Man crashed SUV filled with gas cans outside Rochester concert, killing himself and 2 others, police say

Rochester firefighters inspect the scene of a deadly fiery two-vehicle collision outside the Kodak Center early on New Year's Day, Monday, Jan. 1, 2024 in Rochester, N.Y. Police say a man who died after crashing an SUV loaded with gas cans outside the upstate New York concert venue appeared to have been aiming at a pedestrian crossing. (13 WHAM TV via AP)

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A 35-year-old Syracuse area man is dead after killing two people and injuring 9 others in a fiery crash outside a concert in Rochester on New Year’s Day, police said.

The man, Michael Avery, also died in the crash.

He drove a Ford Expedition into pedestrians and a ride-share vehicle outside the Kodak Center in Rochester shortly before 1 a.m. Monday, Rochester Police Chief David Smith said during a news conference Tuesday. Crowds had flocked to the venue to see the band moe and were leaving the concert.

In addition to Avery, police said that two passengers of a rideshare vehicle were killed. The car was pulling out of the theater when it was hit head-on by the Expedition. One of the nine pedestrians injured suffered “life-altering” injuries, Smith said.

A video confirmed by Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard to be outside the Kodak Center shows the Ford Expedition on fire, crashing head-on into another vehicle and pushing it backwards. One person covered in flames got out of the cars.

The Ford Expedition was filled with gas cans, Smith said.

Avery traveled to the Rochester area on or around Dec. 27 after driving his personal vehicle to Rochester and checked into the WoodSpring Suites in the town of Greece. On Dec. 29, Avery rented the Expedition from a rental car agency at the Rochester Airport.

On Dec. 30, Avery made multiple purchases of gasoline and gas containers from different locations in the area of Monroe and Ontario counties, police said. He was alone when making these purchases, Smith said.

Police said they have not found evidence another person was involved in the crime, Smith said.

Avery’s actions are not suspected to be part of a larger political plot, Smith said. His motivations are still unclear. Police said that Avery likely suffered from undiagnosed mental health issues based on conversations with his family.

“I have lots of questions,” said Mayor Malik Evans. “Why Rochester, why Syracuse? Why gas cans?”

Evans said that the community has many unanswered questions at this time. He said there is no evidence right now that explains why Avery chose to target this concert in Rochester.

A search of the hotel room Avery was staying in turned up no suicide note or journal, leaving more questions about his motivations, Smith said. Police are still combing through evidence found after a search of Avery’s personal vehicle but have found no clear evidence of his motivations, he said.

An FBI joint terrorism task force is investigating the incident but they have found no evidence of connections to ideologies or terrorist groups, Smith said.

Rochester police officers were stationed outside the concert to help with traffic and pedestrians. The officers saw the Expedition speed up in what appeared to be an attempt to hit pedestrians crossing the street, Smith said. Smith could not say how fast the car was going.

The officers quickly worked to aid injured people, Smith said. Evans said that an off-duty Rochester police officer also jumped in to help Avery.

The officers who were on scene and the off-duty officer are now on leave as they deal with the emotional repercussions of the fiery crash, Smith said.