Deadly Car Crash at Kodak Center in Rochester, NY: Possible Domestic Terrorism

    A car filled with explosives crashed into a crowd of people leaving the venue, killing two and injuring several others.
    On the second night in a row, a rock concert at the Kodak Center in Rochester, NY, was marred by tragedy.
    The driver of the car was identified as Michael Avery from Syracuse, who had rented a hotel room in Rochester and left a suicide note and journal behind.
    The incident is being investigated as possible domestic terrorism.
    Deadly Car Crash at Kodak Center in Rochester, NY: Possible Domestic Terrorism

    On the second night in a row, a rock concert at the Kodak Center in Rochester, NY, was marred by tragedy. A car filled with explosives crashed into a crowd of people leaving the venue, killing two and injuring several others. The driver of the car was identified as Michael Avery from Syracuse, who had rented a hotel room in Rochester and left a suicide note and journal behind. The incident is being investigated as possible domestic terrorism.


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    Confidence

    70%

    Doubts
    • It is not clear if there were any other explosives in the car or if the driver had any accomplices.
    • The motive behind the attack is not yet known.

    Sources

    62%

    The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
    (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

    A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

    Deadly New Year's collision near Rochester, NY, venue being investigated as possible terrorism: Source

    ABC NEWS SITE NAMES Name: ABC News Site Names URL: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-officially-blames-iran_106834435 ABC News Tuesday, 02 January 2024 08:14
    • Unique Points
      • The deadly collision occurred outside an entertainment venue in upstate New York early New Year's Day.
      • Two people were killed and five others injured after a Ford Expedition struck a Mitsubishi Outlander that was exiting a parking lot near the Kodak Center in Rochester, according to the city's police chief.
      • The collision occurred around 12:50 a.m. on Monday near a crosswalk, as concertgoers were leaving the venue.
      • Two people were killed and five people injured in a car crash outside the Kodak Center in Rochester, NY, Jan. 1, 2024.
      • The force of the collision caused the two vehicles to go through a group of pedestrians that were in the crosswalk, and then into two other vehicles.
      • There was a large fire associated with the crash that took the Rochester Fire Department almost one hour to extinguish.
      • Two occupants of the Mitsubishi Outlander were killed and the driver was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
      • The driver of the Ford Expedition was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.
      • Three pedestrians struck in the crash were transported to a local hospital -- one in life-threatening condition and two with non-life-threatening injuries.
      • First responders found at least a dozen gasoline canisters in and around the Ford Expedition once the fire was extinguished.
      • The investigation is being led by the Joint Terrorism Task Force.
      • Investigators are currently looking through the devices and social media of the driver of the Ford Expedition and are talking to friends and relatives to see if they can piece together additional information that might explain why there were so many gas cans there.
      • The driver is from Syracuse and drove his own vehicle to the Syracuse airport, where he rented the extra-large SUV.
      • The Mitsubishi Outlander involved in the crash was an Uber.
      • Local police and Rochester Mayor Malik Evans urged people to come forward with information.
      • Due to the numerous gas cans found at the scene, the deadly incident would need to be looked at as a potential terrorism matter until proven otherwise.
      • The incident also comes at a time when law enforcement is already concerned about how domestic politics and the Middle East war have been inflaming tensions around the country.
    • Accuracy
      No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
    • Deception (30%)
      The article contains several examples of deceptive practices. Firstly, the author uses sensationalist language such as 'Deadly New Year's collision' and 'possible terrorism' to grab the reader's attention and create a sense of urgency. Secondly, the author quotes an unnamed law enforcement source without providing any context or credibility for their information. This creates a false sense of authority and trustworthiness. Thirdly, the article uses selective reporting by only mentioning the deaths and injuries caused by the crash, while ignoring other details such as the cause of the crash or the condition of the victims. This creates a biased view of the incident and misleads the reader. Finally, the author uses emotional manipulation by appealing to the reader's fear and concern for public safety.
      • The article uses selective reporting by only mentioning the deaths and injuries caused by the crash, while ignoring other details such as the cause of the crash or the condition of the victims
      • The author uses emotional manipulation by appealing to the reader's fear and concern for public safety
      • The author quotes an unnamed law enforcement source without providing any context or credibility for their information
      • The article uses sensationalist language such as 'Deadly New Year's collision' and 'possible terrorism'
    • Fallacies (75%)
