Defendant Fled to Kosovo After He Allegedly Ran Over Bystander After Bronx Bar Fight; Extradited to Face Charges
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been brought to justice for the 2006 killing of an innocent bystander when he drove his S.U.V. at a crowd on Belmont Avenue after a bar fight.
District Attorney Clark said, “After 18-years of eluding authorities, the defendant is facing justice for allegedly mowing a victim down on the sidewalk with his vehicle. I thank the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Kosovan authorities for their assistance in returning the defendant so that we may bring closure to this case of senseless murder.”
District Attorney Clark said Ahmet Gashi, aka Ahmet Arifi, 42, was indicted on two counts of second-degree Murder, first-degree Manslaughter, and first-degree Reckless Endangerment. He was arraigned before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Brenda Rivera on December 16, 2024. He was remanded. He is due back in court on January 16, 2025.
According to the investigation, on December 31, 2006, at approximately 4:35 a.m., Gashi got into an argument and physical altercation at the Moonlight Restaurant and Bar at 2370 Belmont Avenue. After being ejected, Gashi continued arguing with people outside the bar and was told to leave. Gashi allegedly got into his black S.U.V, sped on the sidewalk, dispersed a crowd of people, and struck Kemal Kolenovic, 28. Kolenovic, an innocent bystander, was thrown down the block from the initial impact and died from his injuries. The defendant fled to Kosovo and was extradited to the U.S. on December 13, 2024.
District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Carlos Vasquez from the NYPD Cold Case Squad for his work on the investigation.
An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.
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