NEW YORK, United States — A 28-year-old man from the Dominican Republic was shot and wounded by a federal immigration agent during a targeted enforcement operation in New York City on Thursday, October 8, 2026, as a five-year-old child reportedly sat in the back seat of his vehicle.
The incident occurred shortly after 4 p.m. in the Marble Hill neighborhood, near the Bronx, triggering outrage among local officials and renewed calls for transparency over the conduct of federal immigration enforcement agents.
The injured man, identified as Oscar Belgal by New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, sustained a graze wound to the neck. His injuries were not considered life-threatening, and he was taken to hospital for medical attention, according to law enforcement sources cited by CNN.
The child, whom authorities believe to be Belgal’s son, was not physically injured and was later placed in the care of family members.
The shooting has intensified tensions between New York City officials and the administration of US President Donald Trump over the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
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New York Mayor Condemns Shooting
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed outrage over the incident, particularly because of the presence of a young child in the vehicle.
“Thank God that child is physically unharmed,” Mamdani told reporters following the shooting.
The mayor said he contacted President Donald Trump and US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin in an effort to negotiate Belgal’s release from federal custody. However, Mamdani said those efforts were unsuccessful and that Belgal had been transferred from New York Police Department custody to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
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In a statement released following the incident, Mamdani described the shooting as a serious situation and called for an end to ICE enforcement operations in the city.
The mayor also questioned the circumstances surrounding the operation, saying the agents involved wore construction-style vests and face coverings that concealed their identities.
According to Mamdani, the appearance of the officers made it difficult for members of the public to identify them as federal immigration agents.
What Happened During the Operation?
Authorities have yet to provide a complete explanation of what led the ICE agent to discharge a weapon at Belgal’s vehicle.
According to Tisch, a review of New York Police Department camera footage showed Belgal reversing into a parking space when a plainclothes federal officer approached the driver’s-side window with a firearm drawn.
Another plainclothes officer approached the vehicle near the driver’s-side headlight.
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Tisch said the vehicle subsequently began moving forward and disappeared from the camera’s view. The footage did not capture the actual moment the weapon was discharged.
However, evidence recovered at the scene indicated that at least one ICE agent fired seven rounds, with one bullet striking Belgal in the neck below his left ear, according to the police commissioner.
Witnesses reportedly told police they heard between five and six gunshots and saw an individual wearing a bright yellow construction vest carrying a firearm.
Videos said to have been recorded at the scene appeared to show a man wearing a construction-style vest and an ICE badge while holding a semi-automatic rifle.
The precise sequence of events leading to the shooting remains under investigation.
DHS Cites Alleged Gang Connections and Criminal History
The Department of Homeland Security said the operation was intended to apprehend a Dominican Republic national with a prior criminal conviction for grand larceny.
The agency also alleged that the man had connections to the Trinitarios gang and had previously been arrested in connection with assault, robbery, drug possession and weapons possession.
DHS said federal agents immediately provided medical assistance after the shooting.
However, the department has not publicly provided a detailed account of what prompted the officer to fire at the vehicle.
The allegations regarding Belgal’s criminal history and purported gang connections have not, in themselves, established the circumstances that led to the use of a firearm. Those circumstances remain a central issue in the investigation.
NYPD Says It Was Not Involved
The New York Police Department confirmed that its officers were not involved in the shooting.
NYPD personnel subsequently responded to the scene to assist with crowd control and the collection of evidence.
According to Tisch, officers encountered several individuals dressed in construction-style clothing and face coverings, at least one of whom was armed.
The injured man was found handcuffed and seated on the ground before being transported to hospital in a police vehicle.
Federal investigators later arrived to take over the investigation. Agents from Homeland Security Investigations were seen working alongside police personnel behind security tape as protesters gathered nearby.
Authorities have also faced questions about whether the federal officers involved were wearing body cameras. The Department of Homeland Security had not clarified the issue in its initial statement, according to CNN.
Governor Calls for Transparency and Investigation
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she had spoken with Trump and Mullin following the shooting.
Hochul expressed concern about the incident and called on federal authorities to provide a full and transparent explanation of what happened.
She also requested the release of any available body-camera footage to help establish the facts.
The governor urged federal authorities to halt ICE enforcement operations in New York, adding to growing calls from local leaders for greater accountability.
Several elected officials and city council members also called for the New York Attorney General’s Office to launch an independent investigation.
New York Representative Adriano Espaillat said the family and the affected community deserved justice and answers.
Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal also stressed that the rights and dignity of New Yorkers should not depend on their immigration status, skin colour or religion.
Protesters Gather at the Scene
The shooting prompted protests in the neighbourhood, with demonstrators gathering near the scene as federal agents and police continued their investigation.
Some protesters confronted officers, while others filmed the law enforcement activity and demanded accountability.
The incident has become another flashpoint in the debate over the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement strategy, particularly in cities where local leaders have raised concerns about federal operations.
The shooting also occurred amid reports that ICE leadership had instructed agents to increase arrests by an additional 1,000 people daily, according to sources familiar with the directive cited by CNN.
The reported instruction reflects the administration’s continued emphasis on immigration enforcement, despite concerns from some political figures about the agency’s operations and the people being targeted.
Investigation Continues
Federal authorities have not yet released a comprehensive account of the circumstances that led to the shooting, and key questions remain unanswered.
Investigators are expected to examine the available video footage, physical evidence and witness accounts to determine the sequence of events and the justification for the use of force.
The presence of a five-year-old child in the vehicle has also heightened public concern over the potential risks associated with enforcement operations conducted around civilians.
For now, the incident has left New York officials demanding answers, federal authorities facing calls for greater transparency, and residents waiting for a clearer account of what happened.
Cruise TV News will continue to follow developments as more verified information becomes available.
