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Coordinates: 40°45′29″N 73°59′08″W / 40.757994°N 73.985574°W / 40.757994; -73.985574
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== Victims ==
== Victims ==
Alyssa Elsman, an 18-year-old tourist from [[Portage, Michigan]], was killed and 22 people were injured, four critically.<ref name="LAT1">{{cite web|last1=Demick|first1=Barbara|last2=Zavis|first2=Alexandra|last3=Haller|first3=Vera|title=One killed and 22 injured when a car plows into pedestrians in New York's Times Square|url=http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-times-square-car-pedestrians-20170518-story.html|publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]]|accessdate=18 May 2017|location=New York|date=18 May 2017}}</ref>
Alyssa Elsman, an 18-year-old tourist from [[Portage, Michigan]], was killed and 22 people were injured, four critically, including a 38-year-old Canadian woman.<ref name="LAT1">{{cite web|last1=Demick|first1=Barbara|last2=Zavis|first2=Alexandra|last3=Haller|first3=Vera|title=One killed and 22 injured when a car plows into pedestrians in New York's Times Square|url=http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-times-square-car-pedestrians-20170518-story.html|publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]]|accessdate=18 May 2017|location=New York|date=18 May 2017}}</ref><ref>http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/canadian-critically-injured-in-times-square-crash-1.3421504</ref>


== Suspect ==
== Suspect ==

Revision as of 01:29, 20 May 2017

2017 Times Square car crash
Site of the crash in April 2017
2017 Times Square car attack is located in New York City
Times Square
Times Square
2017 Times Square car attack (New York City)
2017 Times Square car attack is located in the United States
2017 Times Square car attack
2017 Times Square car attack (the United States)
Date18 May 2017
Time11:53 EDT
LocationTimes Square, New York City
Coordinates40°45′29″N 73°59′08″W / 40.757994°N 73.985574°W / 40.757994; -73.985574
Deaths1
Non-fatal injuries20[1]
SuspectsRichard Rojas

On May 18, 2017, a car crashed in Times Square, New York City. One person was killed and 22 were injured.[2] The suspect, charged with second degree murder, five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and 20 attempted murders, is said to be from The Bronx with a history of driving under the influence.[3]

Incident

The driver of a maroon 2009 Honda Accord sped into pedestrians in Times Square after having jumped the sidewalk on the west side of Seventh Avenue at 42nd Street. He continued for three blocks before crashing at the northwest corner of 45th Street and Broadway.[4][5] As the driver was trying to flee from his car, a traffic agent tackled him and took him into custody.[5]

Victims

Alyssa Elsman, an 18-year-old tourist from Portage, Michigan, was killed and 22 people were injured, four critically, including a 38-year-old Canadian woman.[6][7]

Suspect

Richard Rojas (born 1991), a 26-year-old resident of The Bronx and a military veteran, was arrested after the crash and charged with second degree murder, five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and 20 attempted murders. Rojas previously served in the United States Navy and had two prior arrests for driving under the influence.[8] These arrests came in 2008 and 2015.[4] Rojas enlisted in the Navy in 2011 and was an electrician's mate fireman apprentice. In 2012 he served aboard the destroyer USS Carney. He was most recently based at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and was discharged in 2014.[9]

Rojas was arrested in September 2012 after assaulting a cab driver and yelling at an officer, "My life is over", in addition to threatening to kill police officers after his release. He also spent two months in military prison in 2013. A neighbor said Rojas' family was Dominican.[10][11] One of his friends said Rojas had developed a drinking problem after his military service, using it as medication for his "dark thoughts and moods",[12] in addition to posting content on social media some of which he described as "demonic".[13] Per authorities and his friends, his mental health issues dated back to his childhood though he never sought psychiatric care, becoming more paranoid and increasing his intake of marijuana and alcohol.[14]

Per police, he was obsessed with Scientology and had accumulated literature on the religion. Some friends said had gotten his car back after it was repossessed a short time before the incident.[15] A week before the incident, Rojas was arrested and charged with pointing a knife at a notary, whom he accused of stealing his identity.[9]

Investigation

Bill de Blasio, the Mayor of New York City, and other officials have said there is no indication the incident was an act of terrorism.[4] Several law enforcement officials said the suspect thought he was hearing voices and expected to die. Rojas tested negative for alcohol, but additional testing was done to determine whether he was taking any drugs.[9] The drug test came back as positive while blood tests were conducted for whether he had taken synthetic marijuana or PCP.[16] Rojas has since offered alternate explanations to the investigators who said they hadn't come to any conclusions.[5]

According to a criminal complaint, Rojas admitted smoking marijuana laced with PCP before driving the car with prosecuters stating that Rojas told the police he wanted to die by suicide by cop. Per sources he also rambled that he had been hearing voices and it was the last day on earth.[17] According to other sources, Rojas said he claimed to hear voices telling him the police were going to kill him.[18] Later, they said he had tested positive for PCP and told police God made him do it.[5] His interview was said to be abnormal and rambling.[18] Police sources meanwhile also said that they were investigating whether the attack was deliberate, stating that there was no evidence of terrorism.[19]

Rojas was later charged with second-degree murder, 20 counts of attempted murder and five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide.[20] Investigators looked into his psychological history. De Blasio said the incident may have been intentional and he may have been lashing out due to his mental issues.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Sanchez, Ray; Kaufman, Ellie; Park, Madison (19 May 2017). "Driver charged with murder in Times Square crash". CNN. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  2. ^ Trotta, Daniel; Allen, Jonathan (18 May 2017). "Car slams into Times Square pedestrians, killing one, injuring 22". New York: Reuters. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  3. ^ Winter, Tom; Dienst, Jonathan; Ortiz, Erik (18 May 2017). "Car Rams Into Pedestrians in NYC's Times Square, Killing at Least 1". New York: NBC News. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  4. ^ a b c Sanchez, Ray (18 May 2017). "Times Square car incident: 1 dead, 22 injured; driver in custody". CNN. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d Rosenberg, Eli; Rashbaum, William K. (18 May 2017). "One Dead and 22 Injured as Car Rams Into Pedestrians in Times Square". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  6. ^ Demick, Barbara; Zavis, Alexandra; Haller, Vera (18 May 2017). "One killed and 22 injured when a car plows into pedestrians in New York's Times Square". New York: Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  7. ^ http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/canadian-critically-injured-in-times-square-crash-1.3421504
  8. ^ Bacon, John; Diebel, Matthew (18 May 2017). "Car slams into crowd in New York's Times Square; 1 dead, 22 hurt". New York: USA Today. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  9. ^ a b c Long, Colleen; Hays, Tom (18 May 2017). "Officials: Driver Who Crashed Into Pedestrians in Times Square Thought He Was Hearing Voices". Time. New York: Associated Press. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  10. ^ Donovan, Brittney (18 May 2017). "Former Naval Station Mayport sailor arrested in fatal Time Square crash". CBS News. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  11. ^ Spicer, Jonathan (18 May 2017). "Accused Times Square driver's troubled past included Navy prison". Reuters. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  12. ^ Gardener, Aiden; Kapp, Trevor (18 May 2017). "Deadly Times Square Crash: Who Is Richard Rojas?". DNAinfo.com. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  13. ^ "Deadly Times Square Crash Driver Pulled Knife on Man 7 Days Earlier: NYPD". CBS New York. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  14. ^ "Before Driver's Times Square Crash, a Descent Into Paranoia and Harassment". New York Times. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  15. ^ Tracy, Thomas; McDonnell, Mary; Parascandola, Rocco; Shapiro, Rich. "Times Square car crash kills 1, injures 22; Navy veteran cuffed". New York Daily News.
  16. ^ "Sources: Times Square driver was apparently high on synthetic marijuana (K2) at time of pedestrian crash". ABC News. 18 May 2017.
  17. ^ "'I Wanted To Kill Them': Authorities Detail Case Against Times Square Crash Suspect Richard Rojas". CBS News. 18 May 2017.
  18. ^ a b Brennan, Christopher; Crane-Newman, Molly; Parascandola, Rocco; Tracy, Thomas; Shapiro, Rich (19 May 2017). "Times Square car crash kills 1, injures 22; Navy veteran cuffed". New York Daily News.
  19. ^ Dienst, Jonathan; Santia, Marc; Winter, Tom (18 May 2017). "Investigators Probe Possibility Times Square Crash Was Deliberate: Sources". NBC New York.
  20. ^ "Times Square car crash driver Richard Rojas 'heard voices'", BBC News
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