Dominican man shot by ICE in the Bronx had robbery conviction and pending drug charges

Oscar Belgal, a 28-year-old Dominican man shot by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the Bronx, had a criminal record that included an armed robbery conviction and pending drug charges, according to court records and law enforcement sources cited by the New York Post.

Belgal was arrested in connection with an armed robbery in November 2023. According to the criminal complaint, he pointed a gun at two people and demanded jewelry and cash. He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of fourth-degree grand larceny in April 2025 and was sentenced in January to one month in jail and five years of probation.

In August 2025, he was arrested on allegations of selling fentanyl, cocaine and heroin. That case remains open. Law enforcement sources said ICE had issued a detainer requesting that local authorities transfer Belgal to federal custody, but the request was not honored. Federal officials have criticized New York’s sanctuary policies, arguing that they hinder immigration enforcement.

Belgal was shot in the neck on October 8 during an attempted ICE arrest in Marble Hill. Authorities said he tried to drive away in his SUV with his 5-year-old son inside. An ICE official alleged that Belgal accelerated toward agents and struck two of them. Federal authorities had not released the body-camera footage described in the report at the time of publication.

The shooting sparked protests and criticism from local political leaders, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who described Belgal as a New Yorker and condemned the operation. Some Bronx residents disputed that characterization, citing his criminal record. Belgal survived the shooting, and his son was reported physically unharmed and placed in the care of family members. Belgal was later transferred to federal custody in Brooklyn.