NEW YORK (WABC) — Mayor Zohran Mamdani is doubling down on his calls to abolish ICE – days after Federal agents opened fire on a man with a five-year-old child inside his car.
On Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the agency will release body camera video of the shooting in Marble Hill.
The 28-year-old man was shot during an ICE operation last week. That much is undisputed. Now, controversy continues to brew over who is at fault for the escalation and what should done with the man who was shot.
It was a chaotic scene in Marble Hill on Thursday afternoon. ICE agents, attempting to arrest the 28-year-old ended up shooting him while he was reportedly trying to flee. Outrage exploded to anger after it was learned his five-year-old son was in the back seat.
Now, there are 2 very different interpretations as to what happened.
According to Mullin, the man they were after was a known criminal from the Dominican Republic, with ties to the violent Trinitarios gang. He says Oscar Balgal was actually driving recklessly towards the agent when shots were fired.
“Oscar had already fled once before, just a month ago. He knew, that officers were looking for him. He understood that he was a wanted man. I mean, think about the guy’s record. I’ll read it here to you. He’s got four charges of felony robbery, two charges of felony assault, felony larceny, misdemeanor assault, weapons possession, misdemeanor arson, possession of stolen property, two felony charges for dangerous drugs, and a strong gang affiliation,” Mullin said, “He chose to accelerate and or at a rate of speed hit the vehicle in front, flee, flare off and accelerate towards officers into another vehicle. He was a selfish individual. Why would you ever put your child into a situation like that now?”
Balgal suffered a minor injury to the neck. The child was not hurt. On Sunday, Mayr Mamdani, furious over the shooting, says he tried to get Balgal released from federal custody but was not successful.
Eyewitness News is told Balgal was last arrested by the NYPD in 2023 then allowed back on the streets.
The mayor directed his anger at ICE.
“We’re talking about a federal agency that is ripping families apart, that is willing the endanger the lives of a five-year-old child, as well as any New Yorkers in the surrounding area. And then, after the fact, seeks to blame the person and the city at large, as opposed to reflect upon their own actions,” said Mayor Mamdani.
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