The pre-dawn darkness of the Van Wyck Expressway, leading to John F. Kennedy International Airport, shattered Tuesday morning with a startling eruption of gunfire. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer, still in uniform and on duty, discharged his firearm during a volatile road rage confrontation.
The incident unfolded around 4:45 a.m. near an airport access point, stemming from what was initially reported as a minor traffic collision. The CBP officer immediately reported being physically assaulted by the other driver involved, triggering a desperate and immediate reaction.
Believing his life was in danger, the officer fired his service weapon multiple times in what he described to authorities as an act of self-defense. Remarkably, despite the gunfire, no injuries were reported from the exchange.
Adding to the chaos, the driver who allegedly initiated the assault fled the scene before law enforcement – Port Authority police – could arrive. A search was immediately launched, but as of this moment, the individual remains at large and no arrests have been made.
The shooting prompted an immediate and significant disruption to morning traffic. Several lanes of the busy expressway were temporarily closed, causing substantial delays for travelers heading to the airport and creating a ripple effect throughout the transportation network.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities meticulously piecing together the sequence of events that led to this alarming incident. The focus remains on locating the fleeing driver and fully understanding the circumstances surrounding the officer’s decision to use deadly force.
