Police search for gunman after driver is fatally shot on George Washington Bridge

NEW YORK — Police are searching for a shooter after a 46-year-old driver was mortally wounded during the Tuesday evening commute on the George Washington Bridge, prompting an hours-long shutdown of the major interstate crossing.

Port Authority police officers were dispatched shortly after 7 p.m. Tuesday following reports of a single-vehicle collision on the upper level heading westbound toward New Jersey. Responding units discovered a blue Volkswagen hatchback that had crashed into the center barrier, with the driver found unconscious behind the wheel. The motorist had suffered a gunshot wound, was rushed by emergency medical workers to Englewood Hospital in New Jersey, and was later pronounced dead, according to authorities.

Suspected Road Dispute

Preliminary findings suggest the gunfire may have erupted from an encounter between drivers. According to Gothamist and Fox 5 New York, law enforcement officials suspect the violence stemmed from a road rage clash. Law enforcement sources told the New York Daily News that an occupant in a passing vehicle opened fire on the victim’s car near the West 179th Street entrance ramp on the Manhattan side before the victim continued across the span and crashed.

News accounts reported differing specifics regarding the man’s physical injuries. Officers discovered him with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the head, ABC7 New York reported. The NYPD told Gothamist that the driver suffered a gunshot wound to the back of his right shoulder, while the Daily News reported that a bullet struck the victim in the shoulder and traveled toward his head.

Investigators also observed evidence of gunfire on the Volkswagen. The Daily News reported that a bullet hole penetrated the rear windshield, while Fox 5 New York noted that the rear passenger window was shattered and bore bullet damage.

Commute Gridlock and Investigation

The victim was identified as an off-duty Consolidated Edison employee who lived in Rockland County and was believed to be driving home from work, according to law enforcement sources cited by the Daily News. Police withheld the man’s name publicly pending notification of his family. The Port Authority reported that no other injuries were sustained during the incident.

The shooting and subsequent investigation triggered extensive traffic jams across the region. Westbound upper lanes remained completely closed for nearly six hours while detectives and crime scene units documented the roadway, Fox 5 New York reported. Traffic backed up for miles through Manhattan and into the Bronx, with eastbound upper-level travelers facing delays of up to 90 minutes. The Port Authority reported that the upper level began reopening shortly after midnight, and all lanes were fully operational ahead of the Wednesday morning rush hour.

Next Steps

The New York Police Department has assumed control of the homicide investigation, according to Fox 5 New York. Detectives are working to recover surveillance video and review ballistic evidence to determine the path of the suspect vehicle.

As of Wednesday morning, authorities had made no arrests and had not released any descriptions of the shooter or the vehicle that fled the scene. Police have also not formally concluded whether the gunfire arose from a sudden road altercation or a targeted attack, Fox 5 New York reported.