Michael Avery wrote suicide note, bought gas cans before killing 2 by ramming car at Rochester concert

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

ROCHESTER, NEW YORK: In a horrifying start to the New Year, the city of Rochester after a deranged man identified as Michael Avery drove a car filled with explosives into a crowd leaving a rock concert at the Kodak Center in Rochester, claiming the lives of a couple and injuring numerous others.

As the incident's details come to light, what's even more staggering is the deliberate nature of the perpetrator's heinous actions, carried out intentionally even as his own life was abruptly ended, with the motive documented in a suicide note he left behind.

Who was Michael Avery?

Avery from Syracuse was described as a suspected bipolar individual though he was never officially diagnosed. Law enforcement sources reveal that the suspect had rented a hotel room in Rochester, where a subsequent search uncovered a suicide note and journal.

The fiery crash occurred outside the Kodak Center around 12:50 a.m. as concertgoers were leaving a New Year’s Eve show by the rock band Moe.

Avery, behind the wheel of a rented Ford Expedition, accelerated towards the crowd and collided with an Uber, triggering a chain reaction that resulted in an intense blaze.

Justina Hughes, 28, and Joshua Orr, 29, riding in the Uber lost their lives in the tragic incident, while their driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Three pedestrians were struck by the flying cars, with one clinging to life.

The fire department spent nearly an hour extinguishing the flames, revealing at least a dozen gasoline canisters scattered across the pavement and inside Avery's vehicle.

What was the motive behind Michael Avery's callous act of violence?

Initially raising concerns of possible domestic terrorism, law enforcement sources clarified on Tuesday that there was no evidence of a terror link in the incident.

Subsequently, interviews with relatives suggested no prior indications of negative beliefs or any known reasons for Avery to cause harm to others.

As of now, investigators are delving into his journal for clues that might provide insight into the motive behind the horrifying act, leading them to believe mental illness may have played a role.

Michael Avery's actions before crash under scrutiny

Following the vehicular collision, law enforcement authorities unveiled disconcerting images of Avery on Tuesday, offering insight into the unsettling preparations preceding the tragic incident.

In the images, Avery is depicted holding a gas canister along with several plastic tubs outside a store, where it appears he had just purchased these items, as per The Sun.

The photos, shedding light on Avery's actions before the fateful crash, raise questions about the contents of the gas can and the intentions behind acquiring these materials. Moreover, authorities plan to search a storage unit owned by Avery in Syracuse as part of the ongoing investigation into the incident.

Mayor Malik Evans, in a solemn address, acknowledged the profound impact stating, "Obviously I would have been liking to stand at this podium to deliver ‘Happy New Year’ and smile and say good news. But unfortunately today we don’t have good news because we have several individuals whose families’ lives are changed because they will not be here to bring in 2024."