Authorities are continuing to dig into the background of 26-year-old Richard Rojas, a Bronx man accused of slamming his car into a crowd of pedestrians in Times Square.
Rojas didn’t have alcohol in his system, but police believe he may have used some kind of drug before Thursday’s incident. His 2009 Honda Accord jumped the sidewalk at West 42nd Street and didn’t stop until crashing at West 45th Street.
Alyssa Elsman, an 18-year-old tourist from Michigan on vacation with her family was killed. Twenty two others were injured.
“It's a tough day for New York City, but as usual, the people of New York City will stand firm, will be resilient,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
Rojas has a history of arrests, including two DWIs. He was also dishonorably discharged from the Navy in 2014. Police searched his apartment in the Bronx on Thursday.
Rojas has been charged with murder, 20 counts of attempted murder and five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide.
A large portion of Times Square remained closed on Friday morning as the investigation continues.
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