January 26, 2026 BRONX, NY A routine walk through the biting cold of a Bronx night became a scene of absolute carnage early Sunday morning. As the city slept under a blanket of freezing temperatures, a violent confrontation near the edge of Van Cortlandt Park left one man dead, another wounded, and a cold-blooded killer vanishing into the darkness.

Here is the terrifying breakdown of the events that unfolded at the corner of West 242nd Street and Broadway.

A Fatal Argument in the Sub-Zero Dark

At approximately 2:50 a.m. on January 25, 44-year-old Keon Gill—who had traveled down from Middletown, NY—was walking with a 35-year-old companion. What happened next was as sudden as it was lethal.

According to police sources, a stranger approached the duo and sparked an immediate, heated argument. The dispute escalated from words to blows in seconds. Amid the physical struggle, the suspect reached for a weapon and unleashed a hail of gunfire.

The Aftermath: One Dead, One Haunted

When officers from the 50th Precinct responded to a desperate 911 call reporting an assault, they found a gruesome scene:

  • Keon Gill: Shot squarely in the chest. He was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital but could not be saved.

  • The 35-year-old victim: Struck in the knee. He survived the encounter and is currently in stable condition, but he told investigators he had never seen the gunman before in his life.

The Man in the Nike Tracksuit: A Killer on the Loose

The NYPD is now on a high-stakes manhunt for a suspect who showed no hesitation in taking a life over a sidewalk dispute. The description is specific, yet the man remains at large:

  • Attire: A black Nike tracksuit.

  • Footwear: Distinctive red sneakers.

  • Escape: Fled the scene on foot immediately after the shots were fired.

Midnight Execution at Van Cortlandt: The Bloody Bronx Mystery That Has Police Scrambling
File Photo: Police

Can You Help Close the Case?

The streets of the Bronx are currently under heavy patrol, but the gunman remains a ghost. In a city already on edge from a weekend of extreme weather and political tension, this "random" act of violence has sent shockwaves through the neighborhood.

The NYPD needs your eyes. If you saw anyone matching this description near Broadway or the 242nd Street subway station early Sunday, your tip could be the one that takes a killer off the streets.

HAVE INFORMATION? Call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS. All calls are strictly confidential. You can also submit tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org.

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