What new surveillance video reveals about Bronx ICE shooting
The video shows agents approaching the vehicle on 225th Street in the Marble Hill neighborhood around 4 p.m. Thursday.
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New NYPD surveillance video shows federal agents in plain clothes, one in a construction vest, approaching a car in the Bronx moments before an ICE agent shot a 28-year-old man in the neck.
The video shows agents approaching the vehicle on 225th Street in the Marble Hill neighborhood around 4 p.m. Thursday. Inside were Oscar Belgal, a Dominican Republic national, and a 5-year-old boy authorities believe to be his son.
The Department of Homeland Security said Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were conducting a targeted enforcement operation to arrest Belgal, whom the department described as a “criminal illegal alien.” Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said agents were unaware the child was in the vehicle.
Mullin said Belgal attempted to flee when agents approached, accelerating at a high rate of speed and ramming two vehicles before appearing to drive toward officers.
“Oscar knew he had a child in his car. Oscar chose to accelerate at a high rate of speed and ram two different vehicles as he was, as appears to be going towards officers,” Mullin said.
According to Mullin, an ICE agent who felt threatened opened fire, striking Belgal in the neck.
Separate NYPD body-camera footage shows officers arriving at the scene and placing Belgal in a police vehicle to take him to the hospital.
Federal officials said Belgal had previously fled from ICE and had two prior New York City arrests related to a 2023 robbery and the criminal sale of a controlled substance.
DHS also cited Belgal’s alleged ties to the Trinitarios gang, which authorities have linked to the shooting of a Customs and Border Protection officer last year.
“Oscar has either indirect or direct knowledge of the shooting. And that’s why he became a target,” Mullin said.
The shooting prompted protests Friday in Manhattan’s Foley Square and the Bronx’s Marble Hill neighborhood, where demonstrators called for an end to ICE operations.
“Get the [expletive] out our city,” one protester named Mo said.
Mullin also said he spoke with Gov. Kathy Hochul Thursday night and that she agreed to cooperate with federal law enforcement if the state receives advance notice of enforcement operations. It remains unclear whether or when such an arrangement would take effect.
Hochul has called for immigration enforcement to stop in the meantime, while federal officials say they will continue pursuing undocumented immigrants they identify as criminal offenders.
