New York — Residents of Manhattan’s Marble Hill neighborhood expressed deep anger and lingering fear on Friday following an incident in which a federal immigration enforcement officer shot a local man. The shooting, which occurred on Thursday afternoon, left 28-year-old Oscar Belgal wounded in the neck while his child was reportedly seated in the back of his car.
Orlando Perez, a neighbor who witnessed the aftermath after parking his vehicle near the corner of 225th Street and Marble Hill Avenue, said he initially feared for his own safety. While the streets had grown quieter by Friday following protests the previous night, residents remained shaken. Perez noted that the agents targeting Belgal did not appear to be wearing standard uniforms or clear identification badges, though video footage later showed a man in a high-visibility vest carrying an assault-style rifle.
Federal officials stated on Friday that officers were unaware a child was inside the target vehicle. However, local witnesses disputed this, pointing out that the car's windows featured only light tinting and arguing that the child should have been visible to agents.
The shooting took place around 4 p.m. on Thursday, a busy time when children were returning home from school. Zachary Miller, a longtime resident of the area, reported hearing six gunshots from his apartment. Law enforcement officials subsequently cited prior felony convictions and alleged gang affiliations for Belgal, but neighbors described him as a friendly presence in the community and questioned the extreme use of force.
Other local residents voiced rising anxiety and a loss of a sense of safety following the confrontation. Carlos Martinez, an 18-year-old local resident, said he initially believed the gunshots were coming from inside a nearby deli where he was eating. Despite being a United States citizen, Martinez expressed discomfort and worry over aggressive enforcement tactics in a tight-knit neighborhood.
Elected officials and community leaders swiftly condemned the operation, demanding independent investigations and an end to violent immigration enforcement strategies. Legal representatives for Belgal were also pursuing a habeas corpus petition in federal court to locate and secure the release of his custody after public defenders struggled to track his immediate whereabouts following the hospital transport.