An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot a man in the neck Thursday afternoon in Manhattan's Marble Hill neighborhood while the man's 5-year-old son sat in the back seat of the car, according to New York Police Department officials and the Department of Homeland Security. At least one ICE agent fired seven rounds during the encounter, NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference that evening.
The man who was shot, identified by NYPD and law enforcement sources as 28-year-old Oscar Belgal, was taken to a hospital in stable condition. His son was physically unharmed. DHS described the operation as a targeted effort to arrest a 'criminal illegal alien from the Dominican Republic,' while Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the shooting 'an outrage' and demanded ICE leave the city. No investigation findings, body camera footage, or disciplinary outcome have been made public as of this report.
What Surveillance Video Shows — and Doesn't
An NYPD surveillance camera captured part of the encounter but not the moment the weapon was fired. Commissioner Tisch said the footage shows the man backing his car into a parking space, followed by a plainclothes federal officer approaching the driver's side with a gun drawn and a second officer approaching near the driver's-side headlight.
The car then moved forward and left the camera's field of view before the shots were fired. Investigators later found the vehicle with a damaged front windshield and a shattered back window. An ICE vehicle at the scene had damage to its left front panel and a disconnected lower panel, Tisch said.
The Scene After the Shooting
Two 911 calls reported shots fired, and a federal agent separately called 911 requesting the fire department before asking for NYPD. Officers responding to an unrelated call nearby heard the gunfire and went to investigate.
Tisch said those responding officers 'encountered several men in various forms of attire, including some in construction-style vests, face masks and at least one carrying a long gun.' Belgal was found handcuffed and seated on the ground, shot in the neck below the left ear. Bystander video recorded afterward shows him on the ground in handcuffs, talking to officers.
DHS and NYPD Account for the Target's Record
DHS said agents were conducting a 'targeted enforcement operation' seeking a man with a prior conviction for grand larceny, and said he has 'associations to the Trinitarios gang,' a reference the department did not further detail. The agency's statement did not name Belgal directly.
Tisch provided additional criminal-history detail at the news conference, describing two prior New York City arrests.
Two Prior Arrests, One Pending Case
Tisch said Belgal's first arrest, in 2023, was for robbery; he pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny and received five years of probation. His second arrest, in 2025, was for criminal sale of a controlled substance, and that case remains pending in court.
Political Reaction From City and State Officials
Mayor Mamdani condemned ICE as 'rotten to its core' and said the agency has been acting with impunity. He emphasized that the shooting occurred in what he called a residential area near a subway station, with the child present in the back seat.
Governor Kathy Hochul said she spoke by phone with President Trump and DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Thursday evening, urging them to halt ICE enforcement operations across New York State and requesting the release of any body camera footage from the incident.
What Remains Unconfirmed
FBI agents were observed performing an investigation at the scene, but it has not been confirmed whether this constitutes a formal federal use-of-force review, who is leading it, or on what timeline it might conclude. It is also not confirmed whether body camera footage exists.
The precise sequence of events in the seconds between the car moving out of camera range and the shots being fired has not been established in the public record. Neither DHS's characterization of the target as dangerous nor local officials' characterization of the force as disproportionate can be independently verified without additional footage or an official investigative finding.
Clinch Law Legal Analysis
Sources
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration outcomes depend on individual facts and current law.
On October 8, 2026, an ICE officer fired seven rounds into a vehicle during an arrest attempt in Manhattan's Marble Hill neighborhood, striking 28-year-old Oscar Belgal in the neck while his 5-year-old son sat in the back seat. The child was physically unharmed; Belgal was hospitalized in stable condition. NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that surveillance footage captured plainclothes federal officers approaching the vehicle with a gun drawn before it moved forward and left the camera's view. The car was later found with gunshot damage to the windshield and rear window. DHS described the operation as targeting a Dominican national with a grand larceny conviction and alleged Trinitarios gang ties. No information has been released about whether body camera footage exists or whether any federal or state investigation into the officer's use of force has been opened.
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the shooting "an outrage" and condemned ICE as "rotten to its core," while Governor Kathy Hochul said she urged President Trump and DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to halt ICE enforcement operations in New York and requested release of any body camera footage. Whether NYPD, the FBI, or any inspector general will conduct an independent use-of-force review remains unconfirmed. The legal standards governing ICE agents' use of deadly force during civil immigration arrests, and whether state criminal law can be applied to federal officers acting under color of authority, are unresolved questions this incident will sharpen. Individuals in New York City with pending immigration matters should understand that enforcement operations are continuing and should consult legal counsel about their rights during any encounter with federal agents.
Questions Clients Are Asking#
Can ICE agents legally use deadly force during a civil immigration arrest?
The verified reporting does not detail the specific legal standard governing ICE use of deadly force. DHS described this as a "targeted enforcement operation" against someone with a criminal record and alleged gang associations. Whether the level of force was legally justified depends on circumstances—including whether the officer faced an imminent threat—that have not been established. No body camera footage or independent investigation findings have been publicly released as of this report.
What rights does someone have if ICE agents approach them in a vehicle or at home?
The verified report does not address individual rights during ICE encounters. What the report establishes is that plainclothes officers in "construction-style vests" and "face masks" approached the vehicle with a gun drawn. Police Commissioner Tisch noted NYPD officers arriving at the scene initially "encountered several men in various forms of attire" and could not immediately distinguish agents from civilians. Anyone approached by individuals claiming law enforcement authority should remain calm and consult an attorney as soon as possible.
Will there be an independent investigation into this ICE shooting?
Governor Hochul stated she asked that "any body camera footage of the shooting be released to the public so we can establish the facts and get to the truth." FBI agents were photographed performing an investigation at the scene. However, the verified report does not confirm whether a formal federal or state investigation has been opened, which agency would lead it, or what timeline any review would follow.
Does this shooting affect ICE operations in New York City going forward?
Mayor Mamdani condemned the shooting and called for ICE to withdraw from the city. Governor Hochul urged President Trump and DHS Secretary Mullin to halt ICE enforcement operations in the state. DHS, however, defended the operation as targeting a dangerous individual. The verified report does not indicate that ICE has agreed to any operational pause or change in enforcement posture in New York City.
What was the criminal background of the person who was shot?
Police Commissioner Tisch stated the individual had two prior arrests in New York City. In 2023, he was arrested for robbery and pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny, receiving five years probation. In 2025, he was arrested for criminal sale of a controlled substance, and that case is still pending. DHS separately stated he has "associations to the Trinitarios gang." The individual has not been named by DHS; he was identified as Oscar Belgal, 28, by NYPD and law enforcement sources.