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Trevor Bickford appeared to be your typical American teenager before he allegedly turned radical Muslim and hacked two police officers to death with a machete in Times Square.
The alleged Islamic extremist, 19, he was once on the school’s honor roll, won awards for his artwork, and was a member of the championship football team in his hometown of Wells, Maine.
But after his father died of a drug overdose in 2018, Bickford’s life is believed to have been thrown into chaos.
By the time Bickford headed to New York City alone on Amtrak for the alleged attacks this weekend, the teen was already on the FBI’s radar.
He was on the Bureau’s terrorism ‘Guardian Watch List’ and had told his aunt he planned to travel to Afghanistan to fight, the sources said. The New York Post.
On Saturday night, Bickford allegedly attacked two NYPD officers on Eighth Avenue between 51st and 52nd streets, just outside of Times Square, where thousands of revelers were celebrating the new year.
Another officer fired at Bickford, hitting him in the shoulder. He remains hospitalized in Bellevue and charges are pending.
The whole family is pictured in happier times at the Tower of Terror at Disney World
Trevor Bickford, 19, appeared to be a typical teenager before he allegedly became radicalized and headed to Times Square on New Year’s Eve, where he is accused of stabbing two police officers.
Bickford, now 19, allegedly approached a group of NYPD officers near Times Square on New Year’s Eve and slashed two of the officers with a machete.
Bickford has no criminal record according to a preliminary investigation, but law enforcement sources say the Boston Bureau has an open case on him.
Authorities told NBC they were investigating whether the suspect had previously posted what they called jihadi writings online and then traveled to New York City to attack police.
Photos posted to Facebook show Bickford at different times in his life, many with his two brothers Devin and Travis.
There are photos of him playing football with the Wells High School Warriors championship football team, singing in the choir and marching with the guard.
Most recently in 2020, he was among a group of students who won awards for their artwork. Bickford won for her jewelry job, seacoastonline reported at the time.
Before his death in 2018, reportedly from a drug overdose, their father, Thomas Bickford, proudly posted photos of his children and their accomplishments.
Family and friends were quick to praise the children and their bright future. Bickford’s father died at the age of 41, according to his obituary.
Bickford’s father, Tom, posted photos of his sons at a Bears game in 2015. Tom died in 2018.
Bickford is from Wells, Maine, where his family has lived most of their lives.
His parents, Thomas and Audra D’Antilio, married on September 9, 2001, and raised their three children, Devin, Trevor, and Travis, in Wells, Maine.
The family patriarch could often be found coaching them in soccer and wrestling, according to the obituary.
His father, Thomas Bickford, died unexpectedly in 2018 at age 41, according to his obituary.
He also said that he was hard on his kids at times in terms of his coaching style, but “he loved his kids more than anything.”
Bickford’s mother, Audra D’Antilio, who eventually remarried, also has a plethora of photos on her Facebook page where she gushes about her son, calling him an “old soul” and writing that she feels lucky to be his mother.
On July 28, he shared a photo of Bickford for his 19th birthday, writing: ‘Happy 19th birthday Trevor. So proud and lucky to be able to call you my son.
‘You are an old soul and you amaze me every day with all that you enjoy exploring and doing. I love that you’re not afraid to try new things, and you really are the best bro ever. I am beyond proud of the man you are becoming, I love you.’
Just six months later, Bickford is being charged with the attacks on NYPD officers. Bickford and the police are all at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, where they are all expected to survive.
The attack occurred just outside the high-security zone where thousands of revelers were being screened for weapons as they prepared to perform in 2023.
Bickford allegedly slashed two officers with this machete on 8th Avenue near Times Square around 10 pm last night, where thousands of revelers were preparing to ring in the new year.
Another officer fired at the suspect, striking him in the shoulder. All of the injured were taken to Bellevue Hospital, where they are in serious but stable condition, authorities said.
An investigation was underway to determine the motive for the attack, but authorities said they did not believe there was any continuing threat to the public.
Michael Driscoll, the deputy director in charge of the FBI’s New York field office, said they believe the shooter acted alone.
Authorities told NBC they were investigating whether the suspect had previously posted what they called jihadi writings online and then traveled to New York City to attack police.
Sources told the New York Post that Bickford is packing camping gear, a journal and a last will and testament for his trip to Manhattan for the attacks.
Bickford’s mom has a slew of photos on her Facebook page where she gushes about the 19-year-old, calling him an “old soul” and saying he’s lucky to be his mom.
Photos posted online by his family show Bickford with his siblings or with his dog.
A smiling Bickford appears in many of his mother’s social media posts.
The cut took place just outside the security zone in Times Square, where thousands gathered for the annual New Year’s Eve launch. Police checked the revelers for contraband such as alcohol, large bags and weapons.
Video from the scene shows revelers being rushed from the scene by police officers trying to control the scene, located at 52nd Street and Eighth Avenue. Officers can be seen yelling at pedestrians to get away from the crime scene.
The NYPD mounts a massive security operation every year to keep the New Year’s Eve crowd safe. Thousands of officers are deployed to the area, including many new recruits to the force.
The blocks where the largest crowds gather to watch performances and the midnight ball drop can only be accessed through checkpoints where officers use metal detector wands to detect weapons. ‘
Large bags and coolers are prohibited. Barriers are placed to prevent vehicle attacks in the secure area.
However, the security perimeter can only be extended so far. The attack took place on 8th Avenue, which is often packed with large crowds navigating the frozen area or trying to find one of the secure entrances.