ICE agents involved in Bronx shooting of Oscar Belgal 'not aware' 5-year-old child was in car

Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News on Oct 9, 2026

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NEW YORK -- Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were “not aware” there was a 5-year-old child in the backseat of an SUV when they opened fire at the vehicle, striking the child’s father in the neck during an enforcement operation in the Marble Hill section of the Bronx and sparking outrage across the city, Homeland Security Secretary MarkWayne Mullin revealed at a press conference about the incident on Friday.

The boy’s father, the target of the operation, Oscar Belgal, “weaponized his vehicle” and accelerated at ICE officers who tried to take him into custody, according to DHS officials.

“Because of this escalation, we had to use force,” Mullin said.

Belgal, an undocumented immigrant from the Dominican Republic, had been the subject of an ongoing investigation due to his association with the Trinitarios street gang and potential involvement in the shooting of a Customs and Border Protection agent in 2024, according to DHS Associate Director Marcos Charles, who also spoke at the press conference.

During the enforcement operation, ICE officers attempted to block in Belgal, who was driving a silver Honda Accord, with their vehicles, but instead of surrendering, Belgal accelerated towards the officers, ramming two of the vehicles, officials said.

“Believing that their life and the lives of their partners were in danger, they used their training and fired weapons,” Charles said.

“We weren’t aware the child was in the car,” Mullins added. “But do you know who was aware? Oscar. Oscar knew he had a child in his car.”

“The public outcry should be towards this criminal, this thug, this gangbanger, this possible murderer,” he added.

DHS said Belgal had been arrested twice in New York for robbery and drug sales. He was ultimately convicted of grand larceny on the robbery charge and the drug sales charges were still pending in court.

ICE said they had tried to apprehend Belgal last year, but he ran away from them. ICE filed a detainer order on him after his conviction.

“We had a detainer on him, and he was on probation,” Mullin said. “(City officials) knew he was illegal and he was put back on the streets and into the community.”

“Sanctuary politicians create an environment for criminal activity to thrive, not to make the American citizens safe,” he said.

Belgal was shot in the neck and treated at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Allen before being taken to a “detention facility outside of New York State,” Mullins said.

The 5-year-old boy was given to an aunt who lived on the block. He was not harmed, but his mother took him to a hospital for evaluation, his aunt said.