The FBI has executed a search warrant at the residence of the boy who allegedly attacked three New York City police officers with a machete on New Year’s Eve near Times Square.
Sunday, FBI agents entered the home of Trevor Bickford on Alpine Drive in Wells, Maine, as captured by online video.
The 19-year-old, who appeared to be a typical, all-American teenager before reportedly radicalizing himself to Islam, perpetrated the murders in one of New York’s most prominent tourist sites just one day earlier.
Prior to the attack on New Year’s Eve, Bickford was on the honor roll, had won accolades for his artwork, and was a part of his hometown’s championship football team.
The FBI invaded the house of 19-year-old Trevor Bickford in Wells, Maine, only one day after he reportedly hit two NYPD policemen with a machete to the head.
With the machete, Bickford allegedly lacerated one of the three officers’ skulls and fractured another’s skull. While posing for a photograph with his dog, he is seen wearing a Kufi cap, which is usually worn by many male Muslims.
Bickford’s residence is on Alpine Street in Wells, Maine – approximately five hours north of New York City.
Multiple FBI vehicles were parked in the residence’s driveway as the teen remained in custody.
It is reported that Bickford’s life slid into disorder when his father died of a heroin overdose in 2018.
By the time Bickford traveled alone on Amtrak to New York City for the alleged attacks this weekend, he was apparently already on the FBI’s radar.
According to sources of The New York Post, he was on the Bureau’s ‘Guardian Watchlist’ for terrorism and had informed his aunt he planned to travel to Afghanistan to fight.
On Saturday night, Bickford is alleged to have assaulted two NYPD officers on Eighth Avenue between 51st and 52nd Street, just outside Times Square where throngs of revelers were ringing in the new year.
Another cop fired at Bickford, hitting him in the shoulder with a round. Charges are pending and he is still hospitalized at the Bellevue.
The entire family is depicted in happier times at Disney World’s Tower of Terror
Trevor Bickford, 19, appeared to be an ordinary teenager before he allegedly became radicalized and traveled to Times Square on New Year’s Eve to cut two police officers.
According to a preliminary investigation, Bickford does not have a criminal record, but police sources indicate the Boston Bureau has an open case on him.
Authorities told NBC they were investigating whether the guy had previously posted online terrorist writings before traveling to New York City to target cops.
Many of Bickford’s Facebook photos depict him at various stages of his life alongside his brothers Devin and Travis.
There are photographs of him playing football with the Wells High School Warriors, singing in the chorus, and performing in the color guard.
He was among a group of pupils who received honors for their artwork as recently as 2020. Bickford won for his jewelry artistry, according to Seacoastonline at the time.
Prior to his death in 2018 – apparently due to a drug overdose – his father Thomas Bickford tweeted images of his boys’ accomplishments with pride.
Family and acquaintances were eager to acknowledge the boys’ promising prospects.
His obituary states that Bickford’s father passed away at age 41.
In numerous social media posts, Bickford (on the far right) is featured with his brothers Devin and Travis.
In 2015, Tom Bickford uploaded images of his sons attending a Bears game. Tom died in 2018
Thomas and Audra D’Antilio wed on September 9, 2001, and raised three kids in Wells, Maine: Devin, Trevor, and Travis.
According to the obituary, the family patriarch could often be found tutoring his children in football and wrestling.
His father Thomas Bickford died abruptly at age 41 in 2018, per his obituary.
It was also stated that he was occasionally tough on his sons in terms of his teaching style, but ‘he loved his boys more than anything.’
Bickford’s mother Audra D’Antilio, who eventually remarried, also has a plethora of images on her Facebook page in which she gushes about her son, calling him a ‘old soul,’ and expressing her gratitude for being his mother.
On July 28, she tweeted a photo of Trevor Bickford with the caption, “Happy 19th Birthday Trevor.” So fortunate and honored to name you my son.
You astonish me every day with how much you love to explore and experience the world. I adore the fact that you are fearless about attempting new things, and you are certainly the finest brother ever. I am so very proud of the man you are becoming.
Six months later, Bickford is suspected of committing the assaults on the NYPD officers. Bickford and the police officers are all in Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, where it is anticipated that they will all survive.
The attack occurred just outside the high-security zone where thousands of revelers were inspected for weapons in preparation for the 2023 New Year’s Eve celebration.
Saturday night at 10 p.m., Bickford allegedly slashed two officers with this machete on 8th Avenue near Times Square, where throngs of revelers were preparing to ring in the new year.
Another cop fired at the suspect and struck him in the shoulder with a bullet. According to officials, all of the injured were sent to Bellevue Hospital where they are in critical but stable condition.
Authorities stated that they did not feel there was an ongoing threat to the public as they investigated the attack’s motivation.
The associate director in charge of the FBI’s New York field office, Michael Driscoll, stated that investigators believe the attacker acted alone.
Authorities told NBC they were investigating whether the guy had previously posted online terrorist writings before traveling to New York City to target cops.
According to sources cited by the New York Post, Bickford packs camping equipment, a diary, and a will for his travel to Manhattan for the assaults.
Bickford’s mother has numerous images on her Facebook page in which she gushes about her 19-year-old son, calling him a “ancient soul” and expressing her gratitude for being his mother.
Images provided online by his family illustrate Bickford with his siblings or his dog.
Bickford is frequently depicted smiling in his mother’s social media posts.
The attack occurred close beyond the security zone in Times Square, where thousands of people had gathered to watch the New Year’s Eve ball drop. The police conducted a search of the revelers for contraband such as booze, large bags, and firearms.
At 52nd Street and 8th Avenue, a video from the scene shows officers attempting to manage the situation shooing away revelers. Officers are shown yelling at people to leave the crime scene.
Every year, the NYPD prepares a large security effort to ensure the safety of the New Year’s Eve throng. Thousands police officers, including many fresh recruits, are stationed in the area.
The streets where the largest crowds gather to watch performances and the midnight ball drop are only accessible through checkpoints equipped with metal-detection wands.
Large totes and coolers are prohibited. In order to prevent automobile attacks in the secure area, barriers are installed.
However, the security perimeter can only extend so far. The attack occurred on 8th Avenue, which is frequently packed with dense crowds negotiating the frozen zone or searching for secure entries.
»The FBI raided Trevor Bickford’s Maine house after he attacked three NYPD officers in Time Square«