ICE defends shooting Oscar Belgal in the Bronx after he 'weaponized' his SUV at agents with son, 5, in the back seat

From the Newshound archive · first published 9 October 2026.

ICE officials insist Oscar Belgal, 28, a suspected gang member with prior convictions, rammed two federal vehicles and accelerated toward agents before they fired seven rounds, hitting him in the neck. Senior ICE official Marcos Charles told a press conference in Washington that Belgal had "weaponized his vehicle" — and that agents had no idea a five-year-old boy was in the backseat. Belgal survived, was treated in hospital, and is now held at an ICE detention facility outside New York.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said Belgal 'was aware' of his son and chose to endanger the child in an attempt to escape.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the shooting 'unconscionable' and demanded Trump halt all ICE operations across the city.

DHS says Belgal had prior convictions for grand larceny and multiple arrests for assault, robbery and weapons possession, and ran with the Trinitarios gang.