Photo: Rochester Police Department
NEW YORK, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Law enforcement officials said Tuesday that they found no evidence of a link to terrorism or indications of "political or social bias" behind a fatal car crash in Rochester, New York state, in which three people died and at least nine others were injured in the early hours of Monday.
"We have found no information that would lead us to believe that Michael Avery's actions on New Year's Eve were motivated by any form of political or social prejudice," Rochester Police Chief David Smith said at a press conference Tuesday morning. "So far we have uncovered no evidence of ideology and no links to terrorism, either international or domestic," said Jeremy Bell, the special agent in charge of the local Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) field office.
The SUV, which was rented and driven by Avery of Syracuse, New York, crashed into an Uber car and a crowd of people around 12:50 p.m. local time Monday as about 1,000 people were leaving a New Year's Eve concert at the Kodak Center in Rochester. The SUV then exploded and a massive fire broke out.
Two passengers in the Uber car died on the spot and several others were injured. The number of injured pedestrians rose to nine, and 35-year-old Avery died later Monday at a hospital.
Investigators found more than a dozen gasoline cans inside and outside the SUV, which led to the involvement of the FBI, the Rochester Police Department's bomb squad and the Joint Arson Task Force.
Avery's motive remained unknown even after investigators searched his hotel room and personal vehicle.
"Although the motive for the crime remains unknown, our conversation with his family so far leads us to believe that Avery may have suffered from possible undiagnosed mental health issues," Smith said.
Smith added that this investigation is still ongoing and more information may emerge.
Xinhua/RoZ_07
English 
Czech