Feds Say Migrant Suspect Rammed SUV at ICE Agents in NYC
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials claim a suspected gang member intentionally drove his vehicle into federal agents before being shot.
A suspected migrant gang member accelerated his SUV toward Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the Bronx, New York, before one of the agents shot him in self-defense, federal officials stated Friday.
Marcos Charles, head of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division, described the incident, which occurred Thursday in Marble Hill. According to Charles, agents attempted to box in Oscar Belgal, 28, with their vehicles to arrest him.
"He then accelerated his vehicle, smashing into two of our government ICE vehicles and then weaponized his vehicle and proceeded to accelerate going towards other officers," Charles said.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch had previously stated that surveillance cameras captured Belgal in the driver’s seat of a gray Honda CR-V. The vehicle was backing into a parking spot when a plainclothes federal officer approached the driver’s side window with a firearm drawn. Another agent approached the front of the vehicle as it began to move forward, out of the camera’s view.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin confirmed that ICE agents involved in the encounter were wearing body cameras. The footage is expected to be released as the investigation progresses.
Belgal sustained injuries during the incident and received medical treatment at a local hospital. He was subsequently taken into federal custody.