Democratic Socialists demand Mamdani fires NYPD chief after ICE shooting left gang suspect is wounded in front of his son

From the Newshound archive · first published 10 October 2026 · last updated 12 October 2026.

New York City's Democratic Socialists of America have broken with their own mayor, Zohran Mamdani, demanding the removal of NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch after ICE agents shot Dominican national Oscar Belgal, 28, in the neck during a Bronx arrest last Thursday — his five-year-old son was in the back seat at the time. Mamdani has refused to dismiss Tisch but has pledged a full investigation and compared ICE to a terrorist organisation, saying the city had been "terrorised by a rogue federal agency."

Belgal reportedly had ties to the Trinitarios street gang and a criminal record including robbery and drug distribution charges.

The DSA is also demanding the abolition of two elite NYPD units — the Strategic Response Group and Community Response Teams — markedly escalating pressure on Mamdani.