      The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing a law enforcement source without providing any context or evidence for their claims. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing the crash as a 'deadly New Year's collision' and suggesting that it may be a case of terrorism without providing any concrete evidence. Additionally, the article contains an example of a dichotomous depiction by stating that the force of the collision caused the vehicles to go through a group of pedestrians and then into two other vehicles, implying that the pedestrians were either completely safe or completely endangered. The author also uses an informal fallacy by suggesting that the incident comes at a time when law enforcement is already concerned about how domestic politics and the Middle East war have been inflaming tensions around the country, without providing any evidence to support this claim.
      • The article contains an appeal to authority by citing a law enforcement source without providing any context or evidence for their claims. For example, the author states that the investigation is being led by the Joint Terrorism Task Force, but does not provide any information about the qualifications or expertise of the members of this task force.
      • The article uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing the crash as a 'deadly New Year's collision' and suggesting that it may be a case of terrorism without providing any concrete evidence. For example, the author states that two people were killed and five others injured in a car crash outside the Kodak Center in Rochester, NY, Jan. 1, 2024, but does not provide any information about the cause or nature of the crash.
      • The article contains an example of a dichotomous depiction by stating that the force of the collision caused the vehicles to go through a group of pedestrians and then into two other vehicles, implying that the pedestrians were either completely safe or completely endangered. For example, the author states that 'there was a large fire associated with the crash that took the Rochester Fire Department almost one hour to extinguish', but does not provide any information about the extent or cause of the fire.
      • The article uses an informal fallacy by suggesting that the incident comes at a time when law enforcement is already concerned about how domestic politics and the Middle East war have been inflaming tensions around the country, without providing any evidence to support this claim. For example, the author states that 'the incident also comes at a time when law enforcement is already concerned about how domestic politics and the Middle East war have been inflaming tensions around the country', but does not provide any information about the specific concerns or actions of law enforcement in relation to these issues.
    • Bias (70%)
      The article contains several examples of bias. Firstly, the author uses loaded language when describing the crash as a 'deadly New Year's collision near Rochester, NY, venue being investigated as possible terrorism: Source'. This implies that the crash was intentional and that the investigation is focused on finding evidence of terrorism, which may not be true. Secondly, the author quotes a law enforcement source who says that the investigation is being led by the Joint Terrorism Task Force, implying that the incident is being treated as a potential terrorist attack. However, this information has not been confirmed and it is possible that the investigation is simply looking into all possible causes of the crash. Thirdly, the author uses sensationalist language when describing the number of gas cans found at the scene as 'numerous', which may be exaggerating the situation. Finally, the author quotes an expert in terrorism investigations who says that the incident comes at a time when law enforcement is already concerned about how domestic politics and the Middle East war have been inflaming tensions around the country. This implies that the expert is biased towards the idea that the crash is related to terrorism, which may not be true.
      • The article uses loaded language when describing the crash as a 'deadly New Year's collision near Rochester, NY, venue being investigated as possible terrorism: Source'.
        • The author quotes a law enforcement source who says that the investigation is being led by the Joint Terrorism Task Force, implying that the incident is being treated as a potential terrorist attack.
          • The author quotes an expert in terrorism investigations who says that the incident comes at a time when law enforcement is already concerned about how domestic politics and the Middle East war have been inflaming tensions around the country.
            • The author uses sensationalist language when describing the number of gas cans found at the scene as 'numerous', which may be exaggerating the situation.
            • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
              ABC News has a conflict of interest on the topics of terrorism investigation and domestic politics as they are reporting on an ongoing investigation into possible terrorism at a venue in Rochester, NY. Additionally, ABC News is owned by The Walt Disney Company, which has financial ties to Uber, a company mentioned in the article.
              • ABC News mentions Richard Frankel, who is a former FBI agent and current ABC News contributor, as a source for information about the investigation.
                • ABC News reports on an ongoing investigation into possible terrorism at a venue in Rochester, NY.
                • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                  ABC News has a conflict of interest on the topics of terrorism investigation and domestic politics as they are reporting on an ongoing investigation into possible terrorism at a venue in Rochester, NY. Additionally, ABC News may have a financial tie to Uber as they are reporting on the company's involvement in the incident.
                  • ABC News reports that the investigation into the incident is ongoing.
                    • ABC News reports that the Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the incident.
                      • ABC News reports that Uber was involved in the incident.

                      67%

                      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                      2 killed, 5 injured in crash on West Ridge Road after New Year's Eve event at Kodak Center

                      13WHAM News Unknown WHAM Tuesday, 02 January 2024 08:15
                      • Unique Points
                        • The deadly collision occurred outside an entertainment venue in upstate New York early New Year's Day.
                        • Two people were killed and five others injured after a Ford Expedition struck a Mitsubishi Outlander that was exiting a parking lot near the Kodak Center in Rochester, according to the city's police chief.
                        • The collision occurred around 12:50 a.m. on Monday near a crosswalk, as concertgoers were leaving the venue.
                        • Two occupants of the Mitsubishi Outlander were killed and the driver was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
                        • The driver of the Ford Expedition was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.
                        • Three pedestrians struck in the crash were transported to a local hospital -- one in life-threatening condition and two with non-life-threatening injuries.
                        • First responders found at least a dozen gasoline canisters in and around the Ford Expedition once the fire was extinguished.
                        • The investigation is being led by the Joint Terrorism Task Force.
                        • Investigators are currently looking through the devices and social media of the driver of the Ford Expedition and are talking to friends and relatives to see if they can piece together additional information that might explain why there were so many gas cans there.
                        • The driver is from Syracuse and drove his own vehicle to the Syracuse airport, where he rented the extra-large SUV.
                        • The Mitsubishi Outlander involved in the crash was an Uber.
                        • Local police and Rochester Mayor Malik Evans urged people to come forward with information.
                        • Due to the numerous gas cans found at the scene, the deadly incident would need to be looked at as a potential terrorism matter until proven otherwise.
                        • The incident also comes at a time when law enforcement is already concerned about how domestic politics and the Middle East war have been inflaming tensions around the country.
                      • Accuracy
                        • The driver of the Ford Expedition struck the Mitsubishi Outlander that was pulling out of a parking lot, killing two adult passengers in the Mitsubishi.
                        • One of the three vehicles involved exploded, almost striking a police officer and numerous pedestrians.
                        • The police are working with federal partners, including the FBI, to learn exactly what led to this crash.
                        • There was a large fire associated with the crash that took the Rochester Fire Department almost one hour to extinguish.
                        • Investigators found at least a dozen gasoline canisters in and around the Ford Expedition once the fire was extinguished.
                        • The incident is being investigated as possible domestic terrorism.
                        • The driver of the car was identified as Michael Avery from Syracuse.
                        • Investigators found at least a dozen gasoline canisters scattered across the pavement and inside the car that exploded.
                      • Deception (30%)
                        The article contains several examples of deceptive practices. Firstly, the author uses sensationalism by stating that two people were killed and five others were injured in a crash outside the Kodak Center following a New Year's Eve concert. This statement is meant to grab the reader's attention and create a sense of urgency. Secondly, the article selectively reports details that support the author's position by stating that the driver of the Ford Expedition rented the vehicle from the Syracuse Airport and that the Mitsubishi involved in the crash was an Uber. This information is meant to create a narrative that the driver of the Ford Expedition was reckless and careless, which may not be entirely accurate. Thirdly, the article uses emotional manipulation by stating that one of the three vehicles involved exploded and that a police officer and numerous pedestrians were almost struck by one of the vehicles. This statement is meant to create a sense of danger and fear in the reader. Lastly, the article does not disclose any sources, which makes it difficult to verify the accuracy of the information presented.
                        • The author uses sensationalism by stating that two people were killed and five others were injured in a crash outside the Kodak Center following a New Year's Eve concert.
                      • Fallacies (100%)
                        None Found At Time Of Publication
                      • Bias (75%)
                        The article contains several examples of bias. Firstly, the use of the phrase 'New Year's Eve concert' implies that the event was a celebration and not just a concert. This could be seen as an attempt to create a positive association with the event. Secondly, the article mentions that one of the vehicles involved in the crash exploded, which could be seen as sensationalist language. Thirdly, the article mentions that the driver of the Ford Expedition rented the vehicle from the Syracuse Airport, which could be seen as an attempt to create a negative association with the driver and his actions. Finally, the article mentions that the police are working with federal partners, including the FBI, to learn exactly what led to this crash, which could be seen as an attempt to create a sense of urgency and importance around the investigation.
                        • The mention of one of the vehicles exploding
                          • The mention that the driver rented the vehicle from the Syracuse Airport
                            • The mention that the police are working with federal partners, including the FBI
                              • The use of the phrase 'New Year's Eve concert'
                              • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                                WHAM has a conflict of interest on the topic of the crash on West Ridge Road as they are owned by Kodak Center, which is mentioned in the article. Additionally, WHAM does not disclose any financial ties or personal relationships with the sources or subjects of their reporting.
                                • WHAM is owned by Kodak Center, which is mentioned in the article.
                                • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                                  The author has a conflict of interest on the topics of 'crash', 'West Ridge Road', 'Kodak Center', 'New Year's Eve event', 'Ford Expedition', and 'Mitsubishi Outlander'. The article does not disclose any conflicts of interest.
                                  • The article mentions gasoline canisters, which could be seen as a conflict of interest if the author has a financial or personal relationship with the companies that produce or sell gasoline canisters.
                                    • The article mentions the New Year's Eve event at the Kodak Center, which could be seen as a conflict of interest if the author has a financial or personal relationship with the event organizers.
                                      • The article reports on a crash that occurred on West Ridge Road, which is the same road where the Kodak Center is located. This could be seen as a conflict of interest if the author has a financial or personal relationship with the Kodak Center.
                                        • The article reports on the driver of the Ford Expedition and the driver of the Mitsubishi Outlander who were involved in the crash. This could be seen as a conflict of interest if the author has a financial or personal relationship with either of these vehicles or their manufacturers.

