Richard Rojas
One person was killed and 22 were injured when a car struck pedestrians in New York's Times Square. The driver was former US Navy veteran, Richard Rojas, 26, from the Bronx. Photo: Youtube

Authorities in New York pointed to 26-year-old Richard Rojas as the alleged perpetrator of multiple manslaughter in Times Square that left one dead and 22 wounded. Rojas, from The Bronx, killed a young woman, Alyssa Elsman, 18, a tourist from Portage, Michigan. Police say Elsman's 13-year-old sister, Ava Elsman, was among the people who were struck but survived.

"We feel deeply for those injured and particularly for the family of the young woman who was lost. Our prayers are with all of them," New York City mayor Bill de Blasio said on Twitter.

The alleged perpetrator had been arrested on previous occasions for driving under the influence of alcohol, and police authorities have dismissed the possibility of a terror attack. The case is handled as a traffic accident.

Rojas is a Navy veteran and was captured at the scene and arrested. According to AP officials say Rojas told officers he was hearing voices. In the videos you can see the moment the suspect smashed his maroon vehicle into unsuspecting pedestrians and then tried to flee the scene before being pinned to the ground by heroic bystanders.

Romper reported that Elsman graduated from Michigan's Portage Central High School, and her high school paper indicated that she'd made plans to attend West Michigan University.

© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.