Trevor Bickford seemed to be a typical, all-American teenager earlier than he allegedly grew to become a radicalized Muslim and slashed two cops with a machete in Occasions Sq..
The alleged Islamic extremist, 19, as soon as made the varsity honor roll, gained awards for his paintings and was a member of the championship soccer group in his hometown of Wells, Maine.
However after his father died of a drug overdose in 2018, it is believed Bickford’s life descended into turmoil.
By the point Bickford made his solution to New York Metropolis on Amtrak alone for the alleged assaults this weekend, the teenager was already reportedly on the FBI’s radar.
He was on the Bureau’s terrorism ‘Guardian Watchlist,’ and had advised his aunt he was planning to journey to Afghanistan to struggle, sources advised The New York Publish.
On Saturday night time, Bickford allegedly attacked two NYPD cops on Eighth Avenue between 51st and 52nd Road, proper outdoors Occasions Sq. the place 1000’s of revelers have been ringing within the new yr.
One other officer shot at Bickford, hanging him within the shoulder. He stays hospitalized on the Bellevue and expenses are pending.
The entire household is pictured in happier instances on the Tower of Terror in Disney World
Trevor Bickford, 19, seemed to be a typical teen earlier than he allegedly grew to become radicalized and made his solution to Occasions Sq. on New Yr’s Eve the place he’s {accused} of slashing two cops
Bickford, now 19, allegedly approached a gaggle of NYPD cops close to Occasions Sq. on New Yr’s Eve and slashed two of the cops with a machete
Bickford doesn’t have prison document in response to a preliminary investigation, however police sources say the Bureau in Boston have an open case on him.
Authorities have advised NBC they have been wanting into whether or not the suspect had beforehand posted what they known as jihadist writings on-line and after which traveled to New York Metropolis to focus on police.
Images posted to Fb present Bickford at totally different instances of his life, many along with his two brothers Devin and Travis. There are photographs of Bickford enjoying soccer with the championship Wells Excessive Faculty Warriors soccer group, singing within the choir and marching with the colour guard.
As not too long ago as 2020, he was amongst a gaggle of scholars to win awards for his or her paintings. Bickford gained for his work in jewellery, Seacoastonline reported on the time.
Previous to his father’s demise in 2018, Thomas Bickford proudly posted photographs of his sons and their achievements. Household and pals have been fast to reward the boys and their vivid futures.
Bickford’s father died on the age of 41, in response to his obituary.
Bickford’s father Tom posted a photographs of his sons at a Bears sport in 2015. Tom died in 2018
Bickford is from Wells, Maine the place his household has lived for many of their lives
His dad Thomas Bickford died unexpectedly in 2018 at age 41, in response to his obit
His dad and mom Thomas and Audra D’Antilio married on September 9, 2001 and raised three sons, Devin, Trevor and Travis, in Wells, Maine.
The patriarch of the household could possibly be usually be discovered teaching them at soccer and wrestling, in response to the obituary.
It additionally mentioned he was typically laborious on his sons by way of his model of teaching, however ‘he beloved his boys greater than something.’
Bickford’s mom Audra D’Antilio, who finally remarried, additionally has a slew of photographs on her Fb web page the place she gushes about her son, calling him an ‘outdated soul’ and writes that she feels fortunate to be his mom.
On July 28, she shared a photograph of Bickford for his nineteenth birthday and wrote: ‘Blissful nineteenth Birthday Trevor. So proud and fortunate to have the ability to name you my son.
‘You are an outdated soul and also you amaze me day by day with all that you simply get pleasure from to discover and do. I really like that you haven’t any worry of attempting new issues, and also you really are one of the best brother ever. I’m so past happy with the person you might be turning into, I really like you.’
Simply six months later, Bickford is being {accused} of the assaults on the NYPD officers. Bickford and the cops are all at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, the place are all anticipated to outlive.
The assault occurred simply outdoors of the high-security zone the place 1000’s of revelers have been screened for weapons as they ready to ring in 2023.
Bickford allegedly slashed two officers with this machete on eighth Avenue close to Occasions Sq. round 10pm final night time the place 1000’s of revelers ready to ring within the new yr
One other officer fired on the suspect, hitting him within the shoulder. All the injured have been taken to Bellevue Hospital the place they’re in critical however steady situation, officers have mentioned
An investigation was underway to pinpoint a motive for the assault, however authorities mentioned they didn’t consider there was any ongoing menace to the general public.
Michael Driscoll, the assistant director accountable for the FBI’s New York discipline workplace, mentioned they consider the attacker acted alone.
Authorities have advised NBC they have been wanting into whether or not the suspect had beforehand posted what they known as jihadist writings on-line and after which traveled to New York Metropolis to focus on police.
Sources advised the New York Publish that Bickford packs tenting gear, a diary and a final will and testomony for his journey all the way down to Manhattan for the assaults.
Bickford’s mom has a slew of photographs on her Fb web page the place she gushes concerning the 19-year-old, calling him an ‘outdated soul’ and says she’s fortunate to be his mom
Images posted on-line by his household present Bickford along with his brothers or along with his canine
A smiling Bickford is pictured in a lot of his mom’s social media posts
The slashing unfolded simply simply outdoors the safety zone in Occasions Sq., the place 1000’s gathered for the annual New Yr’s Eve ball drop. Police screened revelers for contraband akin to alcohol, massive luggage, and weapons.
Video from the scene exhibits revelers being hurried from the scene by cops trying to manage the scene, positioned at 52nd road and eighth avenue. Officers might be seen screaming at pedestrians to maneuver away from the crime scene.
The NYPD mounts a large safety operation yearly to maintain the New Yr’s Eve crowd protected. 1000’s of officers are deployed within the space, together with many new recruits to the power.
The blocks the place the most important crowds collect to see performances and the midnight ball drop can solely be accessed via checkpoints the place officers use metal-detecting wands to display for weapons. ‘
Giant luggage and coolers are banned. Boundaries are set as much as stop automobile assaults within the safe space.
The safety perimeter can solely prolong thus far, although. The assault passed off on eighth Avenue, which is usually filled with thick crowds navigating across the frozen zone or looking for one of many safe entrances.
