Investigators released dash camera images as the wounded 21-year-old driver remained hospitalized with serious injuries.
NEW YORK — Police are searching for a passenger accused of shooting a 21-year-old car service driver during a robbery and attempted carjacking in Brooklyn, an attack captured in part by the vehicle’s dash camera.
The shooting happened at about 4:15 a.m. July 11 near Parkside Avenue and Bedford Avenue in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, according to police. Authorities said the passenger threatened driver Danish Sarwar, demanded property and tried to take his vehicle before shooting him and fleeing on foot.
The New York Police Department released images and video showing the person sought in the investigation. The recording shows a man sitting inside the vehicle and briefly lowering or removing a face mask. Police had not announced an arrest or released the man’s identity as of Friday.
Authorities described the person as wearing blue shorts, a black sweatshirt, a black mask and black shoes. He was also carrying a backpack. Police said he was last seen running west on Parkside Avenue in the direction of Flatbush Avenue.
Sarwar’s brother, Hamza Sarwar, said the passenger arranged for a ride and then demanded his brother’s phone, cash and vehicle keys. Danish Sarwar surrendered his phone and about $500, his brother said, but was shot while attempting to hand over the keys.
The gunman left without the vehicle, which had a window shattered by the gunfire. Hamza Sarwar said the SUV has since been repaired and is parked at the family’s home, though it remains unclear whether his brother will ever drive it again.
Danish Sarwar was taken to Kings County Hospital after being shot in the neck. He was unconscious in critical condition for 10 days before awakening. His brother said the driver remains unable to move or feel his left arm and requires continued medical care.
The driver immigrated from Pakistan about three years ago and worked throughout the week to help support his parents and two sisters there, his brother said. Hamza Sarwar, who also worked as a driver, said the shooting has left him unwilling to continue carrying passengers.
The case has also drawn attention to the risks faced by drivers who work alone and transport unfamiliar passengers, often during overnight hours. The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission called the attack heartbreaking and said violence against licensed drivers would not be tolerated.
Public reports offered different descriptions of the service Danish Sarwar was providing. ABC7 reported that he drove for Uber, while the company told another outlet that the incident did not appear to involve a trip booked through its platform. Other reports described him as a car service or livery driver licensed by the city.
The distinction does not change the police investigation, which remains focused on identifying the passenger shown in the vehicle. Authorities have not publicly announced a motive beyond the alleged robbery and attempted carjacking, and no criminal charges have been filed because no suspect has been arrested.
Hamza Sarwar said his brother recently began speaking with help from a medical device placed in his throat. The family is now balancing hope over his return to consciousness with concern about the lasting effects of the shooting.
Police continued seeking information about the person shown in the released footage Friday. Danish Sarwar remained hospitalized, and doctors had not publicly given a timetable for his recovery.
Author note: Last updated July 24, 2026.