The two people killed in a fiery crash committed by a terror suspect on New Year’s Day have been named.
Justina Hughes, 28, and Joshua Orr, 29, were passengers in an Uber that had been leaving the Rochester rock concert around 12:52 am, when it was suddenly struck by 35-year-old Michael Avery’s rented SUV.
The Ford had been rented days before, and Avery preloaded it with gasoline canisters before the crash, cops said. An explosion ensued, leaving the two dead and nine injured. Avery, now being looked at as a potential terrorist, died as well.
Investigators later said that Avery – who lived an hour away in Warner – intentionally sped up toward a crowd leaving the show, before hitting the rideshare car instead.
Hughes and Orr are being remembered as ‘heroes,’ as relatives Tuesday asserted that ‘many other lives were saved because they became, albeit unaware, a shield for others.’ The pair were also revealed to be ‘best friends,’ who family said likely found ‘peace’ in the fact they spent their last moments together.
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Justina Hughes, 28, and Joshua Orr, 29, were passengers in an Uber that had been leaving the Rochester rock concert around 12:52 am, when it was struck by a car rigged with explosives
An explosion ensued that left nine injured, and the driver of the other vehicle dead as well. The FBI is looking into whether domestic terrorism is still being looked at as a possible motive,
‘Oh how she loved music,’ Hughes’ family said a statement, which remembered the victim as a ‘beautiful free spirit’.
‘It was the passion that gave her the most joy,’ it continued.
‘We take peace in knowing that Justina and her very best friend, Josh, spent their last moments together, enjoying their passion and friendship.
‘We also take comfort in knowing that many other lives were saved because they became, albeit unaware, a shield for others.
‘[B]ecause of that, they will forever be heroes,’ they concluded.
The statement, issued after lawmen identified the pair Tuesday, was accompanied by one from Orr’s family.
It revealed how on the night of the crash, Orr had been doing ‘his favorite thing in the world, attending a Grateful Dead tribute band when he was taken from us.’
‘Josh was a beautiful, generous human, filled with love and positivity and an advocate for those struggling with mental health,’ relatives wrote, as cops revealed Orr to be from Webster, a suburb of Rochester.
‘Aside from his family, he loved his girlfriend and his dog Eddie,’ it continued.
‘On New Year’s Eve Josh was doing his favorite thing in the world… Josh is a hero and saved countless lives from being taken away from our community.’
Cops confirmed that the suspect, 35-year-old Michael Avery, bought several gas cannisters from various stores on December 30 before carrying out the attack. His motive, as of Wednesday, remains unknown
‘Oh how she loved music,’ Hughes’ family said a statement, which remembered the female victim as a ‘beautiful free spirit’
‘We take peace in knowing that Justina and her very best friend, Josh, spent their last moments together, enjoying their passion and friendship. ‘We also take comfort in knowing that many other lives were saved because they became, albeit unaware, a shield for others’
The statement, issued after lawmen identified the pair Tuesday, was accompanied by one from Orr’s family.
It revealed how on the night of the crash, Orr had been doing ‘his favorite thing in the world, attending a Grateful Dead tribute band when he was taken from us.’
‘Josh was a beautiful, generous human, filled with love and positivity and an advocate for those struggling with mental health,’ relatives wrote, as cops revealed Orr to be from Webster, a suburb of Rochester.
The tribute band the family had referred to, Upstate New York fixture moe., also issued a statement about the incident.
‘On a night that was meant for celebration and togetherness, we are faced instead with a tragedy that defies understanding,’ the band posted to Facebook before Orr and Hughes – who hailed from Geneva – were named .
‘In these moments of confusion and grief, we stand together in solidarity,’ the bulletin continued.
‘While the full details of the incident are still unfolding, our focus remains on the well-being of those affected and on the spirit of unity that has always been the hallmark of our community.
‘We believe in the power of music to heal and unite, and it is in this spirit that we will continue to move forward.
‘Take care of yourselves and each other, as we navigate this time together.’
Hours before, the group played to a crowd of roughly 1,000 at the Kodak Center Sunday night.
Intended to ring in the New Year, the incident instead rocked an entire city, and, as of Tuesday, has yet to be explained.
‘Aside from his family, he loved his girlfriend and his dog Eddie,’ it continued. ‘On New Year’s Eve Josh was doing his favorite thing in the world… Josh is a hero and saved countless lives from being taken away from our community’
Due to the potential implications of the attack, the FBI is involved, though agents based in the city this week said there is no evidence Avery was acting with terror in mind.
Due to the potential implications of the attack, the FBI is involved, though agents based in the city this week said there is no evidence Avery was acting with terror in mind.
Agent Jeremy Bell, who operates out of the city, said in a statement Tuesday: ‘So far, we’ve uncovered no evidence of an ideology and no nexus to terrorism either international or domestic.’
The agent added that neither the Bureau or Rochester police had found any evidence Avery acted on ‘political or social biases’, and revealed that – contrary to early reports – authorities had not recovered a suicide note from the scene.
Still, domestic terrorism is still being looked at as a possible motive, CNN reported, as investigators remain unsure what exactly motivated the man from more than 80 miles away to speed toward in the crowd.
At a press conference Tuesday, Rochester Police Chief David M. Smith said the suspect’s family believed he had a ‘possible undiagnosed mental health issue,’ though did not say more.
He also confirmed that Avery had bought at least half a dozen gasoline canisters from various stores in the Ontario area on December 30 – the same cannisters that can be seen littering the street in photos from the incident’s aftermath.
Agent Jeremy Bell, who operates out of the city, said in a statement Tuesday: ‘So far, we’ve uncovered no evidence of an ideology and no nexus to terrorism either international or domestic.’
The agent added that neither the Bureau or Rochester police had found any evidence Avery acted on ‘political or social biases’, and revealed that – contrary to early reports – authorities had not recovered a suicide note from the scene.
Still, domestic terrorism is still being looked at as a possible motive, CNN reported, as investigators remain unsure what exactly motivated the Upstate man from more than 80 miles away to carry out the attack
Meanwhile, cops in nearby Camillus – a community six minutes north of Warner – revealed that Avery had a few ‘minor’ interactions with lawmen between 2003 and 2016, when officers enacted an investigation into an alleged larceny in 2003 and a verbal altercation with a family member in 2010.
Cops in Geddes – another Syracuse set community a few miles away – added Avery had a DWI in 2006.
Police in Syracuse added the suspect – who was seen in surveillance photos purchasing the gas cannisters – was involved in a small traffic accident in 2016.
Aside from that, his record is clean, and police in Rochester reiterated Tuesday that they had no reason to know the accused killer’s name.
He died in a hospital shortly after the crash, after initially surviving.
Cops added that at least one other victim has been left with “life-altering” injuries as a result of his alleged, actions while the others are expected to make full recoveries.
DailyMail.com has approached the Rochester Police Department for comment.