Current:Home > InvestA 4th person has died after fiery crash near western New York concert, but motive remains a mystery -Prime Money Path
A 4th person has died after fiery crash near western New York concert, but motive remains a mystery
View
Date:2025-04-14 19:26:55
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — A fourth person has died nearly two weeks after a driver crashed an SUV packed with gas cans near a crowd of New Year’s concertgoers in western New York, but authorities said Friday they may never know the motive for what they call an intentional attack.
Rochester police revealed Friday that motorist Michael Avery, 35, spent several hours in parking lots and other spots near the Kodak Center on the night of the fiery wreck, which killed him, two passengers in another car and a pedestrian who died earlier this week. Avery even went up to the theater and bought a ticket to the show, but didn’t go in, Police Chief David Smith said at a news conference.
Along with gasoline-filled canisters, investigators found a replica gun and lighters in Avery’s rented Ford Expedition, Smith said. There was also a 20-page journal with sporadic entries that appeared to be several years old and unrelated to the crash, the chief said.
Rochester Mayor Malik Evans said that Avery mounted a planned “assault on innocent people” and that his actions made plain “that he wanted to do more.”
“We may never know why he decided to carry out this act,” Evans said.
Investigators have searched Avery’s hotel room, storage unit, his own car — parked at Rochester’s airport — and more. Authorities are working their way through hundreds of hours of surveillance video and have interviewed people who knew him. Investigators haven’t found any co-conspirators, any ties to “extremist ideologies” or indeed any motive so far, Smith said.
He said Avery, a sometime delivery driver who lived in the Syracuse area, had had behavioral problems. But his family saw no immediate signs of trouble last month, Smith said.
Avery spent the last few days of December in the Rochester area, buying and filling multiple gas cans, police said.
Then, around 1 a.m. on Jan. 1, he drove the Ford Expedition into an oncoming traffic lane and appeared to be headed for a crosswalk filled with people leaving a show by the jam band moe.
The SUV hit a ride-hail vehicle, and both careened into the crosswalk. Two ride-hail passengers, friends Justina Hughes and Joshua Orr, were killed, and several other people were injured, many of them pedestrians.
One of the injured, Dawn Revette, 54, died Wednesday, Smith said. Revette lived in Rochester.
The police chief said one person is still hospitalized, with injuries that aren’t considered life-threatening.
veryGood! (79)
Related
- Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
- South Carolina General Assembly ends 2024 session with goodbyes and a flurry of bills
- Euro 2024 odds to win: England, Spain among favorites heading into knockout round
- Louisville police chief resigns after mishandling sexual harassment claims
- Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
- Funeral service set for 12-year-old Houston girl whose body was found in a creek
- New law bans ‘captive hunting’ in Rhode Island
- Lisa Rinna Looks Unrecognizable With Spiky Blonde Hair Transformation
- McConnell absent from Senate on Thursday as he recovers from fall in Capitol
- 5 people, some with their hands tied and heads covered, found murdered on road leading to Acapulco
Ranking
- Will the 'Yellowstone' finale be the last episode? What we know about Season 6, spinoffs
- Phoebe Gates confirms relationship with Paul McCartney's grandson Arthur Donald in new photos
- Democrats and their allies sue to keep RFK Jr. off the ballot in several states
- Timberwolves acquire Rob Dillingham, eighth pick of 2024 NBA draft. What you need to know
- Mets have visions of grandeur, and a dynasty, with Juan Soto as major catalyst
- Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Victoria Kalina Shares Past Struggles With Eating Disorder and Depression
- Knicks continue to go all-in as they reach $212 million deal with OG Anunoby
- Ex-'Jackass’ star Bam Margera will spend six months on probation after plea over family altercation
Recommendation
Nearly 400 USAID contract employees laid off in wake of Trump's 'stop work' order
Christina Applegate's 13-year-old daughter Sadie diagnosed with POTS: 'I was in a lot of pain'
Judge receives ethics fine after endorsing a primary candidate at a Harris County press conference
Detroit Pistons select Ron Holland with 5th pick in 2024 NBA draft. What you need to know
Federal hiring is about to get the Trump treatment
Man arrested in Colorado triple-shooting after crash and intensive search
Chaotic Singles Parties are going viral on TikTok. So I went to one.
Go for the Gold with the SKIMS for Team USA Collab Starring Suni Lee, Gabby Thomas & More Olympians