NEW YORK CITY, NY (WKZO AM/FM) — A man who drove his car through crowds of people in Times Square in 2017, killing a Portage teenager was cleared of responsibility Wednesday, June 22, because of mental illness.
A New York City jury accepted an insanity defense claiming that 31-year-old Richard Rojas was so psychologically disturbed when he killed 18-year-old Alyssa Elsman and injured over 20 others.
Rojas was found not responsible for one count of murder and more than 20 counts of attempted murder due to mental illness.
The jury started deliberations Tuesday afternoon, and reached a decision on all counts the following day.
Rojas drove over three sidewalks in Times Square injuring 22 people, and killing Elsman, who was in New York City on vacation with her family from Portage.
