Police said a man who allegedly drove a U-Haul truck into people in New York City will face charges of murder and attempted murder.


NY
CNN

A the man who allegedly drove the U-Haul truck Pedestrians in New York will face one charge of second-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder on Monday, NYPD Detective Chief James Essig said at a news conference on Tuesday.

Weng Sor, a 62-year-old man from Las Vegas, allegedly drove a U-Haul on Monday and hit people as he ran to avoid a stop, according to police.

According to Essig, the 44-year-old man died as a result of his injuries, and eight other people, including a police officer, were injured. One person is in a critical but stable condition, while the others’ injuries range from broken bones to cuts and bruises, Essig said.

CNN was unable to immediately locate Sora’s lawyer. It is unclear what formal charges will be brought against Sora when he appears in criminal court in Kings County.

“He is still in police custody, so no charges will be forthcoming,” the Brooklyn Attorney’s Office said in an emailed response. “I’m still dealing with the allegations.”

The incident happened when police Around 10:49 a.m., a rented truck pulled up in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, the New York City Police Department said. The driver fled the police and was detained a few blocks from the scene after hitting the victims.

Body footage from the camera shows officers running to remove dozens of elementary school students from the street a block and a half from the scene and less than 10 minutes before Sor was taken into custody.

“Guys, get off the street! Let’s go to! Get off the street! Everyone from the street!” One officer is heard yelling at the students and teachers at Bay Ridge Preparatory School.

According to Essig, Sor lives in Las Vegas with his mother and traveled to Florida on February 1, where he rented a U-Haul.

Sor was arrested in South Carolina while driving to New York for reckless driving and marijuana possession, he added.

The suspect’s ex-wife and son live in Brooklyn, Essig said, and Sor stopped twice at their home to shower before Monday’s incident. The second time he had a “quarrel with his son,” Essig told reporters.

“Based on interviews with members of his family and confirmed during questioning by members of the New York Detective Bureau, we believe Mr. Sor was suffering from a mental health crisis,” Essig said. “At present, there is no connection to terrorism.”

According to a law enforcement source, it appears that Sor lived at U-Haul. Boxes containing his clothes and other belongings were found in the van, the source said.

According to Essig, Sor told investigators that on Monday, while driving a rented truck, he saw “an invisible object approaching the car.”

“And at that moment he says:“ I’ve had enough, ”and starts to run amok,” Essig said.

According to him, Sor told the police that they should have shot him when he was arrested.