January 1, Rochester Car Blast Culprit Unmasked: Police Unveil Final Days Leading to Concert Venue Tragedy

Three people were killed and several others injured in a car explosion less than an hour into 2024. A Ford Expedition filled with at least a dozen gas canisters “sped up” and smashed into a Mitsubishi Outlander around 12:50 a.m. on Jan. 1, as concert attendees left the Kodak Theater in Rochester, New York.

The driver was identified as Michael Avery, a 35-year-old man from the Syracuse area, who died in the hospital last night, Rochester Police Chief David Smith said during a Tuesday press conference. Avery’s family told investigators he was “suffering from possible undiagnosed mental health issues,” Smith said, and law enforcement didn’t find any journals or suicide note.

The fiery crash created an inferno in a parking lot a few blocks from the concert venue, as firefighters wrestled with the blaze for about an hour. The two occupants of the Explorer were killed at the scene, and Avery died in the hospital last night, according to Chief Smith. The other victims were rushed to a hospital, and one of the five surviving victims suffered life-threatening injuries, the chief said.

Avery was staying in a Rochester hotel, which is about a 1.5-hour drive west from where he lived in the Syracuse area. What he was doing in Rochester, or why he rammed the Explorer with over a dozen gas canisters, is part of a tangled mess of questions that investigators continue to unravel.

“There are lots of questions. I have lots of questions. Everyone up here still has lots of questions,” Rochester Mayor Malik Evans said during Tuesday morning’s press conference.

“Why Rochester? Why Syracuse? Why all the gas cans? These are all things that will continue to be investigated. And as the chief has said, this is an ongoing investigation until it’s not. So this is an ongoing investigation until not. But we will continue to provide updates.”

The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force was called in, as part of protocol in cases like this, but the deadly incident doesn’t appear to be a terrorist attack, or motivated by radicalized ideology, according to the FBI and police chief.

Jeremy Bell, of the FBI, said their presence is “not abnormal in a case like this,” and will remain on scene until the investigation is over.

“What I can tell you is so far we’ve uncovered no evidence of an ideology and no nexus to terrorism, either international or domestic,” Bell said.

What is known at this point is a four-day timeline of peculiar events that started days before the Jan. 1 early morning fatal attack, which was laid out by the Rochester police chief.

Avery traveled to Rochester in his personal vehicle and checked into the WoodSpring Suites in the town of Greece, New York, which is about five miles from the scene of the crash. Around 2:45 p.m., Avery rented a Ford Expedition from an agency in the Rochester airport.

Between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., Avery made “at least a half dozen” purchases of gasoline in gas containers from different locations through Monroe and Ontario counties, Chief Smith said. Police said he appeared to be alone during each purchase.

Avery “sped up, crossed into the oncoming lane of traffic and appears to have intentionally been driving towards a pedestrian crossing,” Smith said. At the same time, the other driver, who was an Uber driver, pulled out of a parking spot and was blindsided by Avery’s Ford.

The attack occurred as attendees were leaving a concert by the rock band moe. “Last night’s events outside the Kodak Center have left us all in profound shock and sadness,” the group said in a statement afterward.

“On a night that was meant for celebration and togetherness, we are faced instead with a tragedy that defies understanding. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of those who lost their lives, and our thoughts are with those who were injured.”

Why It Matters (op-ed)

The Rochester car explosion tragedy highlights the importance of addressing mental health issues in our society. While investigators haven’t found any links to terrorism or radical ideology, the suspect’s family mentioned his possible undiagnosed mental health issues.

It’s crucial that we destigmatize mental health and make resources accessible to those in need. This incident serves as a stark reminder that untreated mental health problems can lead to senseless acts of violence and loss of innocent lives. Society must prioritize mental health awareness and support to prevent future tragedies.

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