety to try to saveothers,” Evans said.
He also offered his condolences to the victims and their families.
No evidence suspect was motivated by political or social biases, police say
Rochester Police Chief David Smith said police investigations so far have not uncovered any further evidence as to why suspect Michael Avery carried out the attack, but said conversations with family had led police to believe
“Avery may have been suffering from possible undiagnosed mental health issues,” the official said.
He noted that authorities also had not found any evidence that suggested Avery’s actions “were motivated by anyform political or social biases.”
The official also said there is no evidence at this time of another individual involved in the crime or that it was part of a “larger plot.”
Special Agent in Charge Jeremy Bell from the local branch of the FBI said officials have not identified a nexus to terrorism. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the incident, he said, but that is not abnormal.
Correction: An earlier version of this post incorrectly spelled the name of the FBI official.
CNN’s Celina Tebor contributed reporting to this post.
Police chief confirms suspect Michael Avery has died
Rochester Police Chief David Smith has confirmed that 35-year-old Michael Avery from Syracuse died overnight.
He said Avery traveled from Syracuse to New York on December 27.
NOW: Law enforcement officials give update on Rochester crash
From CNN staff
Rochester Police Chief David Smith speaks during a press conference on Tuesday.
Officials in Rochester, New York, are holding a news conference following a crash outside the Kodak Center Monday that is now being treated as possible domestic terrorism.
FBI officials are investigating the crash that killed two, and injured five others.
Officials warned of "heightened threat environment" before New Year's Eve
From CNN's Jeff Winter, John Miller and Celina TeborAuthorities had warned of a “heightened threat environment” in New York ahead of New Year’s Eve.
A joint threat assessment based on an analysis from 10 law enforcement agencies — including the FBI, the US Department of Homeland Security and the New York Police Department — says the Israel-Hamas war “has created a heightened threat environment.”
But while the ongoing war has contributed to concerns about lone-wolf attacks, offiicals said there was “no specific reporting regarding any threats” prior to New Year’s Eve.
Suspect in Rochester crash has died, law enforcement sources say
From CNN’s Brynn GingrasMichael Avery, the suspect in the deadly Rochester car crash that is being investigated as domestic terrorism, has died, according to two law enforcement sources.
Biden briefed on deadly Rochester crash
From CNN's Arlette SaenzPresident Joe Biden has been briefed on the deadly car crash that plowed through a crowd outside a concert in Rochester, New York, a White House official says.
CNN previously reported the crash is being investigated as domestic terrorism, and the FBI’S Joint Terrorism Task Force is involved in the investigation.
Biden is set to return to Washington later today from his week-long vacation in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands.
Here's what we know about the deadly Rochester crash
From CNN’s Sabrina Souza
Emergency responders work the scene of a crash outside the Kodak Center in Rochester, New York, on Monday.
At least two people were killed, and five others were injured after a vehicle collusion that took firefighters almost an hour to extinguish, officials said Monday.
The crash occurred outside the Kodak Center venue around 12:50 a.m. ET Monday, where Rochester Police Department officers were assigned to the venue for a concert with approximately 1,000 people, according to Rochester Police Department Chief of Police, David Smith, who spoke at a news conference alongside Rochester Mayor Malik Evans, and FBI special agent Jeremy Bell.
Rochester police officers assisted with crossing pedestrians as concertgoers left the venue at the crosswalk in front of the location on Westridge Road, when just before that crosswalk, two cars collided with such force the vehicles went “through,” a group of people, according to Smith.
As a result of the crash, a large fire erupted that took the Rochester Fire Department almost one hour to extinguish, according to Smith.
Two occupants from the vehicle that was struck, the Mitsubishi outlander, were killed, and the driver was transported to Rochester General Hospital in non-life-threatening conditions, Smith said.
As a result of the collusion, three pedestrians were struck and transported to a hospital and “numerous pedestrians,” including a Rochester police department officer were nearly struck by the vehicles.
DeadlyRochestercrash being investigated as domestic terrorism after driver allegedly left suicide note
From CNN's Brynn Gingras
Members of the Rochester Fire Department work the scene in Rochester, New York, on Monday.
A deadly car crash that plowed into a crowd outside a New Years concert inRochester, New York is being investigated as domestic terrorism, and the suspect allegedly left a suicide note and journal in his hotel room, according to source familiar with the investigation.
The suspect has been identified as Michael Avery from Syracuse, the source said, and his family has been interviewed by investigators.
At this point in the investigation, authorities believe Avery was bipolar, the source said.
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