An on-duty US Customs and Border Protection officer discharged his firearm multiple times on a major freeway leading to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport following a minor collision and an alleged attack by another motorist.
Shots Fired on Busy Commuter Route
The dramatic incident unfolded in the southbound lanes of the Van Wyck Expressway shortly before 5 a.m. on Tuesday, 16 December 2025. According to Port Authority police, the officer reported that the driver of another vehicle assaulted him after a two-car crash.
The officer fired his weapon several times, though it remains unclear if the fleeing driver was struck. The other motorist left the scene immediately after the shooting. Authorities have not released the officer's name nor confirmed if he was driving a marked government vehicle at the time.
Investigation Underway Amid Travel Chaos
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed the episode near JFK airport is under active investigation. No arrests have been made, and the officer was not injured.
The police investigation on the vital expressway caused substantial disruption during the Tuesday morning rush hour. Commuters faced extensive traffic delays, although conditions improved as the morning progressed.
Compounding Travel Misery at JFK
This alarming event added to a weekend of severe travel disruption at one of America's busiest airports. JFK had already been grappling with massive delays and cancellations due to winter weather and icy conditions.
On Sunday, a ground stop was implemented, halting all takeoffs and landings after nearly five inches of snowfall. The National Weather Service recorded 4.6 inches of snow in the area by 1 p.m. that day.
More than 1,000 flights were delayed across all airlines, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The congestion was so severe that Delta Air Lines temporarily stopped departures to JFK.
In a statement, Delta said, "Winter weather conditions impacting taxiways at JFK contributed to flight delays Sunday evening. Safety is always our top priority, and we appreciate our customers' patience during this period and apologise for the delay in their travels."
The weekend's snowfall, which brought between one and four inches to parts of New York City, marked the season's first major winter weather event. The aftermath of the ground stop led to a further wave of cancellations for Delta and other carriers extending into Monday.
