Father Shot by ICE While 5-Year-Old Son Was in Car Still Has Bullet in His Neck, Lawyers Say

A New York father is reportedly still waiting for urgent medical treatment after being shot by a federal immigration agent while his 5-year-old son was inside the car. Days after the incident, his attorneys said a bullet remained lodged in his neck and he was suffering from numbness and hearing loss.

Oscar Belgal, 28, was shot on October 8, 2026, during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in New York City. According to his legal representatives, he was subsequently held in solitary confinement at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

In a statement released October 11, lawyers from The Legal Aid Society and Make the Road New York said Belgal still had a bullet lodged in his neck, numbness on the left side of his face, and difficulty hearing in his left ear. They also reported that he had a shoulder injury caused by shattered glass.

His attorneys said doctors had recommended urgent surgery, but the procedure could not safely be performed at the time without a specialized surgeon. They also alleged that Belgal had gone several days without eating while in custody and had been told that water was available only from a bathroom sink.

The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain disputed.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, ICE officers were attempting to arrest Belgal when he allegedly struck two government vehicles and accelerated toward officers, prompting them to open fire. His legal representatives have raised concerns about the use of force and the medical care he has received.

Belgal’s 5-year-old son was in the vehicle during the incident. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said early reports indicated the child was physically unharmed.

A federal judge temporarily blocked Belgal’s deportation and restricted his transfer outside the New York and New Jersey area without court approval, according to news reports.

As the case draws public attention, questions remain about the circumstances that led to the gunfire, the treatment Belgal has received in detention, and when he will obtain the medical care his lawyers say he urgently needs.

Sources:

• PEOPLE
• Reuters
• Associated Press via NY1