Suspect Identified in Bronx Uber Driver Shooting

The NYPD has unveiled the identity of a suspect connected to the shooting death of an Uber driver in the Bronx—an incident that marked the first homicide of the year. They’ve also released a close-up image of the suspect.

Echnel Troncoso, a 24-year-old, is wanted for the killing of Issa Mboro-Isaac, 55, at the intersection of Morris Avenue and the Cross Bronx Freeway in Mount Hope, occurring just before 7 a.m. on January 1.

Authorities suspect that Troncoso, who didn’t know Mboro-Isaac, had been drinking at a bar prior to a minor traffic collision that spiraled into violence. This information was shared by law enforcement officials on Thursday.

Reports indicate that Troncoso initially approached Mboro-Isaac’s vehicle, leading to a heated exchange, before claiming he was going to get information from his car. However, he instead returned with a gun and opened fire, hitting the married father of four in the head before fleeing the scene. Unfortunately, Mboro-Isaac was declared dead at the site of the shooting.

“It’s incredibly heartbreaking for our industry to receive such news on New Year’s Day—that one of our drivers was shot and killed, twice in the head,” remarked Fernando Mateo, spokesperson for the New York State Taxi Drivers Federation. “It was really hard to absorb that information.”

Mateo initially suggested that there might have been an attempted robbery involved, but authorities were unable to confirm if anyone else was in Troncoso’s vehicle during the incident.

Mboro-Isaac, originally from Burkina Faso, had been a rideshare driver for a decade, the last five years with Uber. Mateo mentioned he once owned a taxi medallion but sold it to buy a house back in Burkina Faso.

“He was a genuinely good person, a hardworking man,” said Munir Zoron, Mboro-Isaac’s brother, who was present with Mateo. “He worked tirelessly to support his family. He never had issues with anyone. He was trying to make a better life, and now this happens. They are nothing but criminals. He didn’t deserve this.”

The NYPD has released surveillance footage of Troncoso, allegedly taken from inside a building on the night before the shooting.

Details about Troncoso’s hometown or any criminal record have not been disclosed yet.

In a push to find Mboro-Isaac’s killer, Mateo announced that the Taxi Drivers Federation is offering a reward of $10,000 for information leading to an arrest.

Anyone with information on Troncoso’s location is urged to contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish speakers, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website.