Syracuse Area Man Picks His Father’s Birthday for ROC Attack

Close-up of a young man with dark hair, a beard, and glasses, looking slightly to the right.
A Syracuse area man, identified in connection with a recent incident, is pictured in this undated photo.

The Syracuse-area man chose his dead dad’s birthday for the day on his attack at a New Year’s Eve concert in Rochester.

35-year-old Micheal Avery of North Syracuse and Warners, killed two people and injured nine outside the Kodak Center in Rochester just before 1 a.m.  New Year’s Day.

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.

28-year-old Justina Hughes, of Geneva and 29-year old Joshua Orr, of Webster, were passengers in that rideshare vehicle, both died in the crash.

Syracuse.com reports, Joseph Avery, died in 2020, according to an obituary.

Joseph Avery was born on Dec. 31, 1956.

New security video shows Avery parked near the Kodak Center before he caused the crash.

Stay Informed: Finger Lakes news, delivered to your inbox every morning.