US immigration officials defend ICE agents who shot man while his child was in the car
ICE agents shot and wounded Oscar Belgal in Marble Hill, a residential area of New York, on Thursday. His five-year-old son was in the car but was not injured.
US immigration officials defended the agents’ actions at a news conference the next day. They said they did not know the child was inside and claimed Belgal accelerated his vehicle toward officers, leading them to fear for their safety.
Officials said Belgal suffered a superficial injury to his neck from a bullet or fragments. He is being held at a detention facility.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the agents wore masks and construction vests, making them difficult to identify. The shooting video has not been released publicly; unverified social media clips appear consistent with his account.
The Department of Homeland Security cited Belgal’s past conviction and arrests, while Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said a 2025 drug-sale case against him remains pending. Mamdani said talks with President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin did not secure Belgal’s release. The article reports no further official next steps.
Key points
- ICE officials say agents feared for their safety when Belgal accelerated his vehicle.
- Belgal’s five-year-old son was unharmed; the driver was wounded and detained.
- Public video has not been released, and a case against Belgal remains pending.