A rideshare driver fell victim to a carjacking at gunpoint by four masked individuals after he denied them a ride in Lower Manhattan, according to police and law enforcement sources on Tuesday.

The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. on March 23 while the 51-year-old driver was taking a break. The suspects approached his Toyota Highlander SUV on Second Avenue, near East 3rd Street in the Bowery, and requested a ride, officials reported.

Upon refusal, one of the masked individuals brandished a firearm, compelling the driver to exit his vehicle, as stated by the police.

The group then commandeered the SUV and traveled to Newark, NJ. Although the vehicle was later found, the carjackers were not apprehended, authorities noted.

The SUV had TLC plates, but it remains uncertain if the driver was affiliated with a particular rideshare service, according to sources.

The driver emerged from the incident unharmed, police confirmed.

Police released video of the masked suspects with the hoods of their black sweatshirts pulled up, one carrying a backpack, as they entered a bodega.  

Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). 

The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at or on X @NYPDTips.