ICE agents shoot alleged gang‑linked migrant Oscar Belgal after Bronx apartment building terror
Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents shot Oscar Belgal, a 28‑year‑old alleged gang member, after he entered a Washington Heights apartment building with a machete and threatened residents on Oct. 10, 2024.
The shooting occurred when Belgal attempted to use his vehicle as a weapon, accelerating toward two plain‑clothes agents who had approached his car on 225th Street in the Bronx. Agents fired, delivering a non‑life‑threatening graze wound to his neck. Belgal’s five‑year‑old son, who was in the back seat, was unharmed.
Authorities say Belgal, a Dominican Republic native who entered the United States illegally in 2022, has a criminal record that includes a 2023 armed robbery conviction and a 2025 arrest for allegedly selling fentanyl, cocaine and heroin.
After being stabilized at New York‑Presbyterian Allen Hospital, Belgal was transferred to an immigration detention center in Newark and later moved to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who labeled Belgal a “New Yorker,” called for ICE to leave the city and urged the agency’s abolition. New York Attorney General Tish James and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams joined the mayor in denouncing ICE’s actions.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin defended the agents, stating they fired because they feared for their lives and that the migrant had deliberately put his child at risk. Mullin criticized sanctuary policies, saying they create environments where criminal activity can thrive.
The incident sparked protests across Manhattan, with demonstrators holding signs demanding “justice for Oscar Belgal” and calling for the removal of ICE and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. Actress Ellen Barkin posted “Burn ICE to the ground” on social media, further inflaming the debate.
Local residents described Belgal as a “menace to society,” rejecting the mayor’s characterization of him as a New Yorker. Community members emphasized the danger he posed and called for accountability.
A federal judge later blocked Belgal’s deportation pending further review, extending his detention while legal challenges continue.
Belgal remains in custody at MDC‑Brooklyn as city officials and federal agencies prepare for the next steps in his immigration case, and protests over ICE policies show no signs of abating.
