New York City has witnessed the first shooting incident by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent since the agency's immigration crackdown began. The ICE agent reportedly opened fire at a man with Dominican Republic roots during a targeted operation in the Bronx on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
The shooting incident took place at around 4 p.m. in the Marble Hill neighbourhood when an ICE agent discharged his weapon at a man's vehicle, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed in a statement. The vehicle had a 5-year-old seated in the back seat.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) officials shifted the wounded man, who sustained injuries to the neck, to a hospital. His condition is currently reported as out of danger, while the 5-year-old child remains safe and unharmed.
The DHS confirmed that an ICE officer "discharged his weapon" during a "targeted enforcement operation to arrest a criminal illegal alien." The agency stated that the operation was part of a broader effort to apprehend individuals with prior criminal records. The New York mayor, Zohran Mamdani, while speaking at a news conference Thursday midnight, said it was an "inconscionable and incredibly serious situation." He expressed deep concern over the proximity of the child during the exchange of gunfire.
"Early reports indicate agents surrounded him and a five-year-old child in his car before firing multiple rounds. We believe the child was physically unharmed," the mayor added, promising a full investigation into the conduct of the agents involved.
The DHS said the man, whose identity remains unknown, was from the Dominican Republic and had a "prior criminal conviction for grand larceny and multiple prior arrests for assault, robbery, possession of drugs, and weapons possession." The DHS statement also revealed that the individual was previously arrested by police in New York in December 2023.
However, he was released a few days later, which the agency cited as a reason for the renewed enforcement action. Local community leaders have called for transparency regarding the rules of engagement for federal agents operating within city limits.
They argue that such operations pose significant risks to bystanders and children. As the investigation continues, the NYPD and federal authorities are reviewing body-worn camera footage to determine if the use of force was justified under the current protocols of the immigration crackdown.