Traffic Stop Leads to Murder Arrest in Bronx Shooting

A 47-year-old Manhattan resident is in custody following a fatal shooting in the Bronx on Sunday, August 3. Police apprehended Jose Kuilan of Morningside Drive during a routine traffic stop late that evening, citing a failure to use a signal light as the reason for the initial interaction.

According to the NYPD, the arrest occurred around 11:30 p.m. within the 49th Precinct, the same jurisdiction where the homicide took place earlier that morning. Authorities reported that officers were called to 672 Sagamore St. in the Van Nest neighborhood at approximately 6 a.m. on Sunday. Upon arrival, they discovered 50-year-old Trojan Hart, a resident of Morrisania, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency medical personnel pronounced Hart dead at the scene.

Kuilan faces a series of charges, including murder, manslaughter, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, in addition to the traffic violation.

While police confirmed that Kuilan and Hart were not known to each other, investigators have not yet disclosed a potential motive for the shooting or the specific evidence that connected the suspect to the crime scene. The investigation remains ongoing, and Kuilan’s arraignment was scheduled to take place on Tuesday.