The video shows federal agents approaching Oscar Belgal’s vehicle before the shooting, but police cameras did not capture the gunfire itself.
NEW YORK CITY, NY — The New York Police Department released surveillance footage showing the moments leading up to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shooting a 28-year-old man during a federal operation in Marble Hill, adding new visual evidence to an encounter that has drawn protests and competing accounts from city and federal officials.
The shooting happened Thursday afternoon near Marble Hill Avenue and West 225th Street. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Oscar Belgal was inside a gray Honda CR-V with his 5-year-old son in the back seat when plainclothes federal officers approached. At least one ICE officer fired seven rounds, striking Belgal in the neck below his left ear. The child was not injured.
NYPD surveillance cameras captured Belgal backing into a parking space before a plainclothes federal officer approached the driver’s window with a gun drawn, according to Tisch. A second plainclothes officer approached near the driver’s-side headlight. The vehicle then moved forward and passed out of the camera’s view. Tisch said the city surveillance cameras did not record the actual gunfire. Other surveillance video released or obtained by news organizations shows agents rushing toward the vehicle shortly before it moves away.
The footage has become a central piece of evidence as investigators examine what happened during the attempted arrest. Federal officials have said the officers believed they were in danger and accused Belgal of using his vehicle while trying to escape. Homeland Security officials said ICE was carrying out a targeted enforcement operation and alleged that Belgal struck or threatened officers and government vehicles with his SUV. Video released so far does not provide a complete view of the encounter or independently settle whether the use of force was justified.
Evidence recovered at the scene included at least seven shell casings, Tisch said. Belgal’s vehicle had ballistic damage to its front windshield, and its rear window was shattered. Police also found a gray federal vehicle with damage to its left front side. The NYPD said its officers were not involved in the federal operation and were not present when the shots were fired.
NYPD body-camera footage released separately shows city officers arriving after the shooting. They encountered several men wearing different types of clothing, including construction-style vests and face coverings, with at least one carrying a long gun. Belgal was handcuffed and seated on the ground when NYPD officers reached him. The officers placed him in an NYPD vehicle, provided aid and drove him to NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital, where he arrived in stable condition.
The Department of Homeland Security has defended the federal officers’ actions and said they feared for their lives during the encounter. Federal officials said the officers did not know Belgal’s 5-year-old son was inside the vehicle when the shots were fired. The government has also cited Belgal’s immigration status and criminal history in explaining why agents sought to arrest him. Those circumstances do not by themselves determine whether the shooting was legally justified, which remains under investigation.
The presence of the child and the use of gunfire in a residential New York City neighborhood prompted criticism from local and state officials and fueled demonstrations after the shooting. New York Attorney General Letitia James called for a full and transparent investigation. City officials have also pressed federal authorities for additional evidence, including footage recorded by the immigration officers themselves. ICE officials have said agents involved in the operation were equipped with body cameras and indicated that additional video could be released.
Belgal survived the shooting and was later taken into federal custody after receiving hospital treatment. A federal judge temporarily blocked his removal from the United States while his lawyers challenged his detention, according to reports on the court proceedings. His son was later located by the NYPD and was safe with a family member.
Investigators continue to review surveillance recordings, body-camera video, physical evidence and the accounts of those involved. The footage released by the NYPD provides a clearer view of the seconds before and after the confrontation but leaves a crucial gap: the city’s cameras did not capture the moment the ICE officer opened fire.
Author note: Last updated Oct. 9, 2026.