Who was Richard Rojas?

Wha was supposed to be a day of fun turned out to be chaotic, terrifying, and unforgettable as one man plowed his car through pedestrians. Now the questions are who was this man? And why? Simply why?

It was a day like any other in the bustling Times Square, as bus tour guides put on their vests to sell their tours, commuters made their way quickly through one of the most popular tourist sites in the world, and tourists snapped away pics of the incredible heart of New York City with their camera’s and iPhones. All was well in the neighborhood until one man by the name of Richard Rojas caused a scene many will never forget.

Chaos in Times Square

On Thursday morning, Rojas took behind the wheel of a red Honda and decided to drive in the middle of Times Square towards pedestrians, making a U-Turn and going full speed, claiming the life of one, 18-year-old Alyssa Elsman, and injuring 22 other people. For three and a half blocks nothing but mayhem as people went flying as the car sped through the heart of Times Square, only to go flying on 45th street and catching fire. He then proceeded to get out of the car and start running towards people, screaming angrily before being tackled to the ground. Since then he was arrested and was taken to Bellevue Hospital Center for an evaluation, many which are presuming drugs were involved after it was concluded he was not drunk at the time of the incident.

Who was he?

He claims he was hearing voices, and that his main motive was to get the police to kill him, but he failed as being held in custody is only digging up more into his past. So who was Richard Rojas is the main question right now. Rojas, a Bronx native, with hopes and dreams like the rest of us, growing up Walton Avenue in Mount Eden, a section in the borough close to Yankee Stadium, according to the New York Times. He rode his bicycle, helped on cars, and talked about his hopes of one day living in New York City and going to college, and one day having his own clothes line. Not being able to make it to this idea, after taking a few college courses, Rojas enlisted in the Navy. Another dream fulfilled as friends say he always wanted to be in the Navy. He joined in 2011, and in 2012 he was already being promoted, assigned to the USS Carney serving six months abroad. Things would drastically change thereon after.

In September 2012, Rojas was arrested for resisting an officer. He had asked a cab driver to bring him into his barracks so that he could pay what he owed, once doing so he attacked the driver and resisted arrest. The reason for this? It is stated that alcohol was involved, as stated in an arrest report. Once in jail, he threatened a police officer that once he was out he would kill all officers and military police.

Two years later, in May of 2014, he left the navy and stated that he was “dishonorably discharged”. He left the navy with the rank of “electricians mate fireman apprentice”. Troubles would not be far for Rojas as once again he had a run-in with the law. In 2015 he was arrested in New York City for drunk driving and was arrested with his license suspended for 90 days and a fine of $500. This was his second arrest for drunk driving, his first being in 2008.

This year, Rojas once again had another run in, before his rampage in Times Square, this time threatening a man who came to his apartment in the Bronx, asking to notarize documents for him, and threatened him with a knife and grabbing him by the neck claiming he was trying to steal his identity.

In the months and years after leaving the navy, things were never the same for Rojas. Friends described him as a completely different person, depending on alcohol to get him through stress, and becoming more anxious, alone, and lost. He started expressing his hate for the government, believing in conspiracy theories and becoming more distant from his friends.