Times Square Attacker Indicted by Grand Jury

After the incident that occurred in Times Square on Thursday, May 18, the suspect was consequently indicted by a grand jury on Wednesday, May 24.  The attack that happened that day resulted in a total of 23 casualties, killing one and injuring an additional 22.  The events followed when a “speeding car plowed into pedestrians in Manhattan’s bustling Times Square,”—the man behind the wheel is Richard Rojas, a 26-year-old from the Bronx and a former ensign in the United States Navy.

Not making an appearance in a Manhattan court, Rojas was arrested on charges of murder and attempted murder.  Rojas reportedly told authorities following his arrest that, “he had been smoking marijuana laced with the hallucinogenic drug PCP, according to a criminal complaint.  He said he wanted to ‘kill them all’ and police should have shot him to stop him, prosecutors said.”  The incident instantly killed Alyssa Elsman, an 18-year-old from Portage, Michigan, also injuring her younger sister, Ava.  In following days, a memorial has been dedicated to Alyssa at the site of the crime, “adorned with flowers, photos and handwritten messages.”

Richard Rojas, in addition to this crime, also has a record of two DUI’s and past cases as well.  He reportedly “pleaded guilty two weeks ago to harassment in the Bronx after he was accused of pulling a knife on a notary in his home.”  Deemed mentally unstable by some, “His mind was clouded with conspiracy theories.  His dreams of opening his own clothing business had wilted.  He lashed out at friends who challenged him; some thought that his grasp of reality had slipped and that he needed psychiatric help.”  What seems like the end to a sad story only unfolds more as Rojas had many other aspirations in life.

Being an ensign in the Navy, Rojas took great pride in his duty to his country.  His friend, Hansel Guerrero, says that, “He wanted really badly to be in the Navy.  To him it was a journey out of New York life.  He was exploring.”  Having served for a total of three years in the Navy (with some time aboard the U.S.S. Carney), Rojas felt great pride when he received a promotion, promptly texting Guerrero with the news.  But, things took a turn when he was arrested and charged both with battery and resisting arrest.  He shouted, “My life is over,” according to the arrest report.

Seeing the Navy as elusive and destructive, he did not trust his companions enough to express his frustrations regarding the force—Guerrero says, “He was angry.  It was kind of hard to talk to him because it was like, if you go against him he’d see you as an enemy.”  It was with this that Guerrero’s life changed and his abuse of illegal substances had thus risen.

Victims of the incident still remain affected, whether recovering physically or mentally.  Regardless, Rojas’s indictment will come to a relief for all that his self will be detained, keeping harm’s influence away from the well-being of the public.

Featured Image via Flickr/joeiseyshowaa