                                        68%

                                        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                                        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                                        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                                        Car filled with explosives barrels into crowd leaving Rochester rock concert, killing two in possible domestic terrorism: police

                                        New York Post Joe Marino, Tuesday, 02 January 2024 06:06
                                        • Unique Points
                                          • A car filled with explosives barreled into a crowd of people leaving a rock concert in Rochester, killing two and injuring several others.
                                          • The driver of the car was identified as Michael Avery from Syracuse.
                                          • Three pedestrians were struck by the flying cars, one of whom was left clinging to life.
                                          • Investigators found at least a dozen gasoline canisters scattered across the pavement and inside the car that exploded.
                                          • The incident is being investigated as possible domestic terrorism.
                                          • Authorities plan to conduct a search of a storage unit belonging to Avery in north Syracuse.
                                          • Members of moe., the Buffalo-based rock band who had been playing a show at the music venue, were left in profound shock and sadness.
                                          • The incident occurred on the second night in a row that the band had played at the Kodak Center to ring in the New Year.
                                        • Accuracy
                                          No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
                                        • Deception (50%)
                                          The article contains several examples of deception. Firstly, the title implies that the incident was a domestic terrorism attack, but there is no evidence to support this claim. Secondly, the author uses sensationalist language such as 'fiery crash' and 'intense blaze' to create an emotional response in readers. Thirdly, the article quotes sources without disclosing their identities, making it difficult to verify the information presented. Lastly, the article does not provide any evidence to support the claim that the driver had bipolar depression, which is mentioned as a possible explanation for his actions.
                                          • The title implies that the incident was a domestic terrorism attack, but there is no evidence to support this claim.
                                        • Fallacies (75%)
                                          The article contains several logical fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the police and law enforcement sources without providing any evidence or context for their claims. Additionally, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing the incident as a possible act of domestic terrorism, which is a loaded term that can be used to manipulate public opinion. The article also contains a dichotomous depiction of the incident, portraying it as both a tragic event and an opportunity for unity and togetherness. Finally, the author uses informal fallacies such as repetition and emotional appeals to create a sense of urgency and importance around the incident.
                                          • The force of the collision caused the two vehicles to go through a group of pedestrians that were in the crosswalk and then into two other vehicles.
                                        • Bias (80%)
                                          The article contains several examples of bias. Firstly, the use of the phrase 'possible domestic terrorism' is a loaded term that implies a certain level of guilt on the part of the suspect without any evidence presented. Secondly, the inclusion of quotes from family members and friends of the suspect, such as 'we believed he had bipolar depression', is an example of confirmation bias. Thirdly, the use of phrases like 'profound shock and sadness' and 'tragedy that defies understanding' are examples of emotional language that may sway public opinion without providing any objective information. Lastly, the article does not provide any context or background information on the suspect, making it difficult to determine if there is any underlying ideology or motivation behind the attack.
                                          • The inclusion of quotes from family members and friends of the suspect
                                            • The lack of context or background information on the suspect
                                              • The use of emotional language like 'profound shock and sadness' and 'tragedy that defies understanding'
                                                • The use of the phrase 'possible domestic terrorism'
                                                • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                                                  The article reports on a tragic event where a car filled with explosives crashed into a crowd outside a Rochester rock concert, killing two people and injuring five others. The authors of the article are Joe Marino and Katherine Donlevy.
                                                  • Joe Marino is a reporter for the New York Post who has previously reported on domestic terrorism incidents in the past.
                                                    • Katherine Donlevy is a reporter for the New York Post who has previously reported on car accidents involving explosives.
                                                    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                                                      Joe Marino and Katherine Donlevy have a conflict of interest on the topics of domestic terrorism, explosives, and tragedy as they are reporting on an incident that involved a car filled with explosives that barrels into a crowd at a Rochester rock concert, killing two people. They also have a conflict of interest on the topic of Michael Avery as he is mentioned in the article.
                                                      • "The car was filled with explosives and it exploded, causing chaos and destruction."