A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent discharged their weapon during an operation in the Bronx, New York City, on Thursday. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that the agent was involved in a targeted enforcement operation to arrest a criminal illegal alien. The man, who has not been named, was taken to a local hospital and was reported to be alive.
According to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, early reports indicate that agents surrounded the man and a five-year-old child in his car before firing multiple rounds. Fortunately, the child was physically unharmed. Mamdani described the situation as "unconscionable and incredibly serious." The BBC has approached DHS for comment on Mamdani's remarks.
The DHS stated that the man, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, had a prior criminal conviction for grand larceny and multiple prior arrests for assault, robbery, possession of drugs, and weapons possession. Additionally, he was associated with the Trinitarios, a transnational criminal group, according to the US Justice Department.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul spoke with President Donald Trump about the shooting and expressed "outrage on behalf of New Yorkers." She also requested that any body camera footage of the shooting be released to the public to establish the facts and get to the truth. Trump has not yet commented publicly on the incident.
Mayor Mamdani announced that he would ask President Trump to end ICE enforcement actions in the city, stating that he would not stand by while ICE agents "terrorize our communities." A group of protesters gathered at the scene on Thursday evening, chanting "we want justice" and "ICE off our streets now."
The incident has sparked concerns about ICE's actions and their impact on local communities. This event is not the first of its kind, as there have been previous instances of ICE agents being involved in shooting incidents. Related stories include an ICE agent shooting and wounding a man in Texas, as well as an ICE agent being charged with lying about shooting a Venezuelan man during a crackdown.
The shooting incident is under scrutiny, with calls for transparency and accountability. The release of body camera footage, if available, may help shed light on the circumstances surrounding the incident. The community is awaiting further information and a thorough investigation into the matter.
Key points
- The man shot by the ICE agent had prior criminal convictions and was associated with a transnational criminal group.
- New York City officials, including the mayor and governor, have expressed outrage and called for transparency and accountability.
- The incident has sparked protests and renewed concerns about ICE's actions and their impact on local communities.
