A fugitive wanted in the New Year’s Day killing of a Bronx rideshare driver is now in custody in the Dominican Republic, authorities said. The suspect, 24-year-old Ehinel Troncoso, is accused of fatally shooting 55-year-old Issa Mbolo-Isac in the Morris Heights neighborhood on Jan. 1. His capture marks the biggest break in the case since the NYPD pushed out surveillance images and pleaded for tips.
According to News 12 Bronx, the Dominican Republic’s National Police announced Troncoso’s arrest. The outlet reports that the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers had put up a $10,000 reward, and that the NYPD has not yet released information on any arrest paperwork or plans to bring Troncoso back to New York.
How investigators connected the dots
The investigation kicked into high gear after firefighters responding to a car fire discovered Mbolo-Isac inside a blue Toyota RAV4. Surveillance video shows someone pounding on the driver’s window before two people chase the vehicle. As detectives canvassed the area and pulled additional footage, the NYPD released a photo of the man they were seeking, while local coverage highlighted distinctive tattoos and multiple prior arrests as part of the public appeal, according to the New York Daily News.
Family says questions remain
Mbolo-Isac’s relatives say the arrest does little to blunt their grief. “We just don’t have words to express, the anger and frustration that this incident created,” his brother told reporters, News 12 Bronx reported. The same outlet recalled a Jan. 2 press conference by the taxi federation, where a witness suggested the suspect may have fled to the Dominican Republic shortly after the shooting.
Reward and what comes next
The New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers’ $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest helped keep the case in the spotlight while investigators chased leads, according to 1010 WINS. Hoodline tracked the early search and the NYPD’s call for public help; see the early manhunt for our initial coverage.
How to help
Anyone with information is urged to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA. Tips can also be submitted online, per ABC7 New York. Authorities say public leads remain crucial as detectives work through the next steps of the investigation.
