Syracuse, N.Y. — A Syracuse-area man who crashed an SUV with a number of gas cans into people and another vehicle outside a Rochester concert started out on the attack on his dead dad’s birthday.
Michael Avery, 35, of North Syracuse and Warners, killed two people and injured nine in the fiery crash outside the Kodak Center in Rochester at about 12:52 a.m. New Year’s Day, police said.
Avery, who also died in the crash, drove a Ford Expedition filled with gas cans into pedestrians and a rideshare vehicle just after the end of a concert by the rock band moe., Rochester Police Chief David Smith said during a news conference Tuesday. Police have not yet determine a motive.
Two passengers of the rideshare vehicle were killed, and one pedestrian suffered “life-altering” injuries, Smith said. Eight other pedestrians were injured but are expected to make a full recovery, he said.
Avery had lived at 460 S. Main St., Apt 128 in North Syracuse, according to public records. He previously lived at 6526 Van Buren Road in Warners, records show.
He has a number of family members living in Central New York. Multiple family members contacted by Syracuse.com in person and by phone declined to comment.
His father, Joseph Avery, died in 2020, according to an obituary. Joseph Avery was born on Dec. 31, 1956. Avery headed out to the concert venue on New Year’s Eve, police said.
Michael Avery grew up in Warners, according to his Facebook page.
He graduated from West Genesee High School in 2007, according to a district spokesperson. Some classmates said he graduated in 2006.
A Facebook page showed Avery was a man who liked to hike. He posted photos at the top of Mt. Moosilauke in the White Mountains in New Hampshire. He commented on another post that he was hiking in Wanakena in St. Lawrence County.
Michael Avery, in a Facebook photo from 2017. Avery, who is from the Syracuse area, is accused of driving a car full of gasoline into another car, killing two and himself on New Year's Day 2024. Avery died in the crash and injured nine pedestrians.Courtesy
He had a business “Mike’s Courier Service” licensed to the address 6526 Van Buren Road in Warners in 2016. It couldn’t be determined if it is still an active business.
Syracuse police said records show Avery arrested for larceny in 2003. State police, North Syracuse and the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office had no records of interacting with Avery.
Avery was convicted in 2019 of driving under the influence in Cottonwood, Ariz., a small city roughly two hours south of the Grand Canyon.
According to Arizona court records, Avery, listed as being from Warners, was charged with DUI, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and having a blood alcohol content above 0.08. He pleaded guilty to the DUI and the other counts were dismissed, according to the records.
Avery was sentenced to unsupervised probation, according to court records.
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 Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International 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.
He then put the gas cans into the Ford Expedition, 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 plot, Smith said. His motivations are still unclear. Police said 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?”
He said there is no evidence right now that explains why Avery chose to target the 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.
Police released photos showing Avery buying the gas.
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 backward. One person covered in flames got out of one of the cars.
Rochester police and the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force are working with other law enforcement to learn more about Avery and his motivations. They are seeking the public’s help to learn more about him.
Police have asked people with information about Avery to contact the Major Crimes Unit at 585-428-7157.
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Did you know Michael Avery? We would like to hear from you, too. Contact Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard at citynews@syracuse.com.
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Staff writer Rylee Kirk covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, photo, question or comment? Reach her at 315-396-5961, on Twitter @kirk_rylee, or rkirk@syracuse.com.