ICE Shooting Leaves Man Wounded in Marble Hill

A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in the Marble Hill neighborhood of New York City resulted in a 28-year-old man, Oscar Belgal, being shot in the neck on Thursday afternoon. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch reported that at least one ICE agent fired seven rounds during the immigration enforcement encounter, striking Belgal below his left ear. He was taken to NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital and remained in stable condition, according to police statements given late Thursday night near the scene.

Incident Details and NYPD Response

According to 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 officer approached the front of the vehicle. The car then moved forward and out of the camera’s field of view; the shooting itself was not captured on video. NYPD recovered at least seven shell casings at the scene. Commissioner Tisch emphasized that NYPD officers responded after receiving 911 calls regarding gunfire at 4:04 p.m., with no city officers present at the time of the shots being fired.

A five-year-old boy, believed to be Belgal’s son, was inside the vehicle during the event. Authorities located and placed the child in the care of a family member. Tisch also noted that when NYPD officers arrived, they found Belgal handcuffed and seated on the ground before transporting him to the hospital.

Federal Agents and Immigration Enforcement Operation

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) identified Belgal as an immigrant from the Dominican Republic and the target of the operation. DHS did not specify what led the ICE agent to open fire. Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated that early accounts indicated agents surrounded Belgal and the child before shots were fired. Mamdani described the situation as “unconscionable and incredibly serious,” pledging to advocate for an end to ICE enforcement actions in the city.

Mamdani shared that he spent hours in conversation with President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin in an effort to secure Belgal’s release, but was unsuccessful. ICE agents later took Belgal away in an unmarked vehicle, according to the mayor.

Community Impact and Protests

The marble hill shooting prompted a strong response from parts of the community and several elected officials. By Thursday evening, hundreds of protesters gathered near the scene, with some clashing with law enforcement as traffic was disrupted. City Councilmember Pierina Sanchez described the shooting as reckless and accused federal agents of terrorizing local communities. The New York Immigration Coalition and its president, Murad Awawdeh, called for DHS to release footage of the incident and for an outside investigation, criticizing federal agents for investigating a shooting involving their agency.

Gov. Kathy Hochul stated she urged federal officials to halt ICE operations in New York and publicly release any available body camera footage from the incident, asserting New Yorkers deserved a full and transparent accounting of the events. Councilmember Tiffany Cabán renewed calls for the abolition of ICE, citing ongoing harm to immigrant communities.

Calls for Accountability and Ongoing Investigation

The NYPD indicated that federal agents had taken over the police investigation. Belgal's criminal history includes a 2023 robbery arrest that ended in a guilty plea to fourth-degree grand larceny with five years’ probation, and a pending 2025 drug-sale charge. DHS also alleged links between Belgal and the Trinitarios gang.

Witness accounts described chaos during the ice shooting, with residents reporting seeing people in vests fire at a car and hearing as many as seven shots. The aftermath saw significant law enforcement presence and community concern, with local officials and organizations demanding answers and greater accountability from federal agents involved in immigration enforcement actions.

As the investigation by federal authorities continues, questions remain about the circumstances that led to the marble hill shooting and the future of ICE enforcement efforts in New York City.

Source: gothamist.com.