ICE Officer Shoots Man During New York City Arrest; 5-Year-Old Child Unharmed

NEW YORK CITY — October 8, 2026 — A federal immigration officer shot and wounded a 28-year-old man during an attempted arrest in New York City on Thursday afternoon, while a 5-year-old boy was inside the man’s vehicle, according to federal and local authorities.

The shooting occurred around 4 p.m. Eastern Time in the Marble Hill neighborhood of Manhattan, near West 225th Street and Marble Hill Avenue.

New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch identified the wounded man as Oscar Belgal, a Dominican national. Authorities said he was shot in the neck, just below his left ear, and arrived at a hospital in stable condition.

The child, believed to be Belgal’s son, was not injured and was placed in the care of a family member.

Police Say Federal Officer Fired Seven Rounds

According to Tisch, surveillance footage captured portions of the encounter before the shooting.

Police said Belgal was pulling into a parking space when federal officers wearing plain clothes approached his vehicle. At least one officer had a firearm drawn.

Belgal began moving the vehicle forward, and evidence collected at the scene indicates that at least one federal officer fired seven rounds.

The vehicle sustained bullet damage to its windshield and rear window.

Tisch emphasized that the surveillance camera did not capture the actual shooting, leaving important questions about the precise sequence of events unanswered.

The New York Police Department was not participating in the federal operation but responded after the gunfire.

Department of Homeland Security Confirms ICE Operation

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were conducting a targeted operation to arrest Belgal.

Federal officials said Belgal had previously been convicted of grand larceny and had a history of arrests involving other alleged offenses.

According to NYPD officials, Belgal pleaded guilty to grand larceny following a 2023 robbery arrest and received probation. A separate drug-related criminal case remains pending.

DHS did not provide a detailed explanation of what prompted the officer to fire.

The department said the incident remains under investigation.

New York Mayor Condemns Shooting

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani sharply criticized the incident during a Thursday evening news conference.

Mamdani expressed concern that the shooting occurred on a neighborhood street where families and children were present.

The mayor said he contacted President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to discuss the shooting and the federal government’s immigration enforcement operations in the city.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul also called for a full accounting of what happened.

Federal officials, meanwhile, defended their broader immigration enforcement efforts, arguing that local policies limiting cooperation with immigration authorities can create additional risks during arrests.

The competing positions highlight ongoing disagreements between federal and local officials over immigration enforcement.

Demonstrators Gather Following Shooting

The incident prompted demonstrations near the shooting location and outside the hospital where Belgal was treated.

Protesters criticized the federal operation and called for greater accountability.

According to the Associated Press, confrontations occurred near police barricades outside the hospital, and some demonstrators were arrested.

Authorities have not announced final investigative findings concerning the officer’s use of force.

Investigation Continues

Several significant questions remain unanswered, including what occurred immediately before the shots were fired, whether the officer believed there was an imminent threat, and whether the use of deadly force complied with federal law enforcement policies.

The available surveillance footage does not show the actual moment of the shooting.

The fact that Belgal had a prior criminal conviction does not, by itself, determine whether the officer’s use of force was justified.

Federal investigators are reviewing the incident.

Patriots First Media will continue following developments as authorities release additional information.

Sources