ICE agent shoots man in New York car with five-year-old son inside

A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and wounded a man during an immigration enforcement operation in New York City while the man’s five-year-old son was inside the vehicle.

The shooting occurred on Thursday afternoon in the Marble Hill neighbourhood of Manhattan as federal agents attempted to arrest 28-year-old Dominican national Oscar Belgal.

New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said surveillance footage showed plainclothes federal officers approaching Belgal’s vehicle with weapons drawn before he began moving the car forward.

At least one officer then fired multiple rounds, striking Belgal in the neck below his left ear.

The five-year-old boy, believed by police to be Belgal’s son, was sitting in the back of the vehicle and was physically unharmed.

Belgal remained conscious following the shooting and received medical treatment.

Federal, New York officials give differing accounts

The US Department of Homeland Security said ICE officers were carrying out a targeted enforcement operation when the shooting occurred.

Federal authorities said Belgal had a criminal record and alleged that he attempted to flee during the operation.

Subsequent statements from federal officials alleged that the vehicle struck ICE vehicles or agents during the confrontation.

New York officials, however, have raised questions about the tactics used by the federal agents.

Tisch said the officers who initially approached the vehicle were in plain clothes, while Mayor Zohran Mamdani said they wore masks and clothing that did not clearly identify them as ICE personnel.

The exact circumstances immediately preceding the gunfire remain under investigation.

Seven shots reportedly fired

New York authorities said at least seven rounds were fired during the encounter.

Belgal’s vehicle sustained bullet damage to its windshield and rear window.

Police arriving after the shooting found him wounded and provided medical assistance before he was transported for treatment.

The child was subsequently placed with a relative.

Federal officials said the agents did not know the five-year-old was inside the vehicle when the shooting occurred.

Shooting sparks protests and demands for investigation

The incident triggered protests in New York and strong criticism from state and city officials.

Mamdani condemned the shooting and called for federal immigration enforcement operations in the city to stop.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul also demanded transparency and called for any body-camera footage of the shooting to be released.

The FBI and other authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.