The New York Police Department (NYPD) announced on Friday the arrest of Ahmet Gashi, a 42-year-old man from Kosovo, Serbia, for the murder of professional welterweight boxer Kemal Kolenovic. The incident, a tragic culmination of a New Year’s Eve bar fight in 2006, left the 28-year-old Montenegrin boxer dead and Gashi a fugitive for nearly two decades. The arrest brings a long-awaited resolution to a case that had gone cold, marking a significant victory for law enforcement and offering a measure of closure to Kolenovic’s family and friends.
The events leading up to Kolenovic’s death unfolded outside a bar on Belmont Avenue in the Fordham section of the Bronx. A dispute erupted between Gashi and two other men, escalating into a physical altercation. As the fight spilled onto the street, Gashi reportedly retreated to his Mitsubishi SUV. Instead of driving away, he allegedly mounted the curb, aiming his vehicle towards the men he had been fighting. Tragically, Kolenovic, an innocent bystander uninvolved in the prior altercation, was struck by the vehicle and propelled into a tree, suffering a fatal head injury. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, leaving behind a promising boxing career tragically cut short.
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Gashi fled the scene, effectively disappearing from law enforcement’s radar for 18 years. While initially identified as a person of interest, Gashi managed to evade capture by escaping to the Balkans, effectively putting a halt to the investigation. The NYPD’s efforts to locate him were stymied by his international flight, leaving the case unresolved and Kolenovic’s family without answers.
The breakthrough in the case came earlier this year when Serbian authorities apprehended Gashi. The details surrounding his capture remain undisclosed, but it marked a crucial turning point in the long-dormant investigation. Following his apprehension, Gashi was transferred to the custody of the US Marshals, who facilitated his extradition back to the United States to face charges for his alleged crime. This international cooperation between law enforcement agencies proved instrumental in bringing Gashi back to the jurisdiction where the crime occurred.
Upon his arrival in New York City, Gashi was processed at Central Booking in the Bronx on Friday night, officially marking the end of his long period as a fugitive. He now awaits arraignment and the commencement of legal proceedings, where he will face the charges related to Kolenovic’s death. The arrest signals the beginning of the judicial process, which will seek to determine Gashi’s culpability in the tragic events of New Year’s Eve 2006.
The arrest of Ahmet Gashi, while occurring nearly two decades after the crime, represents a significant step towards justice for Kemal Kolenovic. It underscores the persistence of law enforcement in pursuing unresolved cases and the importance of international cooperation in apprehending fugitives. While the legal process is just beginning, the arrest provides a sense of closure for Kolenovic’s loved ones and serves as a reminder that those who evade justice may eventually be held accountable for their actions. The case also highlights the tragic consequences of impulsive actions and the devastating impact of violence on innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire.
