The suicidal U-Haul driver who mowed down eight people in a rampage in Brooklyn today begged police to shoot him during a high speed chase today, then told them he ‘wanted to die’ once he was in custody.
Weng Sor, 62, is now in custody after mowing down eight people in Brooklyn. His rampage started at 10.50am in Bay Ridge and ended shortly before 11.30am in Red Hook, where police finally caught up with him.
The ’emotionally disturbed’ man’s motive remains unclear, but police sources told DailyMail.com he ‘wanted to kill his enemies’.
It remains unclear how Sor, who is believed to be homeless, obtained the truck, which has Arizona license plates.
Surveillance footage shows the U-Haul seconds before striking a cyclist in Bay Ridge
Sor’s rampage began shortly before 11am in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. He took police on a 30-minute high speed chase before eventually being stopped in Brooklyn
NBC reports that he has criminal record in Nevada which includes a charge for battery and a citation for speeding just last month. In that incident, he was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation.
The New York Post reports Sor screamed at police to shoot him as they chased him, and told them he ‘wanted to die’ once in custody.
Two of the victims from today’s incident are in critical condition in the hospital, and another two are in stable condition. The other four suffered minor injuries and do not need hospital treatment.
At 11am, Sor struck down multiple people on 5th Avenue and Bay Ridge Park before driving north, with police chasing him.
He was eventually stopped in Red Hook, 30 minutes after the rampage began, after mowing down multiple moped drivers and pedestrians.
Harrowing surveillance footage from some of the stores that line his route show him mowing into a cyclist.
The incident coincides with the first day of the death penalty trial phase of Sayfullo Saipov, who killed eight people in a rented Home Depot truck on the West Side Highway in 2017.
At a press conference this afternoon, however, NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said there was no evidence that today’s incident was terror-related.
Another video shows a pedestrian narrowly avoiding being hit by the rampaging driver
The rampage sent shockwaves through the ordinarily quiet neighborhood.
Paul K, works at the supermarket nearby. He ran out of the store after he saw all the commotion and then saw the grim scene: a delivery driver, in his 30s, on the ground badly injured and his scooter nearby.
‘His head was open. His scooter was in pieces, the delivery bag was on the ground,’ he told Dailymail.Com.
‘It’s terrible. You don’t see things like this happen around here.’
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‘On third Avenue, a police officer got his foot or leg ran over when they pulled the car over but the guy took off,’ he said.
New York City councilman Justin Brannan said two of the victims were ‘badly hurt’.
All have been taken to NYU Langone Health.
‘A man driving a U-Haul went on a rampage in Bay Ridge. He was just apprehended in Sunset Park. Several people were hit and badly injured.
Members of the NYPD bomb squad examine a rental truck that was stopped and the driver arrested, Monday, Feb. 13, 2023, in New York
The truck was eventually stopped in Red Hook, 30 minutes after the driver began his rampage
The inside of the U-Haul that was driven today by Weng Sor, 62
The scene in Bay Ridge this afternoon after the U-Haul truck crashed into pedestrians and a cop
‘We have no idea of motives at this time but this wasn’t an accident.
‘Suspect was actually arrested near the BK Battery Tunnel. We think he hit at least 6 people with the truck and 2 are in very bad shape.
‘PLEASE pray for these folks,’ Brannan said.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been briefed but is yet to give any kind of statement.
City Hall said there is not thought to be any other credible threat.
‘NYC Mayor has been briefed and has been following developments regarding the UHaul truck that struck multiple pedestrians this AM in Brooklyn.
‘While the suspect is in custody, the NYPD is still investigating.
‘There are no additional credible threats at this time,’ a statement said.
NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell at the scene of the incident on Monday afternoon
Another view of the location of the U-Haul. It’s believed police chased the vehicle for some time before it stopped
