Just weeks after New York City announced record-low levels of gun violence, the shooting of a Bangladeshi rideshare and taxi driver while on duty in Brooklyn has renewed concerns about the safety of drivers who work overnight. The incident has also reignited debate over the use of in-vehicle cameras, driver protection measures, and law enforcement’s ability to quickly identify suspects after violent attacks.
The victim, Ruhul Amin Nasir, is also known within the Bangladeshi community as Mohammad Amin or “MD Amin.” Local media and the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers identified him as a 50-year-old Queens resident who has spent nearly 16 years driving taxis and rideshare vehicles to support his wife and children.
The shooting occurred between approximately 4:00 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. on Friday, July 24, 2026, on North Portland Avenue between Park and Myrtle Avenues in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood, near the New York City Housing Authority’s Whitman Houses.
According to police sources cited by local media, Nasir had just dropped off a passenger when his vehicle was involved in a minor collision with a medical delivery van. The accident led to a verbal dispute among those involved.
Initial reports suggested Nasir was directly involved in the argument. However, later accounts indicated that he was instead attempting to calm the situation and urged those involved to call the police. At that point, a man approached from the direction of the Whitman Houses, struck Nasir’s vehicle window, and shot him in the right cheek at close range.
The suspect fled toward the Whitman Houses immediately after the shooting. Broken glass from Nasir’s vehicle was found scattered at the scene. Police have not yet released a description or identity of the suspect.
One aspect of the case remains unclear: investigators have not confirmed whether the gunman was connected to those involved in the original dispute or was an unrelated individual who entered the scene. Different reports citing police sources have presented slightly different accounts, leaving the motive and relationships among those involved unresolved pending the completion of the investigation.
Nasir was rushed to NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where he underwent surgery. According to the latest available information, he remains in stable condition, and doctors expect him to survive.
Neither the hospital nor his family has publicly disclosed the extent of his facial injuries or whether they could have long-term effects on his ability to speak, eat, or return to driving.
The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) condemned the attack, stating that violence against licensed drivers is unacceptable and that every driver deserves to work in a safe and respectful environment.
According to the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, this was the second shooting involving an on-duty driver within two weeks.
Earlier, on July 11, another driver was shot in the neck in Brooklyn. No immediate arrest was reported in that case either. The organization says the two incidents highlight the vulnerability of taxi, livery, and app-based rideshare drivers who routinely work overnight shifts.
Occupational Risks Beyond Passenger Disputes
The dangers faced by taxi and rideshare drivers extend well beyond conflicts with passengers. Drivers are regularly exposed to road rage incidents, traffic collisions, robberies, attempted carjackings, and the risk of becoming unintended victims of disputes unfolding around them.
They often work during late-night hours in neighborhoods with few witnesses, making it more difficult for investigators to gather evidence quickly.
In Nasir’s case, the shooting was not related to a fare dispute or rideshare transaction. Based on information currently available, he appears to have been shot while attempting to de-escalate tensions following a minor traffic accident.
Crime Is Down—But Are Drivers Safer?
According to data covering January 1 through June 30, 2026, New York City recorded 22,332 major violent crimes, compared with 23,170 during the same period in 2025—a decline of approximately 3.6%.
Murders fell from 162 to 122, representing a 24.7% decrease.
Robberies declined by 11.9%, from 7,248 to 6,387 incidents.
However, reported rapes increased by 5.8%, rising from 1,008 to 1,066 cases.
Felony assaults remained virtually unchanged, with 14,757 reported during the first half of 2026 compared with 14,752 during the same period the previous year.
Across all seven major crime categories—including burglary, grand larceny, and vehicle theft—the city recorded 55,157 incidents, down 5.8% year over year.
During the same six-month period, the NYPD reported 322 shooting incidents, leaving 381 people wounded, while murders totaled 122. According to the department, all three figures represent the lowest first-half totals in New York City’s recorded history.
Nevertheless, lower citywide crime figures do not necessarily mean that every occupational group faces less risk. The NYPD’s publicly released crime reports do not provide separate statistics on shootings, robberies, assaults, or carjackings involving taxi or rideshare drivers.
As a result, it is difficult to determine whether professional drivers have experienced the same improvements reflected in the city’s overall crime trends.
Moreover, while murders and shootings have declined significantly, felony assaults have remained essentially unchanged, suggesting that the risk of serious non-fatal violence continues at similar levels.
Calls for Stronger Driver Protections
Following the recent attacks, Fernando Mateo, founder of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, has renewed his call for mandatory cameras in every taxi and rideshare vehicle.
He argues that cameras capable of recording both the interior and exterior of vehicles would help police identify suspects more quickly while also discouraging potential attackers.
Mateo has urged the administration of Mayor Zohran Mamdani to implement stronger safety measures. The organization has also launched fundraising efforts to assist Nasir’s family, help secure medical and financial assistance, and support reward programs for information leading to the suspect’s arrest.
However, mandatory cameras raise several important policy questions. Officials would need to determine who pays for installation and data storage, how long recordings are retained, how passenger privacy is protected, and whether rideshare companies or other parties could access footage without a driver’s consent.
Safety advocates argue that cameras alone cannot eliminate the risks drivers face. They also recommend emergency panic buttons, faster police response times, conflict de-escalation training, financial and medical protections for injured drivers, and increased patrols in high-risk areas.
Investigation Continues
As of the latest reliable reports following the July 24 shooting, no arrests have been announced. Police continue to investigate, but they have not released surveillance images, video footage, or a detailed description of the suspect.
Given the presence of nearby residential buildings, security cameras, and parked vehicles, investigators may have access to surveillance footage from the area. However, authorities have not confirmed whether such evidence has been recovered or reviewed.
The lack of public information has heightened concerns within both the Bangladeshi community and the broader driver community. Without identifying the suspect, many drivers fear they could remain vulnerable while working in the same neighborhoods.
Most taxi and rideshare drivers in New York are immigrants, and many are the primary earners for their families. When drivers are seriously injured, they face not only mounting medical expenses but also the loss of income during lengthy recoveries.
Nasir has spent nearly 16 years supporting his family through professional driving. Consequently, his rehabilitation, lost earnings, and his family’s day-to-day financial stability are likely to become just as significant as his immediate medical treatment.
The New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers says it will continue raising funds for Nasir and other injured drivers while helping them access available crime victim assistance programs.
Unanswered Questions
Several critical questions remain unresolved. Police have not identified the shooter or clarified whether he had any connection to the individuals involved in the earlier traffic dispute. Authorities have also not disclosed whether surveillance footage has been recovered, whether anyone has been questioned, whether the firearm has been found, or how much reward money may be offered for information leading to an arrest.
Perhaps the most pressing question is whether city officials will adopt a dedicated safety strategy for taxi and rideshare drivers following two on-duty shootings in such a short period.
New York City’s overall decline in shootings and homicides is unquestionably encouraging. Yet the shooting of Ruhul Amin Nasir serves as a reminder that improving citywide statistics do not always reflect the everyday realities faced by immigrant drivers working overnight to earn a living.
Ensuring that no driver ends a work shift in a hospital with a gunshot wound will require more than declining crime numbers. It will demand effective policing, targeted safety measures, modern technology, timely justice, and sustained support for victims and their families.
