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An on-duty Customs and Border Protection officer fired his weapon multiple times during an apparent road rage incident near John F. Kennedy International Airport early Tuesday (December 16). The incident occurred on the southbound Van Wyck Expressway, following a minor collision between two vehicles. The officer reported that he discharged his firearm in self-defense after being attacked by the other driver, who fled the scene before police arrived. No injuries were reported, and it remains unclear if any shots struck the fleeing vehicle.
The Port Authority police are investigating the incident, and no arrests have been made. According to WABC, the officer involved was not injured, and traffic in the area experienced significant delays as a result of the investigation. The southbound lanes of the Van Wyck Expressway were temporarily closed, causing traffic to be diverted onto local roads. One lane was reopened around 7 a.m.
A vehicle was struck by a bullet during the incident, though no one was hurt. The Port Authority police are continuing their investigation, and it is not yet clear if any charges will be filed against the customs officer.
The officer's identity has not been released, and it is unknown if he was driving an official vehicle at the time of the incident.
