NYC Records First Murders and Traffic Deaths of 2026 in Back-to-Back Incidents
A brutal start to the new year in New York City marked the first murder and fatal traffic crash of 2026. The incidents occurred just hours after the ball dropped on New Year's Eve, leaving two men dead and another critically injured.
In a shocking turn of events, police found 55-year-old Uber driver Issa Mbolo-Isac with a gunshot wound to the head near Morris Avenue and the Cross Bronx Expressway in the West Bronx. Authorities stated that Mbolo-Isac was shot while on his way to a mosque after a long New Year's Eve shift, which he had just finished speaking with his brother about.
According to Fernando Mateo, chair of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, who is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the shooters' arrests, Mbolo-Isac was an "amazing human being" who always gave to others. The federation's reward is the largest they have ever offered.
Meanwhile, in Corona, Queens, a fatal hit-and-run occurred at 4 a.m., claiming the life of one pedestrian and leaving another, 24-year-old man, critically injured after being pinned under a parked vehicle. Police are still searching for the white SUV driver who fled the scene, while investigators are working to determine if this incident is connected to Mbolo-Isac's murder.
The NYPD has confirmed that these incidents mark the first murders and fatal traffic crashes of 2026 in New York City. The police department is urging anyone with information about either case to come forward.
A brutal start to the new year in New York City marked the first murder and fatal traffic crash of 2026. The incidents occurred just hours after the ball dropped on New Year's Eve, leaving two men dead and another critically injured.
In a shocking turn of events, police found 55-year-old Uber driver Issa Mbolo-Isac with a gunshot wound to the head near Morris Avenue and the Cross Bronx Expressway in the West Bronx. Authorities stated that Mbolo-Isac was shot while on his way to a mosque after a long New Year's Eve shift, which he had just finished speaking with his brother about.
According to Fernando Mateo, chair of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, who is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the shooters' arrests, Mbolo-Isac was an "amazing human being" who always gave to others. The federation's reward is the largest they have ever offered.
Meanwhile, in Corona, Queens, a fatal hit-and-run occurred at 4 a.m., claiming the life of one pedestrian and leaving another, 24-year-old man, critically injured after being pinned under a parked vehicle. Police are still searching for the white SUV driver who fled the scene, while investigators are working to determine if this incident is connected to Mbolo-Isac's murder.
The NYPD has confirmed that these incidents mark the first murders and fatal traffic crashes of 2026 in New York City. The police department is urging anyone with information about either case to come forward.
I mean, two people already dead and another hurt... what's going on?! 
It's like, New Year's Eve is supposed to be all about new beginnings and positivity, but nope, NYC is already getting slammed with violence 
. I know we gotta keep the streets safe and all, but can't we do better than this? 
The $10k reward for info leading to the shooters' arrests is a good start, tho 
. But seriously, let's hope whoever did this comes forward soon so justice can be served 
Man, can't believe this is how the new year starts. First thing's like, two innocent lives lost and another person hurt bad. It's just not right. 
I'm thinking 'bout Mbolo-Isac, he was just tryin' to get home after a long shift, mindin' his own biz. And then this happens... 
These cases are like, two dark clouds on the first day of '26. What's goin' on? We need to stick together and support each other during these tough times 
[A picture of a person sleeping with a red "x" marked through it]
and it's gonna be a looong year 
[GIF: A clock ticking slowly]
This is getting old...
The Uber driver, Issa, sounded like a really nice guy too, and now he's gone. And that pedestrian in Corona just got pinched under a car... 10k reward from the taxi federation? Not enough, if you ask me 
. Police need to get their act together and catch whoever did this ASAP 
. This is not what NYE is all about 
. Anyway, my thoughts are with the families of the victims, especially Issa Mbolo-Isac - sounds like a really cool dude 
just another tragic start to the year... two innocent lives lost already, can't believe it's that bad already. 
the fact that an Uber driver was targeted for no apparent reason, just because he was driving home from a mosque, is really disturbing. and now there's another hit-and-run victim, hope the police catch the SUV driver ASAP... 10k reward seems like not enough considering what happened to Mbolo-Isac, still hoping justice will be served 
. And what's going on with that SUV driver who fled the scene? Have we even seen any leads yet? It feels like we're just scratching the surface of something much bigger 
My heart goes out to the families of both victims. The NYPD needs to catch these people ASAP! $10,000 reward? That's crazy generous from the taxi drivers' federation. Fingers crossed someone comes forward with info and justice is served 
. Just hoping the police can find the perpetrator and bring some closure to the victims' families before we get too far into the year...
.