ICE Officer Fires at Man During Enforcement Operation in Bronx

At least one U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer fired seven rounds during an immigration enforcement operation in Marble Hill, Bronx, on Thursday afternoon, striking a 28-year-old man in the neck, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. The man, identified as Oscar Belgal, was hit below his left ear and arrived at NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital in stable condition, Tisch stated during a late-night news conference near the scene. Tisch reported that NYPD surveillance footage showed a plainclothes federal officer approaching the driver's-side window of Belgal's gray Honda CR-V with his gun drawn, while another plainclothes officer approached the front of the SUV. The vehicle then moved forward and out of the camera's view. The surveillance footage did not capture the shooting, Tisch noted. Police recovered at least seven shell casings at the scene. A 5-year-old boy, believed to be Belgal's son, was inside the vehicle during the encounter, but police later located the child safe and in the care of a family member. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that Belgal was an immigrant from the Dominican Republic and the target of an immigration enforcement operation around 4 p.m. However, DHS did not specify what prompted the ICE officer to fire. Mayor Zohran Mamdani commented that early reports indicated federal agents surrounded Belgal and the child in his car before opening fire, calling the situation "unconscionable and incredibly serious." Mamdani stated he had contacted President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to negotiate Belgal's release from federal custody, but those negotiations were unsuccessful. Mamdani expressed his commitment to advocating against ICE enforcement actions in the city. Tisch reported that the NYPD received two 911 calls regarding gunfire near 2 Marble Hill Ave. at 4:04 p.m., and a federal agent also called 911 requesting assistance. NYPD officers responding from an unrelated call encountered several men wearing different types of clothing, including construction-style vests and face masks, with at least one carrying a long gun. Officers found Belgal handcuffed and seated on the ground, rendered aid, and transported him to the hospital. DHS stated that ICE officers rendered aid after the shooting. Tisch confirmed that the NYPD had no involvement in the federal operation before the shooting and that no city officers were present when shots were fired. Police recovered Belgal's SUV, which had ballistic damage to the front windshield and a shattered rear window, as well as a gray sedan belonging to ICE that also had damage. Tisch mentioned that federal agents had taken over the investigation. She provided details about Belgal's criminal history, noting two prior arrests in New York City, including a 2023 robbery arrest resulting in a guilty plea to fourth-degree grand larceny and a sentence of five years' probation. A 2025 arrest on a drug-sale charge remains pending. DHS also alleged that Belgal had associations with the Trinitarios gang. It was unclear whether Belgal had an attorney available for comment. Witness Orlando Perez, who lives nearby, described seeing individuals in vests fire at the car as it attempted to drive away and mentioned that he threw himself on the floor during the incident. Another witness, Alejandro Uzhca, reported hearing glass breaking and seven gunshots, expressing surprise at the event in what he described as a typically peaceful neighborhood. City Councilmember Pierina Sanchez stated that the shooting occurred near West 225th Street and Marble Hill Avenue, and she criticized ICE agents for their actions. By early Thursday evening, police presence increased in the area, and hundreds of protesters gathered, disrupting traffic and clashing with officers. DHS confirmed that FBI agents were also present at the scene.