Gunpoint carjacking during first date triggers Bronx police pursuit

A romantic evening turned harrowing for a couple on their first date when they fell victim to a brazen carjacking incident in Midtown Manhattan early Tuesday morning.

The unsettling ordeal unfolded at around 3:15 a.m. at the intersection of West 38th Street and Seventh Avenue, marking a startling escalation of crime in the heart of the city.

According to authorities, the pair was seated inside a 2021 BMW sedan when their date was abruptly interrupted by the arrival of two individuals in their 20s.

The situation quickly escalated when one of the assailants brandished a firearm, menacingly coercing the couple out of the vehicle under threat of violence. Amid the chaos, the male victim was brutally pistol-whipped by one of the perpetrators.

With the assailants seizing control of the BMW, they swiftly fled the scene, leaving the shaken couple behind. However, law enforcement’s swift response and technological resources quickly came into play.

Utilizing the BMW’s tracking app, police were able to trace the stolen vehicle’s movements to the Bronx.

The real-time tracking system pinpointed the BMW’s location along the Major Deegan Expressway, near Van Cortlandt Park South.

Sensing they were being pursued, the carjackers abandoned the vehicle on the expressway and fled on foot, evading capture. Despite an intensive search effort involving NYPD’s canine units and aviation support, the suspects managed to elude authorities and remained at large as of Tuesday.

The alarming incident underscores the persistence of urban crime and the importance of advanced security measures. Residents and visitors alike are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity promptly to law enforcement.

The NYPD continues to investigate this alarming episode, striving to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure the safety of the community.