On September 13, 2026, members of State Police Troop T, SP Tarrytown and Troop K Bureau of Criminal Investigation arrested Elmy Manuel Sandoval-Firpo, 28, of Yonkers, on multiple felony charges stemming from a road rage incident that resulted in gunfire on the New York State Thruway (I-87) in the city of Yonkers.
Investigation revealed that the incident began shortly before 4:30 p.m. on September 13 when Sandoval-Firpo, operating a 2009 Ford van, cut off the victim, a 25-year-old male from the Bronx in a 2010 Subaru Impreza, to turn into a gas station on Tuckahoe Road in Yonkers. A verbal altercation between the two ensued in the parking lot, with Sandoval-Firpo smashing the rear windshield of the victim’s Subaru. Both operators then drove away. Video surveillance later captured Sandoval-Firpo operating in the center lane of the Thruway southbound near the Cross County Parkway before moving into the left lane, cutting off the victim, resulting in a collision. Sandoval-Firpo then exited his vehicle and fired at the victim’s vehicle.
Both vehicles fled the scene. The victim traveled to a nearby location and was interviewed by troopers. Sandoval-Firpo’s vehicle was later located by the Yonkers Police Department, which attempted a stop. Sandoval-Firpo struck a marked Yonkers PD patrol vehicle while evading apprehension and a pursuit was initiated. Sandoval-Firpo ultimately came to a stop on the Thruway southbound in Yonkers after his vehicle sustained a flat tire from an unknown cause. Yonkers PD and the State Police took Sandoval-Firpo into custody. No injuries were reported.
Sandoval-Firpo was transported to SP Tarrytown for processing and is charged with the following:
- Attempted murder, 2nd degree
- Attempted assault, 1st degree
- Reckless endangerment, 1st degree
- Criminal possession of a weapon, 2nd degree- loaded firearm
- Criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd degree – previous conviction
- Criminal possession of a firearm
- Menacing, 2nd degree
- Multiple vehicle and traffic law violations
Sandoval-Firpo was arraigned in the City of Yonkers Justice Court and remanded to the Westchester County Jail in lieu of $20,000 cash, or $50,000 bond or $75,000 10% partially secured bond. He is scheduled to reappear in the City of Yonkers Justice Court on September 18, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. for a felony hearing. An Order of Protection was issued for the victim.
The Westchester County Real Time Crime Unit assisted in the investigation and was instrumental in helping to locate and identify the suspect vehicle.