The new year began with tragedy in the Bronx when 55-year-old Issa Isac was fatally shot in what is believed to be New York City's first homicide of 2026. Isac, a hardworking rideshare driver with a decade of experience, was discovered in his vehicle near Morris Avenue and the Cross Bronx Expressway in the early morning hours of January 1st. He was found with a gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical services.
Originally from West Africa, Isac was a married father of four who was working to support his family back home.
Investigators believe the deadly encounter may have started as a minor traffic incident. According to a spokesperson for the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, it is thought that two men chased Isac down after a fender bender and attempted to pull him from his car. When he accelerated to get away, the individuals allegedly shot through the window, striking him in the head. Surveillance footage captured two men approaching Isac's vehicle before it sped off. In the aftermath, firefighters responded to a call and discovered his body inside the car, which had caught fire.
The New York Police Department is actively searching for the two male suspects involved in the shooting. While no arrests have been made, the investigation remains ongoing. One unconfirmed report suggests that a possible suspect had just left a bar in Mott Haven after noticing his own car was damaged and began shooting, with Isac being an unfortunate victim who was driving by. The same source indicated the suspect might be attempting to flee to the Dominican Republic. The New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers has offered a $10,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest, as a community mourns the loss of a man described by his cousin as a "very, very nice guy" who was simply working to provide for his family